Cookah — Private Chef Platform
End-to-end product concept connecting people with local chefs for personalised at-home dining. I explored trust, discovery, booking and chef needs through research, journeys, flows and prototypes.
View project ↗UX / PRODUCT DESIGNER — LONDON
Open to junior rolesI turn research into clear, useful experiences.
UX Design graduate from University of the Arts London, working across user research, interaction design and prototyping — from digital services and mobile interfaces to physical and spatial experiences.
04
Selected case studies
Research-led
From evidence to design
Digital + spatial
Web, mobile & environments
MK / 26
Current focus
Designing experiences around real behaviour, not assumptions.
Approach
Research → Design
Experience
UX & Product
Based in
London
Education
UAL · UX Design
User ResearchWireframingPrototypingUsability TestingInteraction DesignFigmaProduct ThinkingDesign Systems
SELECTED WORK
Projects built around real user problems.
Research-led case studies covering discovery, structure, interaction and testing.
Transforming Study Spaces at UAL
Human-centred redesign of university study spaces, using student research and iterative testing to create more flexible, comfortable and collaborative environments.
Who Am I? — Science Museum Research
Ethnographic UX research examining how children and adults interact with technological displays, with findings translated into practical experience improvements.
View project ↗
HSBC Mobile Banking Redesign
A personal redesign focused on simplifying common banking tasks, improving information hierarchy and creating a clearer mobile experience.
View project ↗CASE STUDY · PRODUCT DESIGN2025–2026
Cookah
Connecting people with trusted local chefs for personalised dining experiences — designed around trust, direct communication and a clearer booking journey.
01 · THE CHALLENGE
Food is personal. Most platforms aren't.
Cookah started from a simple problem: many food platforms optimise for speed and convenience, but the experience can become transactional. I explored how a digital product could create more trust, transparency and personal connection between customers and chefs.
Lack of trust
Customers need confidence in who is preparing their food and what they are booking.
No connection
Typical ordering flows leave little room for direct conversation or relationship-building.
Low transparency
Users need clearer information around chefs, menus, pricing, availability and the experience.
02 · RESEARCH FOCUS
Three questions shaped the whole project.
I framed the research around the two sides of the service: what customers need to feel comfortable booking a chef, and what chefs need to work safely, confidently and creatively in someone else’s home.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCEWhat do customers value most in personalised, at-home dining experiences?
TRUST & TRANSPARENCYHow can UX build trust during discovery, profile viewing, communication and booking?
CHEF EXPERIENCEWhat do chefs need to work safely, confidently and creatively in a customer’s home?
03 · PEOPLE & ECOSYSTEM
Cookah is more than a customer-to-chef marketplace.
The stakeholder map helped separate who directly shapes the UX from the people and systems that influence how the service needs to operate. Customers and private chefs sit at the centre, while payment, reviews, support, food supply, insurance and regulation affect trust and delivery around them.
PRIMARYCustomers & chefs
The people the core journey must directly support.
SECONDARYOperational systems
Payments, reviews, support, suppliers, equipment and insurance.
TERTIARYContext & regulation
Health and safety, legal requirements, councils and wider community impact.
04 · USER & CHEF RESEARCH
The same trust problem appeared on both sides.
The customer research focused on safety, convenience and dining habits. Chef research focused on what makes private dining work feel safe, reliable and professionally worthwhile. The two groups had different concerns, but both needed clearer trust signals and expectations before committing.
CUSTOMER FINDINGS
Confidence before booking
Strong trust and safety concerns around inviting someone into the home.
Preference for verified chefs, visible reviews and clear ratings.
Price clarity matters; users want costs to be clear upfront.
Many prefer simple, fast booking with easy access to dietary information.
“I’d only book if the chef was clearly verified.”
CHEF FINDINGS
Safety and professional control
Chefs want a safe, respectful environment when entering clients’ homes.
Reliable payment, clear expectations and verified customers reduce risk.
Communication before the event is essential for kitchen setup, allergies and timing.
Chefs want to show their skills, menus and personality rather than be reduced to a price.
“I want clients to see my style, not just a price tag.”
INSIGHT 01Verification needs to be visible early.
INSIGHT 02Communication is part of the trust system.
INSIGHT 03Pricing and expectations need clarity before commitment.
