Beachin' Burgers
For a few years, my younger brother, Emil, and I have discussed opening a burger restaurant. It was never really serious and more of a fantasy. Little did we know that these dreams would evolve into our own foodtruck, allowing me to develop skills in leadership, management, and responsibility that complement my UX/UI design expertise. We recruited my partner into the equation and Beachin' Burgers was born.
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In the world of UX/UI design, effective leadership and the ability to take initiative are invaluable skills that extend beyond the realm of design itself. While my primary role is that of a UX/UI designer, I want to share a project that showcases my growth as a team leader and project manager.
Overview
From Concept to Reality
Our journey began in the spring of 2021 when we with no prior experience of running a business or restaurant, decided to turn our dream into reality. We instantly faced numerous challenges. We needed to establish a company, navigate legal requirements, find suppliers and a lot more, all while studying full time at univiersity.
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To handle the time pressure, we used a methodology close to sprint planning in agile development. We divided tasks, conducted research, and held regular meetings to stay on track. We held interviews with experienced industry people, restaurant workers and foodtruck owners to gain as much insights as possible before taking any major decisions.
Design Thinking Beyond Interfaces
Even though our project were centered around serving food, I discovered that design thinking principles could be adapted to a range of aspects. We put our creative minds to work, not only in crafting the ideal burger but also in areas like designing the menu and configuring our food trailer layout. We applied creative thinking not just to our burgers but also to other aspects of the project, such as designing our menu and arranging the layout of our trailer.
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A fun twist to our project was the transformation of our trailer into a canvas for young artists. We coated it with blackboard paint, providing children with an opportunity to draw and create art while waiting for their food.This also enabled us to ourself write messages and to changes to our menu instantly.
Continuous Improvement and Adaptation
As the project progressed, I discovered the importance of iteration and adaptation. We listened to our customers' feedback and made changes accordingly. We expanded our menu to cater to families and introduced the "Son of a Beach" burger to satisfy those wanting a somethinng more spicy. When developing this burger we invited customers to try out and give feedback on our prototypes. We used the feedback and created two different burgers which we then evaluated with an A/B test with cutsomers.
One significant shift was our decision to create our own burger patties, which allowed us to provide a burger of higher quality. We could ourselves control the size and the fat content which is instrumental to a good burger. This choice was more time consuming and made the logistics more complicated. To counter this we did research and interviewed experts to gain insights into how to handle the meat in a safe and simple way, cutting down on prep time and work load.
Results and Reflections
Our journey wasn't without its challenges, but it was immensely rewarding. In our first summer, Beachin Burgers turned a profit, a testament to our dedication and hard work. The second summer brought even greater success, thanks to our improved processes and refined offerings.
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This project has taught me valuable lessons in leadership, teamwork, and adaptability, skills that complement my UX/UI design expertise. It demonstrates my ability to take initiative, manage complex projects, and drive them to success.
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As you explore my portfolio, I invite you to consider this project not as a deviation from UX/UI design but as a testament to my broader skill set and my commitment to delivering outstanding results, regardless of the task. It showcases my capacity to lead, innovate, and create meaningful experiences, whether in pixels or on a plate.
