It all started with a simple chat with my husband: how could we better manage our supermarket budget and maybe use AI to help? That conversation sparked the first idea for a budget app. From there, I defined the initial problem, conducted interviews and surveys, and began to uncover what people actually needed.
That’s when everything shifted: budgeting wasn’t the core need. Instead, people wanted to optimize what they already had at home: a habit that ultimately saves money in a more effective, practical way. So the insight didn’t kill the original idea, it made it even better.
That’s how My Smart Pantry was born: out of real needs, not assumptions.
I started this project thinking I was designing a budget-first grocery app.
But then came the user interviews… and everything changed.
While analysing interviews, then surveys, and later building personas to support the user flow, I had a realisation:
It was high time I stopped creating a budget app and urgently detour to what people really needed.
“People weren’t asking for another finance tracker, they were asking for clarity, emotional relief, and a system that actually works in the chaos of daily life. Some needed to plan meals faster, others wanted to stop wasting food, and many simply forgot what was already in their fridge. That human insight reshaped everything.”
So, I pivoted.
I moved away from strict budgeting and leaned into smart pantry tracking, collaborative planning, and real-time clarity, especially for families and users juggling invisible responsibilities.
This moment wasn’t a setback, it was the exact kind of detour that makes UX honest, useful, and alive.