Build a Catering Menu for an Event
Design a catering request flow that balances guest needs, dietary safety, service style, and budget.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
Catering choices affect budget, timing, staffing, and guest safety. Organizers often collect dietary needs late and struggle to see whether a menu works for everyone.
User context
Noah is arranging lunch for a two-day workshop with 46 attendees. He knows several guests are vegetarian and one has a severe nut allergy, but more responses may arrive later.
Product problem
The organizer needs to compose a viable menu before every guest has responded, while the caterer needs accurate quantities and prominent allergy information.
Objective
Create a menu planning and quote flow for a catered event with evolving attendance and dietary data.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Event and guest requirement setup
- Menu selection with coverage indicators
- Quote review with service and staffing details
Screens and states
- Event details
- Menu builder
- Dietary coverage review
- Quote summary
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Noah enters the schedule, headcount estimate, and service style
- 02
He records known dietary requirements and allergy severity
- 03
He builds a menu and checks which needs are covered
- 04
He reviews quantity assumptions, staffing, and price
- 05
He updates the final headcount before the cutoff
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Keep allergies visually distinct from preferences
- Show how each menu item contributes to dietary coverage
- Explain minimum quantities and service fees
- Display the deadline for final headcount changes
- Provide a printable summary for onsite staff
Constraints
- Some dietary responses are unknown at quote time
- Cross-contamination cannot be represented as an absolute guarantee
- Menu items may become unavailable seasonally
Reality check
States worth considering
Finish line
What to deliver
- Design a responsive four-screen menu and quote flow, including a late dietary update.
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.