SaaS • Management
AXEL
Streamlining restaurant operations through a unified, real-time dashboard for orders, kitchen workflows, and delivery logistics.
exl
Stay Centered Move Faster
Executive Part
Today Summary page
Main Page
High-Fidelity
High-Fidelity Prototypes
The final UI focuses on clarity and speed. We utilized a clean, card-based layout with high-contrast data visualizations to help managers digest "Today's Summary" in seconds. The color palette reinforces trust (Blues) and action (Teal/Orange) without overwhelming the user during peak hours.
Ideation & Wireframes
Ideation & Architecture
Translating the research data into a coherent structure required a multi-stage brainstorming process. We started with hand-drawn sketches to map the relationships between kitchen staff and front-of-house, then moved to formalized information architecture (IA) to define the platform hierarchy.
KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS
Orders Management
Unified Order View
(Merged Feeds)
Manual Entry
(Phone/Walk-in)
Issue Resolution
(Missing Items)
Staff Management
Roles & Permissions
(Manager vs Staff)
Shift Scheduling
(Task Assignment)
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Research Plan& Result
Research & Discovery
We investigated the food delivery and takeout experience by focusing on the primary research group: restaurant staff, managers, and owners. Our goal was to quantify operational bottlenecks and prioritize critical barriers to workflow efficiency.
Savannah (16) • Seattle/Anchorage (11)
Interviews with Owners, Staff, & Managers
16
Various Cuisine
Primary
3
Fast Food
3
Cafes
3
Bistros
2
Hotel/Resort
*Includes Establishments like JW Marriott, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and local bistros.
KEY RESEARCH FINDINGS
Order Management Issues
Recurring confusion in tracking manual orders versus digital inputs, leading to kitchen errors
Outdated POS Systems
Heavy reliance on legacy hardware that lacks integration with modern inventory tracking.
Fragmented Workflows
Delivery platforms (UberEats, DoorDash) operate separately from internal kitchen flows.
Persona & Journey Map
Persona
Restaurant Manager, 34yr
John Melon
Goals
Monitor 3 locations simultaneously
Reduce order errors
Train new staff quickly
Pain Points
Too many tabs and windows
Can't see urgent issues at a glance
System feels outdated
Journey map
Stages
Incoming Orders
Confirming Order
Preparing Order
Delivery Handoff
Actions
Touchpoints
Emotional Journey
(moods)
Pain Points
Opportunity
Toast Pos UberEats
tablet, Doordash
dashboard
Verify Items, Adjust for
allergy notes, confirm
details.
Update orders status on
POS and kitchen display.
Manage queue, pack
food, label bags, and
hand over to delivery
drivers.
High order volume
causes labeling and
bagging mistakes.
Create Delivery & pickup
info page under FAQ /
support.
System lag and unclear
order queue cause
bottlenecks.
System lag and unclear
order queue cause
bottlenecks.
Restricted access to
order modification.
Add ‘’order verification” subpage for staff access
and clarity.
Limited Reading time
during rush hours
information scattered.
Combine all ordering
platforms under a unified
“order online” section
Toast Pos UberEats
tablet, Doordash
dashboard
POS system printed
tickets, phone calls for
clarification.
Kitchen display monitor,
POS ticket, verbal
communication.
POS system, POS tickets, label bags
exl
Restaurant Operation system
Main Role
UX Designer/Researcher
Business Strategist
Duration
10 Weeks
Timeline
2025 Sep - Nov
Project Type
Restaurant Operation System(Saas)
Project Overview
Axel is an restaurant operations system that helps independent restaurant owners understand their daily performance, identify emerging issues, and make confident decisions through clear, actionable insights.
We design human-centered workflows that reduce cognitive load, streamline daily routines, and restore a sense of control for small business owners navigating the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of modern food service.
My contribution
I led Axel’s end-to-end product vision, from uncovering operational pain points in independent restaurants to crafting an AI-driven system that turns complex data into clear daily actions.
I conducted field research, mapped workflows, defined the core information architecture, and designed the full dashboard experience, including Today’s Summary, Insights, and Define Actions. On the business side, I developed Axel’s strategic positioning as an AI-powered decision system tailored to small restaurant operators.
Interest in the Design?
View Prototype
Back to home
From Data to Decision.
How user testing transformed a standard analytics dashboard into a high-stakes Action Center for 27 independent restaurants.
The Solution: Today's Summary
A breakdown of the three core modules designed to reduce cognitive load and speed up decision-making.
Validation & Iteration
Validation Testing
Iteration Process
“Define action” on each page enable users to add their own ways
“Direct instant message shoot to customers”
“Know the customers habits”
“Build a automatic remind to the suppler when inventory is low”