INSIGHT 04Chef identity matters as much as convenience.
05 · MARKET & VALUE RESEARCH
Looking beyond food apps helped define the opportunity.
I compared direct private-chef services and related “come to you” markets to understand how other platforms build trust. Across hospitality, transport, home services and experiences, the same pattern appeared: users feel more comfortable when profiles, reviews, verification and expectations are clear.
MARKET GAPTrust is inconsistent
Competitors use different levels of profiles, reviews and verification, leaving room for a clearer trust-first experience.
USER VALUEPersonalisation is underserved
Customers want more flexibility around menus, dietary needs and the overall dining experience.
CHEF VALUECreative identity matters
The service needs to support chefs as professionals with their own style, skills and boundaries.
06 · RESEARCH → DESIGN
Research became specific product decisions.
The early concept work translated the strongest themes into interactions. Safety concerns became verification and expectation-setting. The need for flexibility became menu negotiation and dietary notes. The market gap around trust became richer chef profiles and clearer identity.
01Dual verification
Both customers and chefs need reassurance that the other side is legitimate.
02Pre-visit readiness
Kitchen setup, allergies, pets and hazards should be confirmed before arrival.
03Secure arrival
A simple check-in or arrival-code concept helps confirm the correct booking.
04Clear expectations
Behaviour, hygiene, responsibilities and boundaries should be explicit.
RESEARCH FILM
The thinking behind Cookah.
A short presentation covering the research, problem, concept development and thinking that shaped Cookah.
07 · DESIGN DIRECTION
Five principles guided the product.
The concept was shaped around both sides of the marketplace. Customers need confidence and personalisation, while chefs need tools to communicate, manage bookings and present their work professionally.
Build trustVerified chefs and clear information.
Enable connectionDirect customer-to-chef communication.
PersonaliseFlexible meals and dining experiences.
Be transparentClear pricing and visibility throughout.
Empower chefsBookings, menus, earnings and reputation tools.
08 · JOURNEYS & STRUCTURE
Designing for customers and chefs.
The customer journey moves from discovery to chef profiles, experiences, a tailored request, direct messaging, confirmation and review. In parallel, the chef journey supports receiving requests, responding, planning the menu and delivering the experience.
09 · WIREFRAMES
Turning the journey into a usable product.
I translated the structure into low-fidelity wireframes for the core experience: homepage discovery, browsing chefs, chef profiles, booking and the Chef Hub. The aim was to validate hierarchy and task flow before visual styling.
01Discover
Search, cuisine and featured experiences.
02Evaluate
Profiles, reviews, verification and menus.
03Request
Preferences, guests, budget and dietary needs.
04Manage
Chef dashboard, messages and bookings.
10 · ITERATION
From sketches to a clearer interface.
Early sketches explored discovery, navigation, experience browsing, community and compact mobile variations. The direction then moved toward a stronger balance of chef discovery and experience-led browsing, with trust signals made more visible.
11 · DESIGN SYSTEM
Minimal, neutral and built for trust.
The visual system uses a restrained neutral palette, clean typography and reusable components. This kept the interface consistent while allowing food photography, chef profiles and trust information to carry the experience.
12 · FINAL UI
The complete Cookah experience.
The final interface brings the key product areas together: discovery, chef evaluation, booking and a dedicated operational hub for chefs. The high-fidelity direction adds real imagery, clearer hierarchy and stronger trust-focused elements.
13 · OUTCOME
A two-sided service built around confidence.
Cookah developed from an early service concept into a structured product experience for both customers and chefs. The final direction prioritises trust, personal connection and transparency while giving chefs practical tools to manage their work.
CUSTOMERSDiscover and book with more confidence.
CHEFSShowcase work and manage bookings.
PRODUCTOne connected journey from discovery to dining.
PERSONAL PROJECT · MOBILE UXHSBC REDESIGN
HSBC Mobile Banking
A personal redesign of the HSBC UK mobile banking app focused on making core tasks easier to find, faster to complete and visually clearer for everyday users.
MOBILE BANKING REDESIGN
Making digital banking feel more direct and less cluttered.
The project explored how HSBC’s mobile app could be modernised by improving navigation, streamlining transaction flows and refreshing the interface while keeping important account and security features easy to understand.
