Case study: McDonald’s vs. MAX: Usability Testing of Fast-Food Apps
Case study: McDonald’s vs. MAX: Usability Testing of Fast-Food Apps
Case study: McDonald’s vs. MAX: Usability Testing of Fast-Food Apps
Overview: This project evaluated and compared the usability of MAX and McDonald’s fast-food apps, using ISO 9241-11 to measure efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. It was carried out as a 10-week project in the Evaluation Methods course at Stockholm University.
Focus: Evaluation Methods · Usability Testing · User Experience · Redesign · Mobile Apps · Food Ordering Systems
Overview: This project evaluated and compared the usability of MAX and McDonald’s fast-food apps, using ISO 9241-11 to measure efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. It was carried out as a 10-week project in the Evaluation Methods course at Stockholm University.
Focus: Evaluation Methods · Usability Testing · User Experience · Redesign · Mobile Apps · Food Ordering Systems
Overview: This project evaluated and compared the usability of MAX and McDonald’s fast-food apps, using ISO 9241-11 to measure efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. It was carried out as a 10-week project in the Evaluation Methods course at Stockholm University.
Focus: Evaluation Methods · Usability Testing · User Experience · Redesign · Mobile Apps · Food Ordering Systems
Role: UX/UI Designer
My contributions:
UX/UI Design
Conducted 10 interviews and user tests
Synthesized the research findings
Proposed redesign solutions
Timeline:
Mars-May 2024
Role: UX/UI Designer
My contributions:
UX/UI Design
Conducted 10 interviews and user tests
Synthesized the research findings
Proposed redesign solutions
Timeline:
Mars-May 2024
Role: UX/UI Designer
My contributions:
UX/UI Design
Conducted 10 interviews and user tests
Synthesized the research findings
Proposed redesign solutions
Timeline:
Mars-May 2024
Challanges
Challanges
Challanges
Research question:
"How does the usability of the McDonald’s and MAX mobile apps differ when customizing and ordering vegan meals?"
Research question:
"How does the usability of the McDonald’s and MAX mobile apps differ when customizing and ordering vegan meals?"
Methods & Tests
Methods & Tests
Methods & Tests
A between-groups design was used to avoid learning effects. Five participants tested the MAX app, and five tested the McDonald’s app.
Task: Place a food order, focusing on adding/removing ingredients.
A between-groups design was used to avoid learning effects. Five participants tested the MAX app, and five tested the McDonald’s app.
Task: Place a food order, focusing on adding/removing ingredients.
A between-groups design was used to avoid learning effects. Five participants tested the MAX app, and five tested the McDonald’s app.
Task: Place a food order, focusing on adding/removing ingredients.
How did we measure Usability?
How did we measure Usability?
How did we measure Usability?
Efficiency – keystrokes and completion time (tracked via mobile screen recordings).
Effectiveness – task completion without errors or assistance.
Satisfaction – audio recordings, interviews, survey (Likert-scale and two open-ended questions) which users rated both the tasks and their user experience with the application.
Efficiency – keystrokes and completion time (tracked via mobile screen recordings).
Effectiveness – task completion without errors or assistance.
Satisfaction – audio recordings, interviews, survey (Likert-scale and two open-ended questions) which users rated both the tasks and their user experience with the application.
Efficiency – keystrokes and completion time (tracked via mobile screen recordings).
Effectiveness – task completion without errors or assistance.
Satisfaction – audio recordings, interviews, survey (Likert-scale and two open-ended questions) which users rated both the tasks and their user experience with the application.
Results & Insights
Results & Insights
Results & Insights
McDonald’s required 44% more clicks and 6.4% longer completion time than MAX.
MAX’s carousel design pattern was more efficient, while McDonald’s wizard-like interface felt smoother to navigate.
Labeling issues in MAX (e.g., “Supreme Green”) confused participants looking for vegetarian options.
Both apps redirected users to external websites for nutrition info, causing navigation problems.
McDonald’s required 44% more clicks and 6.4% longer completion time than MAX.
MAX’s carousel design pattern was more efficient, while McDonald’s wizard-like interface felt smoother to navigate.
Labeling issues in MAX (e.g., “Supreme Green”) confused participants looking for vegetarian options.
Both apps redirected users to external websites for nutrition info, causing navigation problems.
McDonald’s required 44% more clicks and 6.4% longer completion time than MAX.
MAX’s carousel design pattern was more efficient, while McDonald’s wizard-like interface felt smoother to navigate.
Labeling issues in MAX (e.g., “Supreme Green”) confused participants looking for vegetarian options.
Both apps redirected users to external websites for nutrition info, causing navigation problems.
Solutions
Solutions
Solutions
Recommendations for redesign included clearer labeling for MAX. Replace unclear terms (“Supreme Green” → “Vegetarian”; “Plant-based” → “Vegan”).
Improve visual distinction between vegetarian and vegan options with a darker green from the brand palette to making options easier to identify and improving the user experience.
Integrate nutrition info directly into the app with consistent navigation and a back button for better navigation flow.
Add a pinned shopping cart to the MAX and McDonald’s app to improve task flow and usability.
Recommendations for redesign included clearer labeling for MAX. Replace unclear terms (“Supreme Green” → “Vegetarian”; “Plant-based” → “Vegan”).
Improve visual distinction between vegetarian and vegan options with a darker green from the brand palette to making options easier to identify and improving the user experience.
Integrate nutrition info directly into the app with consistent navigation and a back button for better navigation flow.
Add a pinned shopping cart to the MAX and McDonald’s app to improve task flow and usability.
Recommendations for redesign included clearer labeling for MAX. Replace unclear terms (“Supreme Green” → “Vegetarian”; “Plant-based” → “Vegan”).
Improve visual distinction between vegetarian and vegan options with a darker green from the brand palette to making options easier to identify and improving the user experience.
Integrate nutrition info directly into the app with consistent navigation and a back button for better navigation flow.
Add a pinned shopping cart to the MAX and McDonald’s app to improve task flow and usability.
Redesign Recommendations
Redesign Recommendations
Redesign Recommendations
Current interface MAX’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface MAX’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface MAX’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface MAX’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface MAX’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface MAX’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface McDonald’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface McDonald’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface McDonald’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface McDonald’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface McDonald’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Current interface McDonald’s app (left) and redesign recommendations (right)
Final takeaways
Final takeaways
Final takeaways
If I had more time, I would…
Expand testing with a larger and more diverse group to validate results.
Spend more time on participant selection to ensure a fair and balanced group.
Consider participants’ prior knowledge and preferences, as these factors can influence the study’s outcome.
If I had more time, I would…
Expand testing with a larger and more diverse group to validate results.
Spend more time on participant selection to ensure a fair and balanced group.
Consider participants’ prior knowledge and preferences, as these factors can influence the study’s outcome.
If I had more time, I would…
Expand testing with a larger and more diverse group to validate results.
Spend more time on participant selection to ensure a fair and balanced group.
Consider participants’ prior knowledge and preferences, as these factors can influence the study’s outcome.
What I learned…
How to compare and apply usability evaluation methods in product development.
How to measure usability in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction.
How to conducted usability testing with both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
How to translate insights into actionable redesign recommendations.
Reflect on the role of usability evaluation in creating better user experiences.
Gained the ability to design usability tests that evaluate the system, not the user.
What I learned…
How to compare and apply usability evaluation methods in product development.
How to measure usability in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction.
How to conducted usability testing with both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
How to translate insights into actionable redesign recommendations.
Reflect on the role of usability evaluation in creating better user experiences.
Gained the ability to design usability tests that evaluate the system, not the user.
What I learned…
How to compare and apply usability evaluation methods in product development.
How to measure usability in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction.
How to conducted usability testing with both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
How to translate insights into actionable redesign recommendations.
Reflect on the role of usability evaluation in creating better user experiences.
Gained the ability to design usability tests that evaluate the system, not the user.