CHEF4ME
CHEF4ME
Homemade Happiness, Just a Tap Away
Homemade Happiness, Just a Tap Away
Location
Africa (with potential to expand globally)
Industry
FoodTech / On-Demand Services
Services I provided
User experience
Visual Design
Product Design
App Design
Target Audience
Busy professionals, young adults, families, and individuals seeking homemade meals with convenience, customization, and trust.
Overview
Introduction
Ever been in a situation where you want to eat something different but homemade without leaving your home? Sure you can order for a delivery from an eatery, but this time you want that unique home-made food and you don’t have a helper to prepare it. You guessed right! Chef4me was made for that purpose. You can get home-made food prepared for you by accredited chefs on the platforms at the comfort of your house or can be delivered.
Uncovering the problem
In my initial discussion with the key stakeholder, I identified the key issues Chef4Me sought to address, which seemed valid but required validation from a user perspective; after speaking with several people about the challenges they face in preparing food or placing orders, I discovered that many lack the time to cook due to work, some desire fresh homemade meals but don’t cook, others want timely and hassle-free delivery, and many also seek meals tailored to their preferred ingredients and allergies, ultimately confirming and expanding the problems raised by the stakeholders and guiding the creation of solutions.
Gaining Insights
Gaining Insights
The focus groups were categorised into 4: Those who don’t order but will like to order, those who order, those who would prefer their food be cooked by a professional, those who will prefer to cook themselves.
I approached the interview by asking how they got food when they don’t cook themselves. The main aim was to understand their motivations and abilities, and with this I hoped to gain more insight on how easily they get to feed themselves by cooking or ordering and without wasting time.
Few questions that were asked were;
Do you cook for yourself and do you find it convenient, How often do you cook?
Do you order food from restaurants and how often?
Would you like to get a personal chef who can do cooking for you?
Do you find preparation of food time consuming or you have enough time to include it to your routine?
Have you eaten from a professional chef before and would you like that service at your disposal?
Gaining Insights
The focus groups were categorised into 4: Those who don’t order but will like to order, those who order, those who would prefer their food be cooked by a professional, those who will prefer to cook themselves.
I approached the interview by asking how they got food when they don’t cook themselves. The main aim was to understand their motivations and abilities, and with this I hoped to gain more insight on how easily they get to feed themselves by cooking or ordering and without wasting time.
Few questions that were asked were;
Do you cook for yourself and do you find it convenient, How often do you cook?
Do you order food from restaurants and how often?
Would you like to get a personal chef who can do cooking for you?
Do you find preparation of food time consuming or you have enough time to include it to your routine?
Have you eaten from a professional chef before and would you like that service at your disposal?
Introduction
Ever been in a situation where you want to eat something different but homemade without leaving your home? Sure you can order for a delivery from an eatery, but this time you want that unique home-made food and you don’t have a helper to prepare it. You guessed right! Chef4me was made for that purpose. You can get home-made food prepared for you by accredited chefs on the platforms at the comfort of your house or can be delivered.
Uncovering the problem
In an initial discussion with the key stakeholder of the product, I gathered the key issues chef4me sought to address which seemed valid, but some validation had to be done from a user perspective to uncover the problems. After speaking to a number of people to about the challenges they face in preparing food or placing orders, I realised that; People don’t have time to prepare food due to factors like work, Some want to eat fresh home-made food but don’t cook, People want to get food in time without any hassle. People want to get food that considered ingredients they preferred and allergies they have. The insights gotten from conversations with potential users and some discoveries further validated the problems raised by the stakeholders and some solutions were created
Gaining Insights
The focus groups were categorised into 4: Those who don’t order but will like to order, those who order, those who would prefer their food be cooked by a professional, those who will prefer to cook themselves.
I approached the interview by asking how they got food when they don’t cook themselves. The main aim was to understand their motivations and abilities, and with this I hoped to gain more insight on how easily they get to feed themselves by cooking or ordering and without wasting time.
Few questions that were asked were;
Do you cook for yourself and do you find it convenient, How often do you cook?
Do you order food from restaurants and how often?
Would you like to get a personal chef who can do cooking for you?
Do you find preparation of food time consuming or you have enough time to include it to your routine?
Have you eaten from a professional chef before and would you like that service at your disposal?
Research
Exploring Alternatives
In order to comprehend the eco-system this product will fall into, we had to analyse other products solving similar problems. Exploring the processes and experiences adopted by these products, I was able to take lessons and insights which helped in figuring out some blocks that was encountered. Although, some of the unique solutions chef4me proposes had to be approached differently.
This study helped to understand aspects of the products like, payment, delivery, order management, tracking, user verification, chef certification, and exclusive subscription.
Exploring Alternatives
In order to comprehend the eco-system this product will fall into, we had to analyse other products solving similar problems. Exploring the processes and experiences adopted by these products, I was able to take lessons and insights which helped in figuring out some blocks that was encountered. Although, some of the unique solutions chef4me proposes had to be approached differently.
This study helped to understand aspects of the products like, payment, delivery, order management, tracking, user verification, chef certification, and exclusive subscription.