01 · THE CHALLENGE
Improve the everyday experience of mobile banking.
The starting point was the idea that customers increasingly expect smoother digital banking journeys. I looked at how the app could better support common tasks such as checking balances, making transfers and accessing security features without feeling visually outdated or difficult to navigate.
Busy interface
Important content and actions can compete for attention, making the app feel heavier than it needs to.
Transfer friction
Payment and transfer journeys can feel longer than necessary for users carrying out routine tasks.
Harder discovery
Useful functions such as filtering, account tools or advanced options are not always surfaced clearly.
Outdated feel
The visual language can feel less modern compared with newer UK banking apps.
02 · COMPETITIVE REVIEW
Learning from other UK banking apps.
I compared HSBC with Monzo, Barclays and TSB across ease of navigation, transaction speed, account management, international features and visual appeal. This helped frame where the redesign could create the biggest improvements.
AreaHSBCMonzoBarclaysTSB
Ease of navigationAverageStrongStrongAverage
Transaction speedWeakStrongStrongAverage
Account managementAverageStrongStrongAverage
International featuresWeakAverageAverageAverage
Visual appealAverageStrongStrongAverage
03 · USER INSIGHTS
Users want clarity, control and quick completion.
The research direction pointed toward users who are actively involved in managing their finances. They value useful tools, clear feedback and the ability to complete specific banking goals without extra friction.
BEHAVIOURActive money management
Users who regularly check and manage finances want quick access to accurate, relevant account information.
EXPECTATIONUseful features over clutter
People value tools that support planning, tracking and transactions, but only when those tools feel purposeful and easy to use.
OUTCOMEGoal-based journeys
Many interactions are task-driven, so flows should support quick completion and clear progress rather than exploration.
04 · DESIGN GOALS
Five goals shaped the redesign direction.
The redesign was built around simplifying core journeys without removing the depth users still need from a banking product.
01Simplify navigation
Reduce complexity and make key tasks easier to find.
02Enhance personalisation
Use clearer dashboards and more relevant financial information.
03Modernise the visual design
Refresh the interface to feel more current and engaging.
04Boost accessibility
Support a wider range of users through clearer hierarchy and labels.
05Improve transaction flows
Make common transfer and payment tasks faster to complete.
05 · USER JOURNEY
Mapping where frustration appears.
A simple user journey helped identify the moments where users could feel uncertainty or friction, from opening the app and finding account information to completing a task and returning to the main menu.
01Awareness
User wants to quickly check account balance or status.
02Consideration
First impression of the interface can influence confidence.
03Engagement
Navigation and information architecture shape usability most strongly.
04Completion
Users need clear feedback and task confirmation.
05Reflection
The overall flow should feel efficient enough to encourage repeat use.
06 · IDEATION & WIREFRAMES
Exploring structure before polish.
I used Crazy 8s and low-fidelity sketching to explore different layout directions for the dashboard, payment flows and quick actions. These ideas were then translated into cleaner digital wireframes and base grids.
07 · ITERATION
Refining the key moments.
The design then moved into visual refinement and interaction-focused iteration, especially around the dashboard, Pay & Transfer section and secure PIN reveal flow.
DASHBOARDClearer hierarchy
Balance, spending and quick actions were brought into a more structured layout.
QUICK ACTIONSFaster access
Frequent actions were grouped more clearly so users can reach them with fewer decisions.
PAYMENTSStronger grouping
Transfers, bank app payments and other routes were organised more clearly.
SECURITYSimpler PIN flow
The PIN experience was redesigned to feel clearer while still keeping safety guidance visible.
08 · CORE IMPROVEMENTS
A more direct structure for common tasks.
The resulting user-flow redesign focused on a simplified home screen, easier access to core features, more direct payment routes and clearer account-management and security sections.
Simplified home screen
A clearer focus on balance, recent transactions and quick-access actions.
Quick access to core features
Common tasks such as Payments, Saving Pots and Budgeting tools are surfaced more clearly.
Streamlined payments & transfers
Send money, pay bills and mobile payment routes are easier to reach with fewer extra steps.
Improved PIN security access
The PIN view flow is easier to understand while still supporting secure use.
09 · OUTCOME
A cleaner banking concept with stronger visual hierarchy.
