jennahimel.com
jennahimel.com
PIT BOSS’S
PIT BOSS’S
PIT BOSS’S
GRILLING GAMIFICATION
GRILLING GAMIFICATION
GRILLING GAMIFICATION
A leaderboard system highlighting active grillers, grill models, and reward system.
A leaderboard system highlighting active grillers, grill models, and reward system.
How might we create a more engaging experience that encourages consistent grill usage?
How might we create a more engaging experience that encourages consistent grill usage?
As of 2025, the Pit Boss app’s primary function is to allow it’s user to control their grill remotely from up to thousands of miles away.
As of 2025, the Pit Boss app’s primary function is to allow it’s user to control their grill remotely from up to thousands of miles away.
As of 2025, the Pit Boss app’s primary function is to allow it’s user to control their grill remotely from up to thousands of miles away.
There is a lack of engaging, community-driven features.
There is a lack of engaging, community-driven features.
There is a lack of engaging, community-driven features.
Users primarily interact with the app during major grilling occasions, such as holidays or social events, which results in inconsistent usage and low long-term engagement.
Users primarily interact with the app during major grilling occasions, such as holidays or social events, which results in inconsistent usage and low long-term engagement.
Users primarily interact with the app during major grilling occasions, such as holidays or social events, which results in inconsistent usage and low long-term engagement.
MY ROLE: UI/UX DESIGN
MY ROLE:
UI/UX DESIGN
MY ROLE: UI/UX DESIGN
I joined the Mobile Product Team to do an overhaul of the current Pit Boss App.
Beyond the general UX/UI restructure, my work expanded to build app features expanding beyond basic grill control and recipe capabilities.
I joined the Mobile Product Team to do an overhaul of the current Pit Boss App.
Beyond the general UX/UI restructure, my work expanded to build app features expanding beyond basic grill control and recipe capabilities.
I joined the Mobile Product Team to do an overhaul of the current Pit Boss App.
Beyond the general UX/UI restructure, my work expanded to build app features expanding beyond basic grill control and recipe capabilities.
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
Ryan Minor (Lead Developer)
Mauro Minor (Back End Developer)
Jake Alexander (Front End Developer)
Ryan Minor (Lead Developer)
Mauro Minor (Back End Developer)
Jake Alexander (Front End Developer)
TIMELINE:
TIMELINE:
6 months
January 2024-June 2025
6 months
January 2024-June 2025
SOLUTION:
SOLUTION:
The
Pit Boss
Leaderboard.
The
Pit Boss
Leaderboard.
The
Pit Boss
Leaderboard.
Turn grilling into a community game.
Turn grilling into a community game.
Encourages more grill use, creates friendly competition, and lets users see how others are using their grills.
Encourages more grill use, creates friendly competition, and lets users see how others are using their grills.
IDEATION & BRAINSTORMING:
IDEATION & BRAINSTORMING:
SWIPE
In ideation and brainstorming, I kept these questions in mind:
What can this app offer that our competitors don’t?
What encourages use?
Motivation to keep using product?
In ideation and brainstorming, I kept these questions in mind:
What can this app offer that our competitors don’t?
What encourages use?
Motivation to keep using product?
In ideation and brainstorming, I kept these questions in mind:
What can this app offer that our competitors don’t?
What encourages use?
Motivation to keep using product?
In ideation and brainstorming, I kept these questions in mind:
What can this app offer that our competitors don’t?
What encourages use?
Motivation to keep using product?
Calendar, add in birthdays and events and bookmark recipes for this later, will remind you
Compete with friends; winner gets points
Themed recipe competitions; share how you cook chicken, brisket, etc. and users vote
Grill Competition; grill most hours
Word of the day, or technique, or fun fact?
Joke of the day-> grill puns: Nice to MEAT you, don't make any miSTEAKS
Horoscope that prompts recipes, references your connected grills: Mercury is in optimal position for a glazed smokey brisket today
Secret Recipes -> only appear after a certain number of hours grilled, or points earned
Take photo of food->AI scans and recommends similar PB recipe
Leaderboard like Peloton or video game
Build your own recipes with modal, share them, earn points for ratings/ when other users cook with it
Follow your friends, see what certain users (or sponsors/celebrity spokespeople?) are cooking and creating
Weather forecast, recommends cooking planning and coordination
Community/recipe photo feed, social media board
Reward system/tiers:
What could be rewards?
Access to visual themes on your app
Product Discounts
Merch
Shipping Discounts
In ideation and brainstorming, I kept these questions in mind:
What can this app offer that our competitors don’t?
What encourages use?
Motivation to keep using product?
In ideation and brainstorming, I kept these questions in mind:
What can this app offer that our competitors don’t?
What encourages use?
Motivation to keep using product?
Calendar, add in birthdays and events and bookmark recipes for this later, will remind you
Compete with friends; winner gets points
Follow your friends, see what certain users (or sponsors/celebrity spokespeople?) are cooking and creating
Weather forecast, recommends cooking planning and coordination
Themed recipe competitions; share how you cook chicken, brisket, etc. and users vote
Grill competition; grill most hours
Word of the day, or technique, or fun fact?
Joke of the day-> grill puns: Nice to MEAT you, don't make any miSTEAKS
Community/recipe photo feed, social media board
Horoscope that prompts recipes, references your connected grills: Mercury is in optimal position for a glazed smokey brisket today
Secret Recipes -> only appear after a certain number of hours grilled, or points earned
Take photo of food->AI scans and recommends similar PB recipe
Leaderboard like Peloton or video game
Build your own recipes with modal, share them, earn points for ratings/ when other users cook with it
Reward system/tiers:
What could be rewards?
Access to visual themes on your app
Product Discounts
Merch
Shipping Discounts
WIREFRAMES & UI:
WIREFRAMES & UI:
35
44
The primary age demographic of grill owners in the US is between 35 and 44 years old; I wanted to tap into the nostalgia of nineties and early 2000s arcade and video games.
The primary age demographic of grill owners in the US is between 35 and 44 years old; I wanted to tap into the nostalgia of nineties and early 2000s arcade and video games.
In this spirit, I want playful, fun, tactile interactions.
In this spirit, I want playful, fun, tactile interactions.
SWIPE
To earn their score, a user can:
To earn their score, a user can:
To earn their score, a user can:
Grill, refer friends, leave recipe reviews, register their grill(s), submit recipes, and review products.
Grill, refer friends, leave recipe reviews, register their grill(s), submit recipes, and review products.
Grill models are turned into stylized icons, adding a personal touch.
Grill models are turned into stylized icons, adding a personal touch.
An ode to Pit Boss’s sponsorship of Nascar:
Odometers.
An ode to Pit Boss’s sponsorship of Nascar:
Odometers.
An ode to Pit Boss’s sponsorship of Nascar:
Odometers.
The odometer adjusters provide a tactile interaction, break up the monotony of standard adjusters, and add visual interest.
The odometer adjusters provide a tactile interaction, break up the monotony of standard adjusters, and add visual interest.
The odometer adjusters provide a tactile interaction, break up the monotony of standard adjusters, and add visual interest.
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