Before/After: Reimagining MealMate’s Recipe Flow for Senior Users

Design · 4 min read

Prior to the redesign, MealMate's recipe view presented dense ingredient lists, popover substitutions, and a swipe-based step navigator that confused many older users. Usability testing in May 2026 revealed common issues: missed steps, difficulty reading timers, and anxiety about ingredient swaps.

Designers moved to a 'single-column, expanded' recipe view with larger typography, high-contrast elements, and a persistent step checklist that visually progressed as users tapped completed steps. Ingredient substitutions were converted from popovers to inline, labeled toggles with preview impacts (e.g., "low-sodium swap: reduces salt by 40% — affects flavor level: mild").

Post-launch metrics showed a 47% drop in help requests for cooking steps, a 33% increase in recipe completion for the 60+ cohort, and positive NPS movement among previously dissatisfied users. The team concluded that accessibility-first choices improved experience for all users and simplified future localization efforts.