The final concept explored a more modern dashboard, a clearer Pay & Transfer area and a simplified card PIN experience. As a personal project, it helped me practise competitor analysis, user journeys, ideation, wireframing and UI iteration in a familiar everyday product space.
NAVIGATIONKey actions are easier to find and understand.
TRANSACTIONSPayment journeys are grouped more clearly and feel more direct.
VISUAL DESIGNThe interface feels more modern while keeping HSBC’s recognisable identity.
SPATIAL UX · RESEARCH · PROTOTYPINGUAL STUDY SPACES
Transforming
Study Spaces
A human-centred redesign of educational spaces at UAL, exploring how furniture, layout and zoning affect comfort, productivity, accessibility and collaboration.
01 · CHALLENGE
How can shared study spaces better support the way students actually work?
The project examined libraries, classrooms, cafés and collaborative zones to understand how students and staff interact with furniture and layout. My contribution centred on user research and helping lead prototyping, especially how students adapted furniture and how layout could improve usability.
02 · RESEARCH
Research combined observed behaviour with direct student feedback.
We used three complementary methods to understand both what students said they needed and how they behaved in real learning environments.
OBSERVATIONSNatural behaviour
Observed furniture use, movement, comfort and adaptation in real spaces.
SURVEYSPreferences at scale
Gathered feedback on comfort, furniture types and different study settings.
JOURNEY MAPPINGPain points in context
Connected frustrations and emotional changes to specific moments in the space.
03 · KEY FINDINGS
Students were already redesigning the spaces themselves.
Research showed repeated patterns around comfort, flexibility and inefficient layouts. Students moved tables together, stacked or rearranged chairs, searched for quieter zones and struggled when fixed furniture did not match their task or group size.
COMFORTErgonomics mattered
Long sessions exposed discomfort in spaces without suitable furniture.
FLEXIBILITYFixed layouts failed
Solo, pair and small-group work required different configurations.
SPACE USESome areas were underused
Poor layouts and oversized tables made otherwise useful space inefficient.
04 · USER ARCHETYPES
Three study behaviours needed three different spatial responses.
Rather than using generic personas, the archetypes came directly from observation journey maps. I grouped the recurring behaviours into solo workers, pair studiers and collaborative groups, then connected each type to the spatial needs we repeatedly observed.
SOLO WORKER · OBSERVATION-BASED ARCHETYPE
The Independent Learner
NEEDS
Quiet, private spaces for focused work with minimal distraction.
OBSERVED INSIGHT
Often rearranged or selected furniture to create a more personal study zone.
PAIR STUDIER · OBSERVATION-BASED ARCHETYPE
The Pair Studier
NEEDS
Flexible side-by-side seating for pair study or casual collaboration.
OBSERVED INSIGHT
Looked for open seating arrangements where two people could work alongside each other comfortably.
GROUP WORKER · OBSERVATION-BASED ARCHETYPE
The Collaborative Group
NEEDS
Larger tables and communal seating for small-group study and project work.
OBSERVED INSIGHT
Frequently moved between group tables and adapted seating to fit the group.
05 · THE PIVOT
The research changed the solution completely.
The team initially explored a mobile app for finding available study spaces. Research showed that availability was not the core problem: students were frustrated by the design of the spaces themselves.
RESEARCH-LED DECISIONWe moved from designing an app to redesigning the physical environment around flexibility, comfort and privacy.
06 · EARLY CONCEPTS & LAYOUT
Turning research themes into spatial ideas.
After the research-led pivot, the ideation work explored how the same space could support different modes of study. Early sketches tested modular seating, privacy zones, collaborative areas and clearer zoning across the café environment.
MODULARITYFurniture that can change around solo, pair and group work.
PRIVACYSemi-private and quieter zones for students who need focus.
ZONINGClearer separation between collaboration, casual use and focused study.
07 · PROTOTYPING & TESTING
Testing layouts before committing to the final space.
Low-fidelity paper models, spatial maps and temporary on-site layouts were used to test modularity, flow and comfort. Students were able to move elements around, helping reveal which configurations felt intuitive and adaptable.
01Flexibility won
Students valued layouts they could rearrange around group size and task.
02Simple worked best
Overly complex configurations were avoided or misused.
