Kidpick is an app designed to empower kids and give them a voice to express their opinions in the restaurant and food industry. There currently is no platform like it. It is meant to give kids the tools they’d need to communicate their views on the food items they order in a restaurant. These tools being, photos, type, drawing, and emojis. These are the tools they would typically use to communicate via social media, so in the UX design these elements were incorporated.
But how do you visually design for a modern kid; a kid on the cusp of being a teenager (ages 9-11)? Their taste and humor are far different than a teenager, and are more complex than children of a younger age. In creating the UI for the app, I looked to the aesthetic of apps that they would be familiar with; apps like Pokemon Go, Instagram, and Snapchat. Though Pokemon Go was designed with kids in mind, much of it’s UI is very clean and has an air of sophistication. I wanted to maintain this sophistication as well, but still make it fun and youthful.
The inspiration board I created with some of the colours, designs and characters that gave way to the designs that I created for the final app.
I started with trying to decide upon a colour palette that would speak to a vibrant and energetic youth. What I created was a palette that I feel speaks to energy with pops of joy and silliness.
They typography throughout would remain neutral in it’s colour. I chose a subtle dark shade of grey for ease in readability and so it would not steal attention away from the actions of the app.
The icons of the app are simple in their design, but maintain the meaning and nature. I wanted them to be clear in their meaning, but also maintain a sense of goofiness in their design. The “rating” icons were designed to speak to the demographic’s love for emojis and the nature of their facial expressions when they are happy with their meal, indifferent to it, and utterly loathing of their food.
I was inspired by shows like Fairly Odd Parents and Dexter’s Lab when I created the avatar and food elements. However, I didn’t like the look of the outline stroke and thought it made the elements look severe. By removing the outer stroke I maintained a sophistication and softness to the avatar and the food icons.
