Food Freshness Decision Guide
Design a cautious food-checking assistant that combines package details, storage history, and visible signs without making unsafe guarantees.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
A photo alone cannot reliably confirm whether food is safe. People still need help interpreting date labels, storage conditions, recalls, and visible spoilage without receiving a misleading safe-to-eat verdict.
User context
Owen finds an opened container of cooked rice in the refrigerator. He is unsure when it was prepared and wants guidance on what information matters before deciding whether to discard it.
Product problem
The interface must be useful under uncertainty, clearly state its limits, and direct users toward the safer choice when essential information is missing.
Objective
Design a guided assessment that gathers relevant evidence and returns cautious, actionable guidance.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Identify a food item by search, barcode, or photo
- Enter package date and storage history
- Review category-specific signs and recall information
- Receive a recommendation with reasoning and uncertainty
Screens and states
- Item identification
- Storage questions
- Visual check guidance
- Assessment result
- Insufficient information state
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Owen identifies the item as cooked rice
- 02
He answers questions about opening date and refrigeration
- 03
The app explains that key timing information is missing
- 04
It recommends discarding the item and shows general storage guidance
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Never present image analysis as proof that food is safe
- Explain which inputs affect the recommendation
- Prioritize official recall and public health guidance
- Provide a clear discard recommendation when critical evidence is absent
Constraints
- Rules differ by food type and jurisdiction
- Color may vary because of lighting
- The service is educational and not a laboratory test
Reality check
States worth considering
Finish line
What to deliver
- Five mobile screens demonstrating a complete and an inconclusive assessment
- A content hierarchy for confidence, reasoning, and safety escalation
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.
Quattrocento & Fanwood Text
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.
Quattrocento & Fanwood Text
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.