Neko Chef

About the project

Envision a kitchen ally like no other—a miniature chef attuned to your every craving, dietary need, and occasional forgetfulness about mealtime. Enter "Neko Chef" – an app meticulously crafted for neurodivergent and indecisive individuals alike. Its mission? To revolutionize meal planning and decision-making into an efficient and proactive experience. With Neko Chef at the helm, conversations are initiated, guiding users through personalized culinary journeys with ease and delight. Say hello to your new kitchen companion, reshaping how you approach mealtime decisions.

Inspiration

The inspiration for Neko Chef stemmed from a desire to address the struggles faced by neurodivergent individuals when it comes to maintaining a balanced diet. We recognized the challenges of remembering to eat, deciding what to eat, and navigating the overwhelming array of food options available, particularly in today's fast-paced digital world. We envisioned a solution that not only provided personalized meal suggestions but also offered a supportive and engaging experience.

What it does

Through a game-like interface, users interact with their Neko Chef avatar, answering questions and providing information about their eating habits, preferences, and allergies. The app's proactive nature ensures that users receive tailored recipe suggestions based on their unique profiles.

But that's not all – Neko Chef goes beyond traditional meal planning by incorporating a binary question system. Users answer simple yes or no questions regarding their food preferences, such as whether they want something spicy or if they're in the mood for a dish with rice. Based on their responses, Neko Chef generates customized meal options using AI, making the decision-making process easier and more enjoyable.

How we built it

Neko Chef was developed using Unity, leveraging the game development experience of half of our team members. In addition to software development, our team took a hands-on approach to asset creation. Using Aseprite, we crafted bespoke graphics and animations to give the chef its distinct personality and charm. Each asset was meticulously designed to enhance the user experience and foster a delightful interaction with the app.

Challenges we ran into

Building the app presented several challenges, including limited experience in app development, unexpected technical issues such as a computer breakdown, and the constraints of a tight time frame. Despite these obstacles, our team remained resilient and resourceful, finding innovative solutions to overcome each hurdle

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Despite the challenges we faced, we're proud to have created a functional and engaging app that addresses a significant need in the neurodivergent community. Seeing Neko Chef come to life and knowing that it has the potential to positively impact users' lives fills us with a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment.

What we learned

We gained invaluable insights into the complexities of designing for neurodivergent individuals and the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in technology. We also honed our technical skills, learned to adapt to unforeseen circumstances, and discovered the power of teamwork and perseverance.

What's next for Neko Chef

Looking ahead, we envision expanding the app's capabilities and reach. This includes refining the algorithms to provide even more accurate and personalized meal recommendations, integrating with food delivery services to offer seamless ordering options, and continuously iterating based on user feedback.

Built With

• aseprite
• c#
• chatgpt
• convai
• discord
• github
• google-slides
• unity
• visual-studio