Z Texas Tech outdated - Creative Cycle

Case study:

Texas Tech International Center for Food Industry Excellence

Project:Mobile app development

Summary

In collaboration with Texas Tech University’s Food Sciences department, Creative Cycle developed a prototype for a mobile app to help importers comply with U.S. standards for food safety. We delivered a research-driven UX design and strategic recommendations for app maintenance and marketing, while anticipating and addressing all client needs on a constrained budget.

Challenge

Faculty at Texas Tech University’s International Center for Food Industry Excellence turned to Creative Cycle for guidance in developing a mobile app prototype. The app converts complex food-readiness mandates from the USDA into metrics that are easy to understand, allowing international food processing plants to score their compliance and make improvements before exporting to the U.S.

Solution

Faced with an extremely small budget, Creative Cycle and Texas Tech worked closely to prioritize requirements and keep the development process as streamlined as possible. The client shared UX data from previous visits to Latin American plants, which allowed us to develop wireframes for the user journey without having to do UX testing.

In addition to achieving quality and cost savings, it was equally important that the app would be well-received in market and Texas Tech would be seen as a credible provider. We educated Texas Tech on how to navigate Apple Store’s requirements, emphasizing the importance of having a team to monitor the app’s performance and rapidly respond with new releases. Together, we explored the costs this would involve and ultimately decided that additional funding would be needed to proceed.

Results

Close collaboration with Texas Tech made this project feasible, at a lower cost. As a result of both parties’ flexibility and mutual understanding, the client was able to develop a mobile-friendly product it can test on site and improve before the app’s official release. The client is also equipped with a well-designed prototype that it can use to sell the app and secure additional funding. Consequently, Texas Tech is positioned to deliver a quality product that will ultimately improve food safety for U.S. consumers.

Final Thoughts

Creative Cycle believes meaningful relationships deliver meaningful results. By intimately understanding our clients’ values, goals, attributes and needs, we design with empathy and purpose. Listening and learning are integral to our creative process — and collaborating with our clients is how we produce the most effective outcomes.

Contact Creative Cycle to explore how we can support your goals through unique collaboration.