A UX + PM Case Study

If I think about it, this project didn’t start with a “design brief.”
It actually started with me.

I’ve always loved growing plants and trying out new, wholesome recipes  and that little curiosity slowly turned into a full design project. I wanted to create something that brought both worlds together: the joy of growing your own food and the satisfaction of cooking something healthy with it.

And that’s how Herbify was born an app that helps people grow, cook, share, and live a little closer to nature.

What started as a personal habit slowly became a problem statement, a user journey, and finally, a product that makes gardening and cooking feel easy, accessible, and fun.

*Click on the banner below to see the Figma prototype of this app

1. What problem was I trying to solve?

I noticed something very basic:

• People want to grow plants but don’t know which ones to start with

• People want to cook healthy food but get confused about ingredients

• And many of us don’t know how to connect both things together

Like… if I’m growing mint, what can I cook with it today?
If I have tomatoes at home, can I grow them too?

So I wanted an app that bridges this gap in a very simple, friendly way.

2. Who I made this for

I didn’t overthink the “target audience.”
It’s basically people like me:

• beginners in gardening

• people who want to eat better

• people who love exploring new recipes

• and people who enjoy learning from a community

Nothing too complicated.

3. My simple product goals

When I started thinking about Herbify, I didn’t come up with any complicated product goals. I just wanted the app to do four very simple things.
First, it should help people grow plants without feeling confused or overwhelmed. Second, it should give recipe ideas based on what someone already has or what they’re growing. Third, it should create a small, friendly community where people can share their progress, recipes, or even small wins. And lastly, the entire experience should feel calming and natural like the feeling you get when you water your plants or cook something fresh.

4. Why these features? (In my normal way of explaining)

For the home screen, my idea was that people should instantly know what they can cook, what they can grow, and what’s trending. No chaos. Just a clear, simple view.

The plant explorer came from my own confusion I never remember which plants are indoor, outdoor, seasonal, easy, or high maintenance. So I added clear categories like indoor, outdoor, vegetables, herbs… just to make it easier without needing to Google every little thing.

The community section exists because learning from other people simply feels better. Especially for beginners, seeing others share their updates or recipes makes the whole experience more fun and less lonely.

And the recipe page is detailed on purpose because when you’re actually cooking, you just want things to be straightforward and easy to follow.

My Design Thought Process

1. Understanding the vibe I wanted

Before jumping into Figma, I had a very clear feeling in my head.
I didn’t want the app to look “techy” or “app-like.”
I wanted it to feel like nature.

Something fresh.
Something green.
Something that reminds you of plants, sunlight, and that peaceful moment when you water your garden.

So instead of going for a minimal white theme like most apps, I leaned into earthy greens, soft creams, and plant illustrations. My goal was simple:
when someone opens Herbify, they should instantly feel relaxed. 

2. Why this color palette?

I chose a deep forest green as the main color because it feels grounded and reliable.
To balance it, I added lighter greens and soft neutral shades, which made the screens feel airy instead of heavy.

The idea was to create a balance between:

• calmness (soft greens)

• clarity (white/cream backgrounds)

• freshness (bright, lively greens from the plant photos)
  
  

I didn’t want the app to scream “look at me.”
I wanted it to breathe.

3. Illustrations & visual language

The leafy illustrations in the background aren’t random they’re there to set the mood.

I wanted the app to feel like it belonged in a garden.
Not in a kitchen.
Not in a typical recipe app.
Somewhere in between.

The character illustrations during onboarding were my way of making it friendlier.
A small human touch always makes an app feel more welcoming, especially for beginners who might feel nervous about planting or cooking.

4. Layout choices (my logic behind it)

I kept the layouts very clean, because apps with too much information immediately feel stressful.
So my rule for Herbify was:

One screen, one purpose.

• The login screen is calm and simple.

• The Gardening screen plants mixing categories.

• The community page focuses only on posts.

• The recipe page is step-by-step no clutter.

This helped the entire design stay peaceful and easy on the eyes.

5. Typography

I went for simple, readable fonts.
No fancy curves, no dramatic headings.

Why?

Because when someone is cooking or reading plant instructions, they need clarity not aesthetics.
Simple typography made everything feel approachable and friendly.

6. UI decisions that came from my own habits

A lot of the UI choices literally came from my own life:

• I get confused with too many icons → so I added a simple bottom bar with universal symbols.

• I love scrolling through pictures → so the recipe and plant grids are image-first.

• I don’t like long steps when cooking → so I broke everything into short, clean lines.

• I hate when apps feel too “digital” → so I added rounded cards, soft shadows, and green tones to keep it comfy.
  
  

Basically, I designed the kind of app I would genuinely use.

The final feel (and what I learned)

When I look at Herbify now, it feels exactly like the picture I had in my head:

Calm.
Green.
Fresh.
Warm.

It’s the kind of app that invites you to slow down a little  to grow something, cook something, and enjoy the process. And honestly, seeing it all come together made me realise a few things about myself as a designer too.

I learned that I naturally lean toward designs that feel soothing and intentional, not loud.
I learned how important consistency is  especially when you’re blending two worlds like gardening and cooking.
I learned to make decisions that are not just “pretty” but actually meaningful for the user.
And most importantly, I learned that when you design something connected to your own hobbies, it automatically becomes more thoughtful and authentic.

Herbify didn’t just become an app; it became a small reflection of the things I love — plants, recipes, and the joy of creating something simple but useful.

Still i am not satisfied by my work, as i wnat to learn more do more perfect designing and make it as simple as classic as possible. Will make sure to do better in next project.