Exploring Alternatives
In order to comprehend the eco-system this product will fall into, we had to analyse other products solving similar problems. Exploring the processes and experiences adopted by these products, I was able to take lessons and insights which helped in figuring out some blocks that was encountered. Although, some of the unique solutions chef4me proposes had to be approached differently.
This study helped to understand aspects of the products like, payment, delivery, order management, tracking, user verification, chef certification, and exclusive subscription.
Take- aways
Take-aways
After exploring other products, the similarities in functionalities were highlighted in order to understand use cases. Some of the solutions that appeared as a pattern across products was adopted and more understanding I could pick out areas where improvements should be made in terms of experience. The important aspect of the studying was identifying the unique value of Chef4me.
What’s unique?
The major unique feature Chef4me has compared to other products is the introduction of vetted chefs. Other products focused on ordering > delivery > payment, without connecting the users to the source of the food. Although, chef4me also connects users directly to eateries, but focuses on connecting users to chefs which gives a sense of exclusivity.
Challenge
Connecting the users to chefs seemed challenging due to the process that was to be taken. The services of the chefs were divided into two as a result of feedbacks. The services include home-made dish (chef making the dish in the customer’s home) and dish delivery (chef making the dish and sending to the customer).
For the home-made dish service, the dilemma was around letting the chefs or the customers get the ingredients before the chef arrives. With this approach, I realised the experience might not be fluid enough and so I came up with another.
How the service would work;
The customer books a chef > lists ingredients they’re allergic to > the chef gets the ingredients and makes the food. This way, delay is curbed in the transaction
Take-aways
After exploring other products, the similarities in functionalities were highlighted in order to understand use cases. Some of the solutions that appeared as a pattern across products was adopted and more understanding I could pick out areas where improvements should be made in terms of experience. The important aspect of the studying was identifying the unique value of Chef4me.
What's unique
The major unique feature Chef4me has compared to other products is the introduction of vetted chefs. Other products focused on ordering > delivery > payment, without connecting the users to the source of the food. Although, chef4me also connects users directly to eateries, but focuses on connecting users to chefs which gives a sense of exclusivity.
Challenge
Connecting the users to chefs seemed challenging due to the process that was to be taken. The services of the chefs were divided into two as a result of feedbacks. The services include home-made dish (chef making the dish in the customer’s home) and dish delivery (chef making the dish and sending to the customer).
For the home-made dish service, the dilemma was around letting the chefs or the customers get the ingredients before the chef arrives. With this approach, I realised the experience might not be fluid enough and so I came up with another.
How the service would work;
The customer books a chef > lists ingredients they’re allergic to > the chef gets the ingredients and makes the food. This way, delay is curbed in the transaction
User Flow
The flow begins with customers signing up, creating profiles that capture their food preferences, dietary restrictions, and delivery options, after which they can browse accredited chefs, customize orders, and place requests for either home delivery or in-house preparation. On the other side, chefs register on the platform, undergo verification, and set up their menus, availability, and specialties; when an order is placed, they receive notifications, confirm acceptance, prepare the meal according to the user’s preferences, and then either deliver it or cook directly at the customer’s location. Both flows converge in real-time tracking, secure payments, and post-meal ratings, creating a seamless connection between customers seeking homemade meals and chefs offering their culinary expertise.
Research Phase
User Flow
The flow begins with customers signing up, creating profiles that capture their food preferences, dietary restrictions, and delivery options, after which they can browse accredited chefs, customize orders, and place requests for either home delivery or in-house preparation. On the other side, chefs register on the platform, undergo verification, and set up their menus, availability, and specialties; when an order is placed, they receive notifications, confirm acceptance, prepare the meal according to the user’s preferences, and then either deliver it or cook directly at the customer’s location. Both flows converge in real-time tracking, secure payments, and post-meal ratings, creating a seamless connection between customers seeking homemade meals and chefs offering their culinary expertise.
Users Flow
The flow begins with customers signing up, creating profiles that capture their food preferences, dietary restrictions, and delivery options, after which they can browse accredited chefs, customize orders, and place requests for either home delivery or in-house preparation. On the other side, chefs register on the platform, undergo verification, and set up their menus, availability, and specialties; when an order is placed, they receive notifications, confirm acceptance, prepare the meal according to the user’s preferences, and then either deliver it or cook directly at the customer’s location. Both flows converge in real-time tracking, secure payments, and post-meal ratings, creating a seamless connection between customers seeking homemade meals and chefs offering their culinary expertise.
Designs
The User Designs
The flow begins with customers signing up, creating profiles that capture their food preferences, dietary restrictions, and delivery options, after which they can browse accredited chefs, customize orders, and place requests for either home delivery or in-house preparation. On the other side, chefs register on the platform, undergo verification, and set up their menus, availability, and specialties; when an order is placed, they receive notifications, confirm acceptance, prepare the meal according to the user’s preferences, and then either deliver it or cook directly at the customer’s location. Both flows converge in real-time tracking, secure payments, and post-meal ratings, creating a seamless connection between customers seeking homemade meals and chefs offering their culinary expertise.
