TikTok Recipes
TikTok Recipes
TikTok is a social media app that features short-form videos on a variety of topics, including cooking and recipes. Many talented chefs and home cooks have gained a following on the app, sharing their favorite recipes and cooking tips with a global audience. Users can easily search for recipes and cooking videos, and save them for future reference. TikTok has become a popular platform for discovering new and creative recipe ideas.
TikTok Recipes
On TikTok, certain creators feature video recipes. However, TikTok faces two significant issues when it comes to sharing recipes: the lack of a means to save recipes for future reference and insensitivity to users' dietary needs during recipe discovery.
It's a common experience to come across recipe videos on TikTok that do not cater to one's dietary preferences, thus making it difficult to find recipes that are suitable. Additionally, video descriptions frequently lack proper formatting to list the recipe accurately.
To resolve these issues, TikTok Recipes could be implemented, allowing users to specify their dietary preferences and discover recipes that fit their requirements. When users view a recipe, they could access a formatted recipe through an icon, making it simpler to replicate the dish.
TikTok Recipes is set to provide users with the ability to personalize their experience by selecting cuisine and ingredients they want to see or avoid. This level of customization is aimed at enhancing user satisfaction, and it highlights the importance of UX design skills in the development process.
A seamless user experience is crucial to the success of the new recipe feature, and it must maintain the same flow as the rest of TikTok. With this in mind, I needed to ensure that users can effortlessly navigate the recipe section and access the recipe information. I needed to consider the visual design, layout, and functionality of the recipe feature to ensure that it aligns with TikTok's overall look and feel.
The Discover Page
To access TikTok Recipes, users can navigate to the Discover Page, which will be prominently displayed on the top of the screen via a carousel. This carousel features current events, trending stories, and other hot topics to capture users' attention. Additionally, TikTok Recipes will have a permanent spot on the Discover Page to ensure easy accessibility.
To further enhance user engagement, it is recommended that the Discover Page also includes categorized sections that cater to specific interests such as TikTok Recipes, Dance Trends, and more. This approach can help users quickly find content that aligns with their preferences and boost their overall satisfaction with the platform.
By strategically placing the recipe feature on the Discover Page and leveraging categorization to improve navigation, TikTok can create a user-friendly platform that caters to users' diverse interests and preferences.
Dietary Preferences
As a UX designer, I understand the importance of customized recipe recommendations that align with users' dietary needs and ingredient preferences. To achieve this, I proposed a two-step process for introducing users to TikTok Recipes that takes into account their unique preferences.
Step 1
Presenting users with a screen that lists various dietary categories and specific foods, allowing them to select what types of recipes they are looking for.
This information will then inform the TikTok Recipes "For You" page, which will feature recipes that match the selected diets and cuisine.
Step 2
Focusing on customization and asking users what ingredients they want to avoid. This will help tailor recipe recommendations to the user's preferences.
Two screens will be provided and filled out by the user. "What kind of recipes are you looking for?" and "What kind of ingredients do you want to stay away from?" This will provide the TikTok algorithm with essential data to recommend recipes that users are willing to prepare, serve, and give a 5-star rating. By prioritizing user preferences and needs, TikTok Recipes can create a personalized and enjoyable experience for all users.
Discovering Recipes
After users have answered the two preference questions, they will be directed to the TikTok Recipes "For You" page. This page will showcase recipes that have been specifically curated to match their preferences. To make it easy for users to browse through multiple options, I designed the page as a grid. Within this grid layout, users will be able to view a photo of the recipe, the TikToker who published it, and the recipe's rating. This clean and organized layout will enable users to quickly find recipes that match their preferences and select the ones they are interested in trying.
Users can browse recommended recipes, select a specific category by clicking on the corresponding symbol, or search for a recipe. This multi-faceted approach will give users the freedom to explore and find recipes that fit their preferences and dietary needs.
Rather than turning TikTok into a strict recipe app, this feature will enhance the user experience by providing a customizable tool to create recipes that align with the user's needs. By incorporating dietary preferences and ingredient restrictions, users can discover and create recipes tailored to their individual taste. This will elevate the overall experience on TikTok by providing users with more relevant and personalized content.
Interacting with Recipe Videos
Upon clicking their desired recipe, users will be directed to the corresponding video paired with it to retain the unique character of the app. Along with watching the video, users can follow the TikToker, explore more content from their account, like and save the video, comment or share. To access the full recipe, a new icon "View full recipe" will be provided, and users can also go back to the TikTok Recipes "For You" page. This icon will also be available for recipe videos on the current "For You" page. Moreover, users can scroll vertically to discover more suggested recipes.
Recipe Instructions
By clicking on the "View full recipe" icon, users will have access to the recipe details, including its category, cuisine, prep time, cook time, total time, calories, servings, ingredients, and instructions. This information is essential for users to prepare the recipe. Moreover, users will be able to rate the recipe, which helps to determine the recipe's quality. They can also view more recipes by the TikToker or go back to the TikTok Recipes "For You" page.
TikTok Recipes can revolutionize the way users discover personalized recipes and save them for future use.