56. UX Lessons From the Culinary World With Anne Cantera

Is it shocking to compare working in a restaurant to UX design?

If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, I don’t think it would come as such a surprise.

Celebrated chef turned UX designer, Anne Cantera would agree.

In this episode, I chat with Anne whose career has simmered in both the culinary and tech industries. Anne’s journey from the heat of the kitchen to the digital design world brings an intriguing perspective to the table.

Puns intended😉

Anne shares how her experiences in high-pressure, fast-paced restaurant environments have enhanced her understanding of UX design. She draws a parallel between the urgency of a kitchen service and the user-centric world of software development. She emphasizes the importance of precision, timing, and customer satisfaction in both domains.

We dig into the concept of ‘mise en place’ – a culinary practice of setting up and organizing ingredients before cooking. Anne beautifully related this to the planning and organization required in designing user-friendly software. This analogy serves as a reminder that success in both cooking and design relies on preparation and clarity of vision.

Anne’s insights are peppered with personal anecdotes and practical wisdom, making our discussion both educational and entertaining. Her unique blend of culinary and UX expertise serves as a reminder that diverse experiences can enrich our professional abilities, offering fresh flavors to traditional practices.

DISCLAIMER: There are some serious spoilers in this episode from the Hulu series “The Bear.” So if you haven’t watched it yet, go binge the series and come back to listen to this episode!

Topics:
• 12:42 – Mis en place
• 17:53 – User centered approach
• 26:52 – Iterative process
• 38:05 – Workflow efficiency
• 39:37 – Prototyping
• 45:24 – Collaboration
• 47:39 – Empathy
• 51:09 – Adaptability
• 55:36 – Feedback integration

Helpful Links:
• Connect with Anne on LinkedIn
• Watch The Bear on Hulu

Anne Cantera
Product Designer / Bot Builder / Conversation Designer / Prompt Whisperer / Voiceflow Enthusiast

About Anne

Anne Cantera started her remarkable journey at the Culinary Institute of America at 17. Mentored by Wolfgang Puck, she swiftly rose to prominence, earning a nomination for Best Chef in Long Island while balancing life as a mother of three. Renowned for her versatility, Anne has excelled in everything from gourmet cooking to specialized diets, notably for children with autism, and later transitioned into the art of cake design. Now, Anne applies this rich experience to the world of UX design, bringing a unique perspective to the field.

Connect with Anne on LinkedIn

—

Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today’s episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today’s episode, why don’t you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.

If you haven’t already, sign up for our email list. We won’t spam you. Pinky swear.

• Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show
• Support the show on Patreon
• Check out show transcripts
• Check out our website
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify
• Subscribe on YouTube
• Subscribe on Stitcher