ABOUT
Expedex is a WIP phone app of my creation that quickly finds specific food for hangry, health-conscience, gluten-free hypoglycemics. Users can filter options based on a spectrum of urgent to not-as-urgent scenarios for their dietary and medical needs, however the app’s primary function assists the most urgent low blood sugar episodes as efficiently as possible.
Explore the app
While this isn't 100% done, feel free to take a gander at the WIP prototype as it is right now.
I think it's important to note my illustrations were crafted 100% from scratch and without the use of AI.
Name and Tag Line
I wanted the name and tagline to have some clever meaning.
Expedex is derived from the words “expedited” and “dextrose” – hypoglycemics need healthy sugars fast. And “Hit the Spot” is a play on words – you can literally hit the spot on the app in order to find a place that will figuratively hit the spot in your tummy.
Let's make believe
Your blood sugar is dropping. You’re uncomfortable, hangry, a little shaky, a little light headed and really need some fruit and a protein stat with no gluten. So that means you don’t have time to be picky about the place, you just need something close and fast that offers that type of food.
The type of food that is displayed in the app next to each restaurant/store needs to be gluten-free, healthy, and hypoglycemic-friendly (meaning it is low in processed sugar and ideally includes proteins to help prevent sugar crash).
This is your first time using the app. First assess how quickly and clearly you can fulfill your urgent health need with this app’s primary function. Then explore the other functions.
Let's Hit the Spot!
HOW IT WORKS
The app provides four options for finding the exact food the user needs based on the mood they’re in or how urgent their episode is, plus an option to rate establishments. The five main features are:`
1. Hit the Spot
Displays a map with the nearest, highest-rated, fast service location and automatically provides directions. This option is best for the most urgent hypoglycemic episodes.
Displays a map with the nearest, highest-rated, fast service location and automatically provides directions. This option is best for the most urgent hypoglycemic episodes.
2. Search Bar
Displays a map where the restaurant/store you specified is located. Just like “Hit the Spot”, this option only shows that one place on the map and automatically provides directions so users can get where they need to go fast.
Displays a map where the restaurant/store you specified is located. Just like “Hit the Spot”, this option only shows that one place on the map and automatically provides directions so users can get where they need to go fast.
3. Food Near Me
Displays a map of all the places near you. This option isn’t necessarily used during an urgent hypoglycemic episode because it shows literally everything with no filter.
Displays a map of all the places near you. This option isn’t necessarily used during an urgent hypoglycemic episode because it shows literally everything with no filter.
4. Tailor My Options
Displays a list of nearby places and the user ratings of each restaurant/store. Users can filter based on one or a combination of these options: speed, quality, and variety. This option is usually used for the least urgent hypoglycemic episodes where a person might be feeling picky and doesn’t necessarily need to find something ASAP.
Displays a list of nearby places and the user ratings of each restaurant/store. Users can filter based on one or a combination of these options: speed, quality, and variety. This option is usually used for the least urgent hypoglycemic episodes where a person might be feeling picky and doesn’t necessarily need to find something ASAP.
5. My Ratings
Search format where users type the restaurant/store they've already visited and then rate that place for other users to see.
Search format where users type the restaurant/store they've already visited and then rate that place for other users to see.
DEFINING USERS
People who need to manage blood sugar levels
People who are gluten-sensitive
People who prefer healthy food; won’t go for junk to satisfy needs
Probably accustomed to medical equipment/places/devices/apps
Probably not for ages 75 and older, as younger generations are more aware of (or at least more accepting of) the fact that gluten can cause health issues
Might be healthy in other ways, such as being active
In a hurry, medically urgent situation, need a clear way to get exactly the type of food they need in case their vision and/or mind is impaired by low blood sugar
Target group profile:
Eric, age 40, lives in Asheville, NC. Has a bachelor’s degree. Works as a marketing analyst. Lives in the urban core of Asheville. Single dad with two children. Travels a lot. Enjoys hiking and exploring national parks. Enjoys reading and riding bikes with friends/family. Has learned to cook a lot due to dietary needs. Eldest child displays signs of hypoglycemia.
GOALS AND SIMILAR APPS
Client/Designer goals:
Help others who have these very specific dietary and urgent medical needs
A way to make money targeting an untapped niche market
Raise awareness of those on the spectrum of blood sugar medical problems to help with social empathy. Snickers ads put a humorous spin on being hangry and needing a quick blood sugar fix. This app and its brand would help others take it more seriously and also simultaneously rejects the idea of eating candy as a good option for satisfying needs.
Build community with the “ratings” feature
Similar real-world apps:
OpenTable – finds restaurants and uses specific filters
Yelp – finds restaurants/stores and uses a rating feature
Google Maps – location app that uses a map as its main feature
Find Me Gluten Free – locates gluten-free food near you
Others – Glucose Buddy, MySugr, Foursquare