Atmos Website Redesign & App
Overview
Atmos is a Chicago-based coffee shop with a mission that goes beyond serving great coffee. In addition to selling craft drinks, Atmos is deeply focused on supporting its community by creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs and offering barista training to youth.
They came to our team looking for a website refresh that could better reflect who they are and what they stand for highlighting their community programs alongside their coffee offerings, and making it easier for people to engage with the business both online and in person.
My Role & Contributions
I led the research for this project from start to finish. This included planning and conducting user research, synthesizing findings, and translating insights into clear design direction for both the website and the mobile app.
I was also responsible for turning research into action—helping shape feature priorities, workflows, and overall strategy. Throughout the project, I presented research findings and design recommendations to stakeholders to ensure the solutions stayed aligned with Atmos’s goals and community-focused mission.
The Problem
1. The website felt incomplete.
While the existing site technically worked, it was bare bones and didn’t tell the story of Atmos or clearly explain their mission and community impact.
2. There was no space for community partners.
Atmos regularly supports local entrepreneurs by sharing their space, but the website didn’t offer a way to highlight or manage those partnerships.
3. Busy mornings slowed everything down.
Long lines during peak hours made it difficult for customers to grab coffee quickly, pointing to the need for an easier way to order ahead.
Research and Discovery
Since we didn’t have direct access to Atmos customers, we started by surveying people who regularly visit coffee shops and, in some cases, already use mobile ordering apps like Starbucks.
We collected responses from five participants with varied ages, backgrounds, and occupations, which helped us get a broader perspective on coffee shop habits and expectations. Our goal wasn’t to validate a specific solution yet, but to better understand:
1. Why people choose to order ahead when they do?
2. What they like about using apps like Starbucks?
3. What draws them to local coffee shops in the first place?
Even though the group was small, the responses gave us helpful insight into common behaviors—especially around convenience during busy mornings and the balance people want between speed and the in-store coffee shop experience.
Key Research Insights
A few clear patterns showed up across our survey responses:
Convenience drives coffee decisions.
People consistently mentioned speed and ease as the biggest reasons for ordering coffee, especially during busy mornings.
Ordering ahead is already familiar behavior.
Three out of five participants had used, or were currently using, apps like Starbucks to order ahead, which validated mobile ordering as a learned and trusted habit.
Coffee shops serve more than one purpose.
Most participants shared that they use coffee shops as places to work, meet up, or spend time not just to grab a drink.
To-go ordering is common.
Every participant had ordered coffee to go on multiple occasions, reinforcing the need for a quick, low-friction pickup experience.
From Research to Design Direction
Most of the people we surveyed were already familiar with ordering ahead through apps like Starbucks and they genuinely liked it. Ordering ahead felt convenient, easy, and fit naturally into their daily routines, especially during busy mornings.
Because convenience consistently came up as a priority, it became clear that designing a mobile app made sense. An app would allow customers to quickly place an order and pick it up on the way to work, helping reduce long lines during peak hours.
At the same time, we needed to balance customer needs with the owner’s vision. The website became the primary place to tell Atmos’s story highlighting its commitment to the local community, showcasing the barista training program, and creating a digital space where entrepreneurs could reserve time to sell their products in the shop.
While the website focused on storytelling and community engagement, the mobile app focused on speed and efficiency. We also explored a workflow for entrepreneurs on mobile, but prioritized the website as the main hub for reserving shop space.
Design Solutions
We intentionally split the experience between the website and the mobile app, giving each one a clear purpose while supporting the same mission.
Website: Built for Community
The website focused on telling Atmos’s story and supporting community engagement. We designed a flow that allows local entrepreneurs to reserve space at the coffee shop and apply to sell their products, creating a simple and more organized way to support small businesses.
We also dedicated space on the site to the youth barista training program. The goal was to create an accessible place where prospective baristas could learn more about the program and apply, helping Atmos continue to invest in the local community.
Community Workflow
Mobile App: Built for Speed
The mobile app focused primarily on ordering. We designed a streamlined ordering and checkout flow that allows customers to place an order ahead of time and quickly pick it up especially helpful during busy morning hours.
While ordering was the main priority, we also explored a flow for entrepreneurs within the app, making it possible to extend community features beyond the website.
Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of designing beyond just functionality. While improving the ordering experience was critical, it was just as important to create space for storytelling, community involvement, and opportunity.
Working on Atmos challenged me to balance speed and convenience with purpose-driven design and to use research as the bridge between business goals, user needs, and meaningful community impact.
Check out our designs.
Questions
Everything you need to know about the Atmos ordering experience
The mobile app lets you browse the menu, customize your drink, and select a pickup time. Orders go straight to the shop, cutting wait times during peak hours. It's built for speed without sacrificing quality.
Yes. The app allows you to place orders for friends or colleagues. Just add their preferences and they can pick up when ready. It's designed for flexibility in how people work and gather.
The website showcases Atmos's barista training initiatives and entrepreneur partnerships. You can learn about their mission, see upcoming events, and reserve shop space if you're a local vendor looking to sell your products.
The app tracks your orders and preferences over time. Regular customers build a history that helps personalize recommendations. Atmos values repeat visitors and rewards that loyalty through the platform.
Payment processing uses industry-standard encryption. Your information stays protected whether you're ordering on the app or through the website. Trust was built into the design from the start.
Want to know more?
Reach out to discuss the project in detail.