HMI-Driven Food Safety & Accountability Solution
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Project Overview
Project Overview
In collaboration with a fast-casual food chain, we tackled a widespread operational problem: managing food holding times with reliability, clarity, and minimal human error. The solution demanded more than just interface design — it required designing for high-pressure kitchen environments, optimizing workflows, and rethinking how human-machine interaction (HMI) fits into quick-service restaurants
My Role
My Role
Lead UX Designer & Researcher
Tools
Tools
Figma (UI Design), InDesign (Documentation)
Challenges
Challenges
Limited Budget
Limited Time
Define
Define
Main Goal
Main Goal
Design a reliable, user-friendly system for tracking food holding times that helps:
Prevent serving expired or stale food
Improve employee accountability
Reduce food waste and health risks
Fit into a chaotic, high-temperature environment
Target Users
Target Users
Primary: Restaurant employees (cooks, station leads)
Secondary: Managers, franchise owners, and corporate operators
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Employees often forgot to start or stop holding timers during busy shifts.
Alarm sounds were too low and went unnoticed in loud kitchen environments.
Timers were not durable—devices broke every few months due to heat, grease, and rough use.
No centralized view or accountability for managers to monitor stations or employee behavior.
No link between food prep timing and sales data, limiting operational insights.
Research
Research
User Interviews
User Interviews
Line employees (pain points, habits, attention span)
Managers and owners (goals, frustrations, oversight)
Engineers (feasibility, hardware limitations)
Field Observations
Field Observations
Shadowed kitchen workflows to identify timer usage patterns, distractions, and when errors happen.
Market & Gap Analysis
Market & Gap Analysis
Lack of durability (most break every 4–6 months)
No automation or employee accountability
No integration with data systems
Ideation & Strategy
Ideation & Strategy
User-Centered Design Approach
User-Centered Design Approach
Visualizing the Solution
Visualizing the Solution
Industrial Design: Designed to be suitable in the harsh kitchen environment
Visual & Audio: Clear alerts that are easy to see and respond to, even in a busy kitchen.
Cost-Effective Solution: Utilizes low-cost screens and requires minimal maintenance.
Remote Access and Data Management
Remote Access and Data Management
App Integration: Managers can remotely view data and configure the system using a dedicated app.
Real-Time Insights: Easily monitor kitchen performance and make adjustments from anywhere.
Pattern Analysis: By analyzing the data, companies can identify patterns to improve efficiency and solve operational issues.
Marketing Insights: Data can be leveraged for targeted marketing strategies and understanding customer preferences.
Sales and Process Optimization: The data can be used to compare sales and food processing, offering more control over store performance.
2 Option We have
2 Option We have
Color solution
Color solution
Monochrome solution
Monochrome solution
Prototype
Prototype
Bringing Ideas to Life
Bringing Ideas to Life
Durable hardware
Visible, progress-based timers
Employee log-in / accountability
Central dashboard view for managers
Clear alerts (sound + visuals)
Two scalable product options based on cost
Prototype Breakdown
Prototype Breakdown
The interface was designed to support speed, clarity, and accountability in a high-pressure kitchen environment.
Station Timers: Each shows the food name, countdown, and progress color (green/yellow/red) for quick decision-making.
Manager Timer (Bottom Center): A large central timer dedicated to the shift manager for high-priority items and oversight.
Food Icons: Visual identifiers help employees instantly recognize what’s being timed, reducing confusion.
Manager Name: Displayed on-screen to link actions to leadership and improve accountability.
Alerts: Color shifts and alarms ensure expired food is handled on time, even in noisy settings.
StationSync for a Smarter, More Efficient Kitchen
StationSync for a Smarter, More Efficient Kitchen
The StationSync device simplifies starting, resetting, and ending timers, helping restaurants track task frequency and maintain food freshness. It supports both button-based and touchless operations, allowing flexibility in how employees interact with the system
Timer Display: Built-in timer for easy tracking.
Flexible Controls: Use buttons or touchless gestures.
Timer Control: Start, reset, and end the timer.
Material & Design: Customizable design tailored to the user's needs and the environment it's used in.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Employees and managers have very different mindsets; the UI must serve both.
Automation (via sensors) is the long-term solution, but initial manual tools are still needed.
Data visibility is critical for reducing waste, improving training, and protecting food quality.
Cost is king; don’t design a premium solution without scalable, affordable options first.
Designing for harsh environments demands both UX empathy and engineering coordination.
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