Gatcha Eats

CHALLENGE
"Where do you want to eat?"
"I dunno, where do you want to eat?"
This simple question often spirals into an endless back-and-forth, turning what should be a quick decision into a frustrating dilemma. Despite the myriad of technological tools at our disposal, this age-old challenge persists, especially when deciding with friends. The frequent indecisiveness surrounding meal choices was the core problem I aimed to address through this project.

SOLUTION
Introducing Gatcha Eats, a native mobile application designed to transform the tedious process of choosing where to eat into a fun and engaging experience. The app draws inspiration from the randomizer function of Japanese gashapon machines, infusing the decision-making process with an element of surprise and excitement. By leveraging the playful appeal of rubber hose-style graphics and dynamic animations, Gatcha Eats turns an annoying, everyday problem into a delightful, straightforward solution.

The project began with extensive research and strategic planning. I conducted user interviews to better understand the frustrations and behaviors associated with choosing a restaurant. This research phase also included storyboarding to visualize the existing problem and user journey, as well as a competitive audit to analyze other mobile apps in the space.

The final app is both playful and lighthearted, reflecting the whimsical nature of gashapon machines. The random selection function, which can be activated by a shake of the phone, mimics the excitement of receiving a surprise toy, making the decision-making process fun and unpredictable. Custom icons and illustrations were designed to label filters and functions, adding a layer of visual interest and coherence to the app’s interface. The visual and messaging style is deliberately casual, fun, and a bit silly, aiming to reduce the stress of decision-making and bring a smile to the user’s face.