The Recipe Nook
A safe and inclusive space for immigrants to share their traditional recipes.
The Recipe Nook is a research-driven interaction design project that aims to provide a safe, inclusive space for immigrants to share their traditional recipes while celebrating and preserving cultural authenticity. By combining human-centered research, iterative design, and a commitment to community-building over the course of 3 months, our team created a tangible solution that fosters connection through food and heritage.
Finding Our Opportunity
The Problem Space
Food is an intrinsic part of cultural identity, often serving as a bridge to heritage and a vessel for stories. Yet, immigrants often face challenges in sharing their traditions, risking the dilution or loss of their cultural authenticity. We wanted to create a platform that facilitates the exchange of traditional recipes while honoring the stories and heritage they represent.
Research Process
We began by crafting an extensive list of questions to explore how food intersects with heritage, identity, and community. Through interviews, surveys, and artifact analysis, we uncovered key insights:
- The importance of handwritten recipes as a personal, authentic expression of tradition.
- The role of face-to-face interactions in fostering a sense of togetherness and belonging.
- The need for accessible, inclusive design to accommodate diverse cultural contexts.
Defining the Solution
Synthesizing our findings, we tackled the question:
"How might we help immigrants share and exchange their traditional recipes while preserving cultural authenticity?"
Through iterative brainstorming and feedback sessions, we narrowed down our concepts to The Recipe Nook—a system that combines tangible interaction with community engagement:Recipe Cards: Participants use handwritten templates to share their traditional recipes, emphasizing authenticity and personal touch.Color-Coded Slots: A simple, intuitive system for easy recipe retrieval based on interests or categories.Physical Interaction: A sliding mechanism adds a tactile element, making the process more engaging.Community Bulletin Board: A space for participants to leave messages, announcements, and cultural reflections, fostering deeper connections.
Prototyping & Iteration
The prototyping phase was both challenging and rewarding, marked by multiple iterations:
Version 1: A combination of wood and cardboard allowed us to test functionality and aesthetics while ensuring flexibility for adjustments.
Refinements: Feedback during user testing led to significant changes, such as replacing a button mechanism with a more intuitive sliding design.
Physical Fabrication: Spending hours at the mill, we refined every detail—sanding, staining, and ensuring seamless assembly of wood and cardboard components.This hands-on experience taught us the importance of adaptability, creative problem-solving, and balancing practicality with design intent.
Final Design
The Recipe Nook culminates in a functional, aesthetically pleasing design that reflects the richness of cultural heritage:
- A tangible recipe exchange system that encourages handwritten contributions for authenticity.
- Community-focused features to facilitate connection and engagement.
- A modular, inclusive design that celebrates diversity while maintaining ease of use.
Reflections
The Recipe Nook taught me invaluable lessons as an interaction designer:
The power of iterative problem-solving in addressing complex, real-world challenges.
The importance of collaboration and adaptability in a team setting.How intentional design can create meaningful, human-centered experiences.
This project reinforced my passion for creating solutions that bring people together, amplify underrepresented voices, and preserve cultural integrity.
Watch the Final Design in Action