Rethinking UX That Looks Good, Works Well, and Makes People Happy.
When I left the stall, I was reminded that good design is not just about technology. It’s about understanding what people feel and making their whole experience, even the wait, enjoyable.
Insights
Apr 27, 2025
As someone who’s lived in Hyderabad for a long time, I have seen how this city has changed. It’s not just about the famous Charminar or the delicious biryani anymore. Now, Hyderabad is also known for its big IT companies and a new kind of energy, especially in places like DLF Street. This street is really special. It’s filled with the smells of different kinds of food — from fried Maggi and egg kulfi to dishes from all over India. We can find everything from Delhi’s parathas to Darjeeling’s momos, Bangalore’s benne dosa, Andhra’s spicy chitti idly, and Kerala’s soft appam. It’s like a big party of flavours.
Right in the middle of this busy street is Varalakshmi Tiffins. This small food stall might not look fancy, but the food is so good that there’s always a line. People don’t mind waiting because the food is worth it. I’m a UX designer, and usually, when I see long lines, I think of ways to make things faster with technology, like self-service machines or digital menus. But at Varalakshmi Tiffins, I realized that making people wait less wasn’t the only solution.
What if the wait itself could be more fun? What if, while we are standing in line, we get a small paper scroll with interesting facts about Hyderabad’s food, or a riddle to solve? Or maybe there’s a board where we can read fun questions about the city and its food while we wait to pay. This can make the wait feel shorter and more enjoyable.
I also thought, what if the tokens we get when we order had little stories on them? Like where the dish came from or a secret about how it’s made. It is a small change, but it could make waiting more interesting. And what about giving people small cards with fun challenges related to food? Like trying to cook a dish at home or guessing what’s in a certain dish. It adds something extra to the experience.
Lastly, maybe we can give people a ‘thank you’ card. Every time we wait, we get a stamp. After a few visits, we can get a free snack or may be some discount! It’s a simple way to make people feel special, like we are part of a community.
These are some of the possibilities and the possibilities are endless.
When I left the stall, I was reminded that good design is not just about technology. It’s about understanding what people feel and making their whole experience, even the wait, enjoyable. This is what real user experience is — it’s not just about how things look or work, but about making people feel happy and valued, maybe even excited!
More to Discover
Rethinking UX That Looks Good, Works Well, and Makes People Happy.
When I left the stall, I was reminded that good design is not just about technology. It’s about understanding what people feel and making their whole experience, even the wait, enjoyable.
Insights
Apr 27, 2025
As someone who’s lived in Hyderabad for a long time, I have seen how this city has changed. It’s not just about the famous Charminar or the delicious biryani anymore. Now, Hyderabad is also known for its big IT companies and a new kind of energy, especially in places like DLF Street. This street is really special. It’s filled with the smells of different kinds of food — from fried Maggi and egg kulfi to dishes from all over India. We can find everything from Delhi’s parathas to Darjeeling’s momos, Bangalore’s benne dosa, Andhra’s spicy chitti idly, and Kerala’s soft appam. It’s like a big party of flavours.
Right in the middle of this busy street is Varalakshmi Tiffins. This small food stall might not look fancy, but the food is so good that there’s always a line. People don’t mind waiting because the food is worth it. I’m a UX designer, and usually, when I see long lines, I think of ways to make things faster with technology, like self-service machines or digital menus. But at Varalakshmi Tiffins, I realized that making people wait less wasn’t the only solution.
What if the wait itself could be more fun? What if, while we are standing in line, we get a small paper scroll with interesting facts about Hyderabad’s food, or a riddle to solve? Or maybe there’s a board where we can read fun questions about the city and its food while we wait to pay. This can make the wait feel shorter and more enjoyable.
I also thought, what if the tokens we get when we order had little stories on them? Like where the dish came from or a secret about how it’s made. It is a small change, but it could make waiting more interesting. And what about giving people small cards with fun challenges related to food? Like trying to cook a dish at home or guessing what’s in a certain dish. It adds something extra to the experience.
Lastly, maybe we can give people a ‘thank you’ card. Every time we wait, we get a stamp. After a few visits, we can get a free snack or may be some discount! It’s a simple way to make people feel special, like we are part of a community.
These are some of the possibilities and the possibilities are endless.
When I left the stall, I was reminded that good design is not just about technology. It’s about understanding what people feel and making their whole experience, even the wait, enjoyable. This is what real user experience is — it’s not just about how things look or work, but about making people feel happy and valued, maybe even excited!
More to Discover
Rethinking UX That Looks Good, Works Well, and Makes People Happy.
When I left the stall, I was reminded that good design is not just about technology. It’s about understanding what people feel and making their whole experience, even the wait, enjoyable.
Insights
Apr 27, 2025
As someone who’s lived in Hyderabad for a long time, I have seen how this city has changed. It’s not just about the famous Charminar or the delicious biryani anymore. Now, Hyderabad is also known for its big IT companies and a new kind of energy, especially in places like DLF Street. This street is really special. It’s filled with the smells of different kinds of food — from fried Maggi and egg kulfi to dishes from all over India. We can find everything from Delhi’s parathas to Darjeeling’s momos, Bangalore’s benne dosa, Andhra’s spicy chitti idly, and Kerala’s soft appam. It’s like a big party of flavours.
Right in the middle of this busy street is Varalakshmi Tiffins. This small food stall might not look fancy, but the food is so good that there’s always a line. People don’t mind waiting because the food is worth it. I’m a UX designer, and usually, when I see long lines, I think of ways to make things faster with technology, like self-service machines or digital menus. But at Varalakshmi Tiffins, I realized that making people wait less wasn’t the only solution.
What if the wait itself could be more fun? What if, while we are standing in line, we get a small paper scroll with interesting facts about Hyderabad’s food, or a riddle to solve? Or maybe there’s a board where we can read fun questions about the city and its food while we wait to pay. This can make the wait feel shorter and more enjoyable.
I also thought, what if the tokens we get when we order had little stories on them? Like where the dish came from or a secret about how it’s made. It is a small change, but it could make waiting more interesting. And what about giving people small cards with fun challenges related to food? Like trying to cook a dish at home or guessing what’s in a certain dish. It adds something extra to the experience.
Lastly, maybe we can give people a ‘thank you’ card. Every time we wait, we get a stamp. After a few visits, we can get a free snack or may be some discount! It’s a simple way to make people feel special, like we are part of a community.
These are some of the possibilities and the possibilities are endless.
When I left the stall, I was reminded that good design is not just about technology. It’s about understanding what people feel and making their whole experience, even the wait, enjoyable. This is what real user experience is — it’s not just about how things look or work, but about making people feel happy and valued, maybe even excited!