Context
I built a lightweight ordering system for my home bar project, The Ginger Arms — not as a technical exercise, but to improve the guest experience and reduce friction while hosting.
The aim was to create something that felt like a real venue experience, without introducing complexity or ongoing maintenance overhead.
Guest-facing ordering interface — designed to reduce friction while hosting.
The Problem
As the space and menu evolved, the informal approach to ordering started to break down:
- Orders were easy to mishear or forget during conversation
- Menu options expanded beyond what was practical to explain repeatedly
- Availability and specials weren’t always clear
- The experience felt less polished than the space itself
The challenge was to improve consistency and clarity without making the experience feel transactional or over-engineered.
The Approach
I approached it as a small product, with delivery constraints baked in.
Product & UX
- Designed a simple, linear journey: browse → customise → confirm
- Made the system intuitive enough for first-time users with no explanation
- Kept the focus on speed and clarity over feature depth
- Ensured the experience complemented hosting rather than replacing it
Engineering & Delivery
- Built a single source of truth for menus, options, and availability
- Designed the system to fail safely, with manual fallback always possible
- Kept the architecture intentionally lightweight to reduce operational risk
- Prioritised easy deployment and low ongoing maintenance
- The system was implemented as a small web application with a simple data store, designed for reliability over scale.
Features were introduced incrementally, with each change validated in real use rather than speculative design.
Admin controls for managing orders and bar availability during service.
The Outcome
The system delivered practical benefits on both sides of the experience:
- Guests found ordering clearer and more enjoyable
- Hosting became less interrupt-driven and easier to manage
- Menu changes and specials were simpler to keep up to date
- The overall experience felt more intentional and “venue-like”
The result was a small system that improved flow and enjoyment, without becoming something that needed constant attention.
Key Takeaways
- Product thinking applies at any scale
- UX and reliability matter more than features
- Lightweight systems often deliver the highest return
- Delivery choices should reflect how something will actually be used