The Vinkie app was developed for our tasting room by Amy because other apps on the market did not meet our requirements. Amy customized this app completely for our business, and it works so well that we plan to introduce it at two of our other venues as well. A very clear and user-friendly environment. Perfect for the hospitality industry!

Rob de witte

Co-owner Proeflokaal A van Wees

Vinkie

Design of a hospitality SaaS platform

A tailored platform that brings daily tasks, smart cleaning, HACCP and team knowledge together in one place.

See site

Key results

Grew from an internal tool into a live SaaS platform used by multiple hospitality businesses
Now supports more than 250 users across different venues
Over 200 daily and recurring tasks are managed through Vinkie
Helped the original venue pass its NVWA inspection after two previous failed inspections
Continues to evolve based on feedback from real hospitality teams

Context & design challenge

Van Wees is a busy restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam with over 50 employees and 5 managers. Daily operations relied heavily on paper checklists, making it difficult to maintain oversight and consistency.

After two failed inspections, it became clear that a more structured approach was needed.

Design challenge

How might we design a digital system that helps managers and staff register, track and manage daily work processes in one clear overview?

Understanding the problem

Current Situation

The existing workflow relied on paper lists spread throughout the restaurant.

Challenges included:

No central overview
Tasks being forgotten
Difficult follow-up by managers
Time-consuming manual checks
No insight into completed work.

Key Insights

After analysing the workflow, three themes emerged

Lack of visibility

Managers struggled to see what had and hadn't been completed.

Unclear ownership

Employees were not always sure who was responsible for specific tasks.

Inefficient communication

Important information was often scattered across multiple lists.

Defining the Solution

Design Goals

The system needed to

Be easy to use during busy shifts
Give managers instant overview
Replace paper workflows
Create accountability
Support both daily and long-term operations.

Managers

Need visibility and efficient follow-up

Managers need a clear overview of completed and outstanding tasks. The system should reduce manual checking, highlight priority items and make it easy to identify issues before they impact operations.

Need operational control and compliance

Owners need confidence that important operational tasks are completed consistently across the business. The system should provide oversight, accountability and support compliance require-ments without requiring constant supervision.

Owners

Staff

Need a simple and intuitive workflow

Staff need a fast and easy way to complete tasks during busy shifts. The system should clearly communicate what needs to be done, prioritise important actions and minimise unnecessary steps.

User Flows

Flowchart for opening, closing and cleaning tasks

Information Architecture

Sitemap

The system was structured around the natural rhythm of restaurant operations, separating daily, weekly and monthly responsibilities.

Ideation & Wireframing

I explored different logo directions based on the idea of checking off tasks. After a few iterations, I created a simple identity that fits the app’s practical and friendly feeling.

I started with low-fidelity wireframes to get a feel of the main task flow. These were developed into mid-fidelity screens, tested, and improved