Yummly Smart Thermometer & Whirlpool Smart Oven
Role:
Lead Product Designer
Team:
PMs, engineers,
Duration:
5 months
WHAT'S YUMMLY?
Smart cooking made easier through connected devices
Yummly is a smart-cooking platform offering personalized recipes, guided cooking, grocery delivery, and integrations with connected kitchen devices.
About Yummly:
Personalized recipes & meal planning
Guided cooking with temperature tracking
Integrations with smart kitchen devices
Part of the Whirlpool ecosystem
20M+ users
2M+ recipes
2017 acquisition by Whirlpool
PROBLEM
A fragmented cooking flow created friction.
Home cooks using both the thermometer and smart oven expected one seamless experience, but the app’s flow wasn’t designed for multi-device cooking.
Key problems:
No full control of oven from app
Inconsistent setup flows
Doneness selection came too late
No contextual guidance across proteins/cuts/appliances
Device owners expected more intelligence
Key Insight: Users didn’t want automation alone — they wanted clear, consistent guidance.
Original Cook Setup Flow
RESEARCH APPROACH
Understanding real cooking workflows from Whirlpool data and user testings
Research Activities:
Whirlpool partner research
5 early-concept tests
5 high-fidelity usability tests
WHAT WE LEARNED
Users needed a unified, predictable cooking flow
Four insights that guided the redesign:
Step-by-step > accordion
Big images ≠ better
Consistency builds confidence
Multi-device cooking must feel unified
EARLY EXPLORATIONS
Reorganizing cook setup for multi-device workflows
Guided by research insights around consistency, early decisions, and multi-device clarity.
What we explored:
Added “Cook Method” to support oven vs non-oven paths
Introduced contextual tips based on protein, cut, and doneness
Standardized layouts for protein and cut selection
Integrated smart oven controls (mode, cavity, temperature)
FINAL DESIGN - SETUP FLOW
A consistent, guided setup across proteins & appliances
What changed:
Earlier doneness selection enables smarter guidance
Predictable, repeatable layouts across proteins and devices
Clear branching for connected vs non-connected ovens
FINAL DESIGN - COOK SCREEN
Real-time tracking and oven control without leaving the cook screen
Monitor progress, adjust oven settings, and update doneness in one continuous flow.
IMPACT/ RESULTS
Consistency, collaboration, and structured testing in IoT design
User Impact:
Immediate report drafting without document wait
Reduced IEP deadline stress
Workflow matched real psychologist process
Business Impact:
Validated PMF signals through sustained use
Strong NASP Conference engagement
Removed major workflow blocker
Informed roadmap for customization
Key Metrics:
WAU ↑ +15% (35% → 50%)
Sustained engagement post-Beta
High user satisfaction ratings
Metrics based on Alpha to Beta launch comparison and post-launch analysis.
REFLECTION
Reflection & Learning
What I learned:
Engineering partnership early
Real-world workflow mapping is essential
What I’d do differently:
More structured testing roadmap
Plan for complex edge cases earlier
