Food Tech · Consumer Health
Food Lens
Making food information easier to understand.
Food Lens is a food-scanning application designed to help users explore product information through a simple scanning experience.
PROJECT DETAILS
Food Tech · Consumer Health
Mobile Application
Product Design · Mobile Dev · Backend Dev
Flutter · Django
Barcode Scanning · OCR Fallback · Product Information
The Problem
Understanding a Food Product Shouldn't Be Complicated
Consumers often encounter product labels and packaging that make it difficult to quickly locate and understand relevant product information. Finding details can involve navigating multiple screens, reading dense text, or manually searching for a product.
Key Challenges
- 1.
Finding Product Information
Important product details can be difficult to locate when information is distributed across packaging and different sources.
- 2.
Making Scanning Accessible
Users need a familiar, simple way to identify products without navigating a complicated interface.
- 3.
Handling Scanning Limitations
Not every product can be identified successfully through a barcode alone, creating a need for an alternative identification method.
Project Goals
A Simpler Path From Scan To Information
The objective was to build a mobile-first product experience that makes product identification intuitive while supporting a reliable flow from scanning to information retrieval.
- 1.
Create an intuitive barcode-scanning experience.
- 2.
Provide an OCR-based fallback for supported identification scenarios.
- 3.
Present available product information in a clear, structured interface.
- 4.
Connect the mobile experience with a backend that supports product-related requests.
Our Approach
Designing The Experience Around a Simple Action
The product experience was organized around the user's primary task: identify a food product and access its available information.
- 1.
Understand The User Need
Make Food Information Easier To Understand
The goal was to help users learn more about the food they consume by making nutritional information, calorie content, and product details easier to access.
- 2.
Simplify Food Scanning
Turn a Scan Into Useful Information
Design a straightforward scanning experience that helps users identify a food product and access the information available about it.
- 3.
Present Nutrition Clearly
Help Users Understand What They're Eating
Organize available nutritional details, such as calories and nutrient values, into a clear, readable interface so users can make more informed food choices.
Inside the Product
A Scanning Experience Built Around Clarity
Food Lens brings product identification and information access into one mobile experience. Its core functionality centers on barcode scanning, an OCR fallback, and a structured presentation of available product information.
Feature 01
Barcode Scanning
Identify products through a familiar interaction.
The scanning interface is designed to make barcode identification the primary entry point, helping users begin the product lookup process without unnecessary navigation.
Feature 02
OCR-Based Fallback
An alternative when barcode identification isn't enough.
OCR provides an alternative approach for supported scenarios in which the product cannot be identified through the primary barcode flow. The fallback helps accommodate different product-label and scanning situations.
Feature 03
Product Information
Bring available details into a clearer view.
Once product information is available, the interface can organize the relevant details into a more readable experience, helping users explore the information associated with a scanned product.
Feature 04
Mobile-First Experience
Keep the main task simple and accessible.
The mobile interface keeps scanning and product lookup at the center of the experience, with a straightforward interaction model designed around the needs of on-the-go users.
Under the Hood
The Technology Powering Food Lens
Food Lens uses a mobile application and backend architecture to support the scanning experience, product-related requests, and the delivery of available information.
Flutter
Mobile application
Supports the mobile interface and scanning-focused user experience.
Django
Backend development
Supports server-side functionality and communication required by the application.
Barcode Scanning & OCR
Product identification
Supports the primary barcode identification flow and an alternative OCR-based approach for supported scenarios.
Project Outcome
A More Direct Way To Explore Food Products
Food Lens brings the product-scanning journey into a dedicated mobile experience, combining barcode-based identification, an OCR fallback, and access to available product information.