Chef Flow
For the chef-facing app, the high-fidelity designs focused on clarity, efficiency, and ease of management. Building on the validated wireframes, I translated the structure into visually polished screens that aligned with the established style guide.
The chef dashboard was designed to be the central hub, giving chefs an immediate overview of new orders, active deliveries, and completed requests. Clear status indicators and color coding made it easy to prioritize tasks at a glance. For menu management, I designed streamlined flows that allowed chefs to add, edit, or remove meals quickly, with visual previews to ensure accuracy before publishing.
Earnings and payout tracking were also a key part of the experience. I crafted simple, data-driven layouts where chefs could view their daily, weekly, and monthly performance, along with a transparent breakdown of fees and pending payments. The interface combined clean typography with intuitive iconography to reduce cognitive load, ensuring chefs could focus on cooking and fulfilling orders rather than struggling with the app.
Throughout the high-fidelity stage, I emphasized responsive layouts and consistent use of the brand’s colors and components to create a professional yet approachable design. Interactive elements such as confirmation prompts, progress indicators, and notification banners were added to enhance trust and reduce errors. These designs gave stakeholders a realistic picture of how the chef app would function in daily use and laid the groundwork for smooth handoff into development.
Designs
The Chef Designs
For the chef-facing app, the high-fidelity designs focused on clarity, efficiency, and ease of management. Building on the validated wireframes, I translated the structure into visually polished screens that aligned with the established style guide.
The chef dashboard was designed to be the central hub, giving chefs an immediate overview of new orders, active deliveries, and completed requests. Clear status indicators and color coding made it easy to prioritize tasks at a glance. For menu management, I designed streamlined flows that allowed chefs to add, edit, or remove meals quickly, with visual previews to ensure accuracy before publishing.
Earnings and payout tracking were also a key part of the experience. I crafted simple, data-driven layouts where chefs could view their daily, weekly, and monthly performance, along with a transparent breakdown of fees and pending payments. The interface combined clean typography with intuitive iconography to reduce cognitive load, ensuring chefs could focus on cooking and fulfilling orders rather than struggling with the app.
Throughout the high-fidelity stage, I emphasized responsive layouts and consistent use of the brand’s colors and components to create a professional yet approachable design. Interactive elements such as confirmation prompts, progress indicators, and notification banners were added to enhance trust and reduce errors. These designs gave stakeholders a realistic picture of how the chef app would function in daily use and laid the groundwork for smooth handoff into development.
1,200+ users joined in the first three months, supported by 150 verified chefs, driving a 92% order completion rate. Feedback showed 87% of users preferred Chef4Me over traditional delivery for its healthier, customizable, and faster meals.
0k
0k
Active user
in the first three months, demonstrating strong demand for homemade food delivery
0k
0k
Active user
in the first three months, demonstrating strong demand for homemade food delivery
0%
0%
Order completion rate
with users consistently highlighting the convenience of accessing fresh, personalized mealsement.
0%
0%
Order completion rate
with users consistently highlighting the convenience of accessing fresh, personalized mealsement.
0%
0%
users preferred Chef4Me
over traditional restaurant deliveries, citing healthier meals, ingredient flexibility, and faster service
0%
0%
users preferred Chef4Me
over traditional restaurant deliveries, citing healthier meals, ingredient flexibility, and faster service
Bata launch
Bata launch
1,200+ users joined in the first three months, supported by 150 verified chefs, driving a 92% order completion rate. Feedback showed 87% of users preferred Chef4Me over traditional delivery for its healthier, customizable, and faster meals.
0K
0K
Active Users
in the first three months, demonstrating strong demand for homemade food delivery
0K
0K
Active Users
in the first three months, demonstrating strong demand for homemade food delivery
0%
0%
Order completion rate
with users consistently highlighting the convenience of accessing fresh, personalized meals
0%
0%
Order completion rate
with users consistently highlighting the convenience of accessing fresh, personalized meals
0%
0%
users preferred Chef4Me
over traditional restaurant deliveries, citing healthier meals, ingredient flexibility, and faster service
0%
0%
users preferred Chef4Me
over traditional restaurant deliveries, citing healthier meals, ingredient flexibility, and faster service
Learnings
Building Chef4Me highlighted the importance of validating stakeholder assumptions with real user insights, as user interviews revealed deeper needs around convenience, personalization, and trust. I learned that simplifying the ordering experience while balancing chef onboarding was crucial for adoption on both sides of the marketplace. Finally, the project reinforced how cultural preferences, dietary restrictions, and delivery logistics must be carefully integrated into the design of a food platform to create a truly seamless and user-centered experience.
Learnings
What I learnt
Building Chef4Me highlighted the importance of validating stakeholder assumptions with real user insights, as user interviews revealed deeper needs around convenience, personalization, and trust. I learned that simplifying the ordering experience while balancing chef onboarding was crucial for adoption on both sides of the marketplace. Finally, the project reinforced how cultural preferences, dietary restrictions, and delivery logistics must be carefully integrated into the design of a food platform to create a truly seamless and user-centered experience.