03Privacy varied
The final concept needed both enclosed focus areas and open social zones.
08 · FINAL DIRECTION
Clear zoning, adaptable furniture and better movement.
The final floorplan used distinct quiet and collaborative zones, flexible furniture and clearer circulation. Furniture and materials were chosen around comfort, durability, maintainability and the ability to support different modes of study.
09 · OUTCOME
A more adaptable environment for focus and collaboration.
The proposed redesign responds directly to the observed problems: underused space, poor acoustics, discomfort and layouts that could not adapt to different study behaviours.
PRODUCTIVITYFlexible layouts
Support both focused work and collaboration.
COMFORTErgonomic choices
Reduce discomfort during longer sessions.
COMMUNITYSocial zones
Encourage teamwork without removing quiet space.
SUSTAINABILITYDurable materials
Prioritise long-lasting and recycled material options.
10 · SUPPORTING APPENDIX
The full supporting research and development trail.
I kept the full appendix evidence at the end of the case study so the main story stays concise while the deeper research, floor plans, early digital thinking, measurements and reference work remain available for anyone who wants to inspect the process in more detail.
RESEARCH EVIDENCEObservations, surveys, secondary research and tutor feedback.
SPATIAL DEVELOPMENTFloor plans, measurements, sketches and site exploration.
SYSTEM THINKINGUser journeys, booking-system concepts and app exploration.
APPENDIX 01
Observations + Research
Raw observations from different café areas, informal interview notes, research groupings and tutor feedback that informed the direction of the project.
APPENDIX 02
Surveys + Secondary Research
Survey material, results, secondary research into café and learning spaces, and the wider evidence used to understand student study habits.
APPENDIX 03
Floor Plans
Existing floor plans, access and circulation notes, proposed zoning and comparative layouts used to understand how the space could be reconfigured.
APPENDIX 04
User Journeys + Floor-plan Sketches
Early digital booking journeys alongside multiple hand-drawn and collaborative spatial sketches, showing both the original system thinking and the developing physical layouts.
APPENDIX 05
System Solution, Prototyping + Measurements
The consolidated problem statement and recommendation plan, prototype options and on-site measurement work used to move from research into a buildable spatial proposal.
APPENDIX 06
App Idea Exploration
Early UAL booking-system analysis, mobile sketches, QR-booking thinking and competitor references from the digital direction explored before the research-led pivot.
APPENDIX 07
Additional Spaces, Plans + References
Further UAL locations considered for the redesign and visual references for pods, modular furniture, privacy solutions and flexible workplace layouts.
UX RESEARCH · ETHNOGRAPHYSCIENCE MUSEUM
Who Am I?
Exploring how visitors interact with technology in the Science Museum’s “Who Am I?” exhibition, and how UX interventions could improve engagement, understanding and accessibility.
01 · PROJECT QUESTION
What makes visitors stop, interact or move on?
The exhibition uses technology to explore identity and self-discovery. I focused on the moments where visitors actively engaged with displays, hesitated, watched others, or left an installation entirely.
RESEARCH QUESTION
How do different visitor groups interact with the technological displays in the “Who Am I?” exhibition, and what design enhancements could increase engagement and understanding?
02 · METHODOLOGY
Studying behaviour in the real environment.
I used non-participant observation so visitors could interact naturally without being interrupted. I documented behaviour, challenges and engagement patterns with field notes, photos and exhibit-layout sketches, while secondary research helped connect those observations to established museum UX and accessibility principles.
PRIMARY RESEARCHNon-participant observation
Visitors were observed using touchscreens and installations while notes were recorded discreetly.
DOCUMENTATIONField notes, photos & diagrams
Visual evidence and sketches helped capture individual behaviour as well as environmental factors.
03 · FINDINGS
Interactive content clearly held attention longer.
Different display types produced very different engagement times. Interactive games generated the longest average dwell time, followed by video and motion installations, while static panels were typically viewed for the shortest period.
4:00Interactive games
The most engaging format, especially with families and children.
2:30Video installations
Motion and sound kept visitors engaged longer than static content.
1:15Static panels
Visitors usually read briefly before moving on.
04 · BEHAVIOUR
65% of visitors directly interacted with exhibits.
Direct interaction was the dominant behaviour, particularly around touchscreens and games. Smaller groups either hovered without participating or watched other visitors first.
KEY PATTERN
Interactive exhibits created participation.
Dynamic content invited visitors to do something, while static experiences were more likely to produce brief or passive behaviour.
05 · DEMOGRAPHICS
Children and adults approached the exhibition differently.
Children aged 6–12 gravitated toward quizzes, games and collaborative interaction. Adults spent more time on video and static content and often engaged more reflectively. Group behaviour also differed from individual use.
CHILDRENGamified & social
Children were more active around quizzes and puzzles, often participating with siblings or friends.
ADULTSReflective & information-led
Adults showed stronger interest in videos and static panels and were more likely to engage individually.
06 · BARRIERS
Four issues repeatedly reduced engagement.
The strongest barriers came from both the interface and the physical environment. Dense content made some screens difficult to use, while crowding limited access to the most popular installations.
07 · DESIGN DIRECTION
From research insight to three interventions.
The final proposals directly respond to the observed barriers. They focus on improving movement around busy exhibits, making instructions easier to understand and increasing interaction at low-engagement displays.
PROPOSAL 01Real-time interactive map
Show crowd levels, wait times, routes and exhibit information so visitors can avoid bottlenecks and plan their visit.
PROPOSAL 02Clearer information support
Use simpler steps, visual guidance and multilingual support to reduce confusion around installations.
PROPOSAL 03Interactive screens
Add quizzes, games and interactive storytelling to displays that currently struggle to hold attention.
08 · REFLECTION
Observing real behaviour made the design opportunities clearer.
The project strengthened my ethnographic research skills and showed how user behaviour is shaped by more than the screen itself. Crowds, context, group behaviour, accessibility and information density all affected engagement.
RESEARCHBuilt confidence using discreet observation in a public environment.
INSIGHTConnected visitor behaviour with environmental and interface barriers.
DESIGNTranslated findings into practical proposals for flow, clarity and engagement.
ABOUT ME
Research first.
Then make the design earn its place.
01 — 03
I’m a UX Design graduate from University of the Arts London. My process starts by understanding how people actually behave, where friction appears and what the product or environment needs to do better.
Across marketplace, financial, museum and spatial projects, I’ve worked from early research and synthesis through journeys, flows, prototyping and testing. I’m most interested in problems where clarity, trust and usability have a practical impact.
01
Understand before designing
Observe, ask questions and look for the actual problem before choosing the solution.
02
Make complexity understandable
Turn research and system requirements into journeys and interfaces people can follow.
03
Test, learn, refine
Use feedback to challenge early ideas and improve what matters most to the user.
SKILLS
How I work.
Research-led UX and product design skills developed across digital products, service concepts and spatial experiences.
01RESEARCH
User Research
Interviews, ethnographic observation, contextual inquiry and surveys to understand real behaviour, needs and pain points.
02SYNTHESIS
Research Synthesis
Affinity mapping, personas and user archetypes, stakeholder mapping and turning raw findings into clear design opportunities.
03STRUCTURE
UX Architecture
User journeys, information architecture, task flows and user flows that make complex experiences easier to understand.
04DESIGN
Product & Interaction Design
Wireframing, interaction design, interface design and responsive thinking across web and mobile experiences.
05VALIDATION
Prototyping & Testing
Low to high-fidelity prototyping, usability testing, feedback analysis and iterative refinement based on evidence.
06THINKING
Product & Service Thinking
Competitor analysis, value propositions, trust and safety, accessibility and designing across digital and physical touchpoints.
Research & strategy
User Interviews
Ethnographic Observation
Contextual Inquiry
Surveys
Affinity Mapping
Personas & Archetypes
Stakeholder Mapping
Competitor Analysis
UX & product design
Journey Mapping
Information Architecture
User Flows
Wireframing
Interaction Design
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Design Systems
Accessibility
Spatial UX
Tools
Figma
Adobe XD
Sketch
HTML/CSS
Microsoft Office
CONTACT
London · Open to junior opportunitiesLooking for a junior UX or Product Designer who works from research to outcome?
I’m currently open to UX, Product Design and research-focused roles in London and hybrid teams.
Available for
Junior UX Design · Product Design · UX Research