Kayana KDS
Kitchen Display System Redesign
COMPANY
Kayana
ROLE
UI/UX Designer
EXPERTISE
UX/UI Design
YEAR
2024
Project Description
The Partners Dashboard redesign focused on improving core workflows for business owners and operators. The previous version had inconsistent UX patterns, no unified design system, and caused friction in tasks like registration and account setup.
Timeline
From explorations to final designs in 3 week while working with multiple projects at the same time
Background
The existing Partners Dashboard had basic functionality but lacked clarity and consistency. As the platform scaled, users reported issues with registration, navigation, and visual clutter. The absence of a design system led to an inconsistent experience across user journeys.
Process
This project followed a structured approach—starting with user research and audits, followed by wireframing, UI design, stakeholder reviews, and final handoff.
Research & Planning
Competitor and user feedback analysis revealed key gaps: Lightspeed is robust but costly, Toast lacks customization, and Square has feature and security limitations. Insights informed the need for high-contrast dark mode, strong customization, and efficient order management.
Design Solutions & Wireframing
Started with low-fidelity wireframes to define key interactions and flow, then progressed to high-fidelity prototypes with updated colors, typography, and components for improved consistency and usability.
UI Design & Prototyping
Refined visual design and built an interactive prototype focused on clarity, usability, accessibility, and brand consistency.
Solution
Refined the visual design and built an interactive prototype, focusing on clarity, usability, accessibility, and maintaining brand consistency throughout the interface.
Refined Visual Design
Introduced a modern, cohesive UI with improved typography, spacing, and layout to reduce visual clutter and enhance scanability.
Color-Coded Order Statuses
Implemented distinct colors for order states (e.g., pending, preparing, ready) to allow for quicker recognition and prioritization under pressure.
Customizable Layouts
Designed flexible components and views to accommodate different kitchen setups, ensuring the system can scale and adapt as needed.
Results
Early feedback from customers and stakeholders was very positive, highlighting that the new design made orders easier to read and interact with, especially during busy times.
Reflection
Designing for Fast-Paced Environments
Gained insights into creating designs that support efficiency in high-pressure settings like kitchens.
Small Tweaks, Big Impact
Learned that small adjustments in layout (spacing, alignment) can greatly improve usability.
Visibility is Key
Realized the importance of high-contrast UI, especially in dark mode, for better visibility and clarity.