SOUS - STUDENT PROJECT:
PROBLEM / PROPOSED SOLUTION
SOUS - STUDENT PROJECT:
PROBLEM / PROPOSED SOLUTION
SOUS - STUDENT PROJECT:
PROBLEM / PROPOSED SOLUTION
Today's youth are losing interest in cooking due to its perceived dullness and complexity, leading to a decline in basic nutrition knowledge and cooking skills. This results in a reliance on processed foods and a lack of independence.
With the help of Sous, users will slowly change how they interact with food. Once users reach a proficient level of culinary independence, Sous will transform from a guide to an assistant, a “sous chef”, if you will.
At the end of the day, Sous serves as a one stop shop for culinary education. No matter what level users are at, they will turn to Sous to spice up the kitchen. Through recipes, preference adaptation, and gamification, Sous aims to bring the joy of cooking to everyone.
Today's youth are losing interest in cooking due to its perceived dullness and complexity, leading to a decline in basic nutrition knowledge and cooking skills. This results in a reliance on processed foods and a lack of independence.
With the help of Sous, users will slowly change how they interact with food. Once users reach a proficient level of culinary independence, Sous will transform from a guide to an assistant, a “sous chef”, if you will.
At the end of the day, Sous serves as a one stop shop for culinary education. No matter what level users are at, they will turn to Sous to spice up the kitchen. Through recipes, preference adaptation, and gamification, Sous aims to bring the joy of cooking to everyone.
"Hey SOUS, what are your features?"
Meet Sous, the AI cooking assistant that adapts to every kitchen need.
Powered by state-of-the-art AI, Sous learns and evolves with you. Find new recipes matched to your tastes, get answers to burning culinary questions, and keep your attention on the food instead of the screen.
AI Enhanced Camera: Sous’s built-in camera watches the action so it can help at exactly the right moment. Just ask, “Hey Sous, does this look correct?” and get guidance based on what’s actually in your pan.
Rotating base: Always stay in the picture with a rotating base lets Sous stay put on your counter while it turns to keep your cooking in view. No repositioning, no clutter, no missed steps.
Thermometer: A dynamic thermometer reads temperatures, sets timers, and ensures proper food safety, so every dish comes out cooked through and right on time.
Speaker: Voice activation and voice control to keep your hands in the dish and your focus on cooking, not on the device. Just say the word and Sous gets it done.
SOUS: UX and UI
Prep work:
We began with sketches of the full journey: choosing a recipe, picking a cooking mode, then cooking step by step. From there we built mid-fidelity wireframes in Figma, starting with the home screen because it sets the tone for everything else.
Prototyping
We moved into a clickable prototype in Figma, linking the home screen to mode selection and into a cooking flow. We tested with several home cooks in a kitchen setting, and enhanced our product based on their feedback.
The UI and brand
The visual identity is built to feel as warm as the kitchen:
Orange and teal. Orange brings appetite and energy and carries through the device body. Teal marks the interactive tiles on screen and echoes the logo’s green shadow, so actions are easy to spot.
Hand-drawn illustration. The sketched produce and the running chefs give Sous personality and the sense of motion you feel in a busy kitchen. It is also kid friendly to match our target audience!
Rounded, friendly type. Chunky, open letterforms stay legible from across the counter and keep the tone approachable.
A chef’s-hat silhouette. The camera head nods to the toque, which makes the technology feel like a sous-chef rather than a gadget.
Sous' purpose is to inspire young chefs by providing them with an innovative cooking assistant that combines interactive AI technology with practical tools to make culinary learning fun, engaging, and accessible for kids and teens.
I had the opportunity of working with the project manager, Ellie Fowlwer. I also worked alongside Spencer Henderson, the UX/UI lead, and Nick Kubach, the Physical Prototyping lead.
SOUS: VISUAL DESIGN
SOUS: VISUAL DESIGN
I created all of the visuals on the slide deck. Something I had to keep in mind when creating the visuals was making sure that I appealed to our target audience, which was Generation Alpha.
Creating the logo for the brand was not a simple task. Not only did the logo have to be easily recognizable and responsive, but it also had to embody our brand. Here are some iterations I came up with! We eventually settled for the spoon design! It was simple and it got our brand across!
I created all of the visuals on the slide deck. Something I had to keep in mind when creating the visuals was making sure that I appealed to our target audience, which was Generation Alpha.
Creating the logo for the brand was not a simple task. Not only did the logo have to be easily recognizable and responsive, but it also had to embody our brand. Here are some iterations I came up with! We eventually settled for the spoon design! It was simple and it got our brand across!
Our team decided to focus more on a graphic aspect rather than a realism aspect for the design of the brand. We felt as if the graphic elements catered to the target demographic and seemed more "Tween-like." The characters in this piece are actually my team members! I thought it would be cute to make them as little chef avatars for our brand, highlighting the connection between us and our product.
Our team decided to focus more on a graphic aspect rather than a realism aspect for the design of the brand. We felt as if the graphic elements catered to the target demographic and seemed more "Tween-like." The characters in this piece are actually my team members! I thought it would be cute to make them as little chef avatars for our brand, highlighting the connection between us and our product.
Because this product was a kitchen appliance that would help with gaining independence through cooking, we obviously needed food! Here are some of the foods that I designed. I wanted to keep my focus on graphic, low fidelity foods because simple drawings seemed to fit more with our brand!
Because this product was a kitchen appliance that would help with gaining independence through cooking, we obviously needed food! Here are some of the foods that I designed. I wanted to keep my focus on graphic, low fidelity foods because simple drawings seemed to fit more with our brand!
The images above played a great part in designing the packaging for the product as well. Here are some iterations of packaging design, as well as what the final product looked like. I made the box, as well as the wrapping that went over it.
The images above played a great part in designing the packaging for the product as well. Here are some iterations of packaging design, as well as what the final product looked like. I made the box, as well as the wrapping that went over it.
SOUS: AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2025 INDIGO DESIGN AWARD WINNER:
Bronze Winner in Branding for Graphic Design
Bronze Winner in Illustration for Graphic Design
Bronze Winner in Digital Art for Graphic Design
Bronze Winner in UX, Interface & Navigation
Bronze Winner in Illustration for Social Change
Bronze Winner in Interaction Design for Social Change
Bronze Winner in Branding for Kids
Bronze Winner in Product or Gadget Design for Social Change
2025 INDIGO DESIGN AWARD WINNER:
Bronze Winner in Branding for Graphic Design
Bronze Winner in Illustration for Graphic Design
Bronze Winner in Digital Art for Graphic Design
Bronze Winner in UX, Interface & Navigation
Bronze Winner in Illustration for Social Change
Bronze Winner in Interaction Design for Social Change
Bronze Winner in Branding for Kids
Bronze Winner in Product or Gadget Design for Social Change
European Product Design Awards Nomination
European Product Design Awards Nomination
Core 77 Design Awards Nomination
Core 77 Design Awards Nomination
International Design Excellence Award Nomination
International Design Excellence Award Nomination
Fast Company Innovation by Design Nomination
Fast Company Innovation by Design Nomination
