My Projects.

All of my works on this page showcase my journey as a growing software developer.

Each project represents not just a piece of code but a story of challenges conquered, solutions crafted, and continuous learning. I am excited and committed to pushing my creative boundaries and refining my skills!

MatchaBuds | June 2024 - July 2024

Languages: Dart, Flutter

Other Usages: Firebase Auth, Firebase Real-Time ​Database, Flutterflow for Uploading

This mobile app was created for Coding Minds, it functions as ​a social media platform that connects users through Matcha!

Users can create an account and make posts related to ​Matcha and also view other user profiles. All user data is ​saved to Firebase and login information is authenticated ​using the Firebase Auth feature.

Features Include:

• uploading posts that everyone can see
  
• stores user data using Firebase
  
• like posts and follow users
• a matcha user timeline/feed

Why MatchaBuds?

Over the past year, I’ve developed a passion for tasting ​matcha and exploring its different quality levels. After a ​disappointing experience with a low-quality, overpriced ​matcha latte at a popular cafe, I realized how useful it ​would be to have a space where matcha enthusiasts ​could rate and recommend the best spots.

That’s why I created MatchaBuds—a community for ​matcha lovers to share reviews, tips, and everything ​matcha-related, from powders to whisk designs.

Finished Product

Here’s a video demonstration of the MatchaBuds app and its key features.

Additional Snapshots

Summary

I developed this project in just three days while learning Dart, Flutter, and Firebase. The main ​challenge was integrating Firebase and adapting to the new syntax, but overall, it was a ​rewarding experience. Despite not being officially published, this app allowed me to explore ​new technologies, sharpen my skills, and meet deadlines, as it was created for Coding Minds.

Through this project, I improved my backend skills and enhanced my understanding of user ​experience design, making sure the app was intuitive for fellow matcha lovers. The challenges ​pushed me to be creative under time constraints, and I enjoyed the process of balancing ​functionality with design.

Looking ahead, I plan to introduce a messaging feature, group pages for specific matcha ​topics, and a matcha flavor profile test. The goal is to help users match with others who share ​similar flavor profiles and even arrange meetups to try matcha together. This project continues ​to inspire me, and I’m excited to take it further!

SleepTracker Mobile App | March 2024

Languages: Java, Javascript, Typescript, HTML, CSS

Usage of Angular and Figma

This mobile app tracks the user’s sleep overnight to ​encourage better sleeping habits and visualize how many ​hours they often sleep on average. Improving sleeping ​habits also improves mood throughout the day, user can ​log their mood at any time.

Features Include:

• logs overnight sleep
  
• stores user data
  
• logs sleep mood
  
• data visualization
  

EcoZot | April - June 2024

Role: Moderator | Team: Var-temp | Tools: Figma

Our goals for Eco-Zot

• Reduce carbon emissions and harmful toxins/pollution
• Give users a digestible way of seeing modes of transportation
• Gamify reducing carbon emissions
• Reward sustainable behavior
• Make the world a better and cleaner place to live

Comparative Analysis:

McDonald’s

• Strengths: Reward points system that motivates user to keep using app
  
• Weaknesses: Rewards are specialized for their own company.
  

ZOTFinder

• Strengths: Accurate system of providing a walking path to a certain location
  
• Weaknesses: Specifically made for UCI campus, fails to show any concern for environmental impacts.
  

Google Maps

• Strength: Shows user their location and route to their destination as well as additional information like how many miles away it is and how long it will take to get there with different transportation methods
  
• Weaknesses: Doesn’t show the carbon emissions from each transportation method
  

Survey Results:

• About 38.5% of college students drive as transportation to commute
  
• 54.2% of those students drive a gas vehicle
  
• 20.8% of those students drive a hybrid vehicle
  
• More than half of college students (66.7%) care about their carbon footprint
  
• 87.2% of students say they would be more inclined to take eco-friendly commutes if rewarded in a way
  
• Giftcards
  
• Parking discounts
  
• Redeemable points
  

What users are saying...

How we integrated user data into the design...

• Using user data and feedback collected, we kept that in mind as we started developing the application
• We added a rewards system where each trip completed gives the user points that can be redeemable for gift cards
• Users are able to see how much carbon emissions they have saved in total and with each trip

Design Process

The group collectively spent a period of time searching through the internet to look for inspiration on what the app should look like. There were disagreements along the way, but we eventually settled on the app's color, font, and overall goal.

I ran into issues where some features were difficult to implement or lacked color coordination. Teammates were also unfamiliar with Figma but we collaborated as a team to figure out the solutions for our design idea. We settled on a mix of light and dark green, beige white, and a pink accent to highlight important features to the user such as buttons or viewing data.

We got together in real-time and started designing our prototypes while taking 30-minute breaks where we peer-reviewed and gave feedback on each other’s designs. I worked on the “Start Journey” page and the logo of the app. As a moderator, I also supervised my teammates with their designs whenever they needed help applying their design ideas to Figma. Later on after trial and error and integrating input into our new prototypes, we ultimately finished the final product design of Eco-Zot!

Story Board

BrainStorming Process

Low-fi Prototyping

Hi-fi Prototyping

Relevance to Current Issues

• Climate Change - Reducing carbon emissions from commuting helps mitigate the effects of climate change. For example, decreasing transportation emissions can significantly contribute to global efforts to limit temperature rise.

• Air Quality and Public Health - Lowering transportation emissions can improve air quality, reducing respiratory problems and other health issues caused by pollution.

• Urban Congestion - Promoting public transit and carpooling can alleviate traffic congestion, making cities more livable and reducing commute times.

Our Final Interactive Prototype

Outcome:

I created a high-fidelity prototype for the Eco-zot mobile application focusing on the “Start Journey” page and creating the logo. At the same time, my other teammates designed their pages of the prototype.

This mobile application design integrates user’s wants and needs for a motivating easier way to be eco-friendly by offering redeemable reward points for gift cards, information on their carbon footprint, and a routing service for transportation with the least carbon emissions.

Takeaways:

One takeaway from this design project was learning how to use tools in Figma such as plugins and widgets to save time on designing repetitive items or when creating a logo. I find that the icons plugin was handy when adding imagery to the design to help the user navigate without requiring too much text.

MochaMinds | May 2024

Languages: Python, Javascript, HTML, CSS,

Usages: Flask, YouTube API, OpenAI API, Yelp API, Local Storage

Mocha Minds brings all the essential study tools into one place, ​so students don’t have to constantly switch between tabs, which ​can cause distractions and make studying less effective. The ​goal is to help students build healthier study habits by allowing ​them to finish their sessions efficiently, instead of cramming all ​night.

We built features using HTML/CSS, Flask, JavaScript, Jinja2, and ​API calls, including generative AI flashcards where you can input ​any subject and the number of cards you need, a to-do planner, ​study tips personalized to your learning style using AI, YouTube ​videos based on your subject, music sorted by genre, and even ​local cafes for study spots by city. Everything is done on the ​platform, so users can stay focused without being redirected to ​other sites.

In this collaboration, I was assigned to develop the front-end ​code in HTML/CSS/JavaScript and make API calls to display the ​data. I also helped out my teammates in developing some of the ​backend code in Python.

Features Include:

• generated flashcards
• video search
• music search
• cafe search
• to-do list

Demo Video

My Portfolio

Locations available

• Irvine, California

• Los Angeles, California

• Manhattan, New York

Contact

helenkachau@gmail.com

xxx-xxx-xxxx