Design of a Mobile App Interface That Engages Community Members in a Food System Pilot Study

TL;DR

This paper describes the design of a mobile app module to engage community members in a food system pilot study by incorporating features like real-time navigation, social networking, and rewards.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel consumer-engagement module (BUDConnect) with features derived from community feedback to enhance a food distribution app.

Findings

Community members desired real-time crowd-sourced information for navigating food environments.

Participants suggested features to build social networks and share store reviews and ratings.

Rewards and referral systems were proposed to encourage app adoption and sustained use.

Abstract

Supermarkets are scarce in many under-resourced urban communities, and small independently owned retail stores often carry few fresh or healthy items. The Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) mobile application (app) was previously developed to address supply-side challenges in moving healthy foods from local suppliers to retailers. In-app opportunities for consumers to indicate demand for these foods are crucial, but remain absent. We sought to understand community members’ perspectives on the overall role, function and features of a proposed consumer-engagement module (BUDConnect) to expand the BUD app. A series of initial high-fidelity wireframe mockups were developed based on formative research. In-depth interviews (n = 20) were conducted and thematically analyzed using ATLAS.ti Web. Participants revealed a desire for real-time crowd-sourced information to navigate their food environments safely and effectively, functionality to help build community and social networks among store owners and their customers, opportunities to share positive reviews and ratings of store quality and offerings, and interoperability with existing apps. Rewards and referral systems resulting in the discounted purchasing of promoted healthy items were suggested to increase adoption and sustained app use. Wireframe mockups were further refined for future development and integration into the BUD app, the program and policy implications of which are discussed.

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