TasteBuds - A Social Dining Experience
A Digital Product Concept

​My Role & Responsibilities

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• Developed an original product concept from ideation to a structured roadmap and go-to-market plan.

• Conducted user research to define key personas and user pain points.

• Created a strategic product roadmap using the Now-Next-Later framework to guide phased development.

• Designed a go-to-market strategy, including acquisition and retention strategies.

• Mapped out user flows and customer journeys to improve on-boarding and engagement.

• Applied agile development principles, ensuring parallel UX research and product development.

• Conducted market analysis to identify competitive gaps and shape the product’s unique value proposition.

​Approach

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I approached TasteBuds with a blend of curiosity, structured strategy and user-centered thinking. Since this was a concept I had been considering for a while, the course provided a framework to refine and validate my ideas. I started by defining the core problem, identifying key user needs, and shaping a clear product vision.

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1. Problem Discovery & Market Research

Understanding the market was the first step in defining TasteBuds' value proposition. I conducted:

• Industry Research: Examined the growing trend of social dining and how users engage with food experiences.

• Competitive Analysis: Analysed existing platforms like Meet-n-Eat and Timeleft to identify competitive gaps.

• User Pain Points: Identified the lack of a dedicated, non-romantic food-focused social platform.

• Trends & Data Insights:

  • Australians dine out 61 times a year on average.

  • 89% of dining research is conducted on mobile devices before visiting a restaurant.

  • Social media and influencer-driven recommendations significantly impact dining decisions.

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By combining these insights, I validated the need for TasteBuds as a platform that connects like-minded food lovers over shared dining experiences.

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2. User Research & Personas

To humanise the problem and design user-centered solutions, I developed detailed user personas.

• Persona 1 – Olivia Thompson (Marketing Professional, 28, Melbourne):

  • Loves dining out but struggles to find friends available at the same time.

  • Wants tailored restaurant recommendations based on personal preferences.

  • Prefers a non-dating app to connect with other food lovers.

• Persona 2 – James Lee (Software Engineer, 35, Sydney):

  • Loves discovering new dining spots but has difficulty organizing social outings.

  • Tech-savvy and prefers seamless event planning through an app.

  • Looks for family-friendly options and food-focused networking opportunities.

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These personas helped refine TasteBuds’ user flows, ensuring that features like event planning, community building, and personalised restaurant recommendations aligned with real user needs.

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3. Product Roadmap & MVP Development

Using the Now-Next-Later framework, I structured a phased development plan to ensure strategic prioritisation of features.

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Phase 1 – MVP Launch (Now)

• User Registration & Profile Creation – Allow users to create accounts and specify food preferences.

• Restaurant Search & Discovery – Implement geolocation-based restaurant recommendations.

• Messaging & Connection Features – Enable communication between users to coordinate dining experiences.

• Basic Event Planning – Allow users to schedule meetups and invite others within the app.

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Phase 2 – Enhancements (Next)

• Advanced Matching Algorithms – Improve user pairing based on food interests and location.

• Social Features – Introduce public discussion forums and community groups.

• Restaurant Partnerships – Collaborate with local restaurants to provide exclusive deals and group dining incentives.

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Phase 3 – Expansion & Growth (Later)

• AI & Machine Learning Integration – Personalize dining recommendations based on past behavior.

• Premium Features & Monetization – Introduce subscription-based access to exclusive dining events.

• Market Expansion – Expand beyond Australia into key food capitals globally.

This approach ensured that TasteBuds could start with a functional MVP, then evolve into a robust platform.

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4. Go-To-Market Strategy & Growth Plan

A strong go-to-market (GTM) strategy was essential for driving adoption. Key strategies included:

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Marketing & Brand Awareness

• Social Media Campaigns – Engaged audiences on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook with food content, user stories, and contests.

• Influencer Collaborations – Partnered with 10 food influencers to create authentic content and reviews.

• Community Engagement – Hosted in-person and virtual TasteBuds dining events to build a loyal user base.

• Press Release & Media Outreach – Crafted a compelling press release to attract media attention and increase brand credibility.

User Acquisition & Retention Goals

• 10,000 app downloads within the first 6 months.

• 2,500 active users within the first year.

• 40% retention rate, ensuring users continue engaging with the platform.

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By leveraging data-driven marketing, community-building efforts, and strategic partnerships, TasteBuds aimed to position itself as the go-to platform for food lovers.

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5. Testing, Release & Iteration

A test-and-release plan was developed to refine the app before full launch:

• Beta Testing – Conducted with early adopters to gather usability feedback.

• Performance Testing – Ensured the app could handle expected user loads without crashes.

• Security Measures – Implemented strong data protection to build user trust.

• Iterative Improvements – Used feedback loops to refine features and optimize the user experience.

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A Go/No-Go launch framework was also established to determine readiness based on factors such as:

• Core Feature Completion

• User Experience & UI Readiness

• Performance & Security

• Positive Beta Testing Feedback

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By following this structured testing and release strategy, TasteBuds was positioned for a smooth launch and ongoing iterative enhancements.

​Reflection

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This was an opportunity to apply real-world product thinking to an idea I genuinely believed in. The project strengthened my ability to think like a product designer and strategist, taking a concept from vision to execution while maintaining a user-first approach. It reinforced the value of storytelling in design, market validation and agile execution, all essential skills I carry into future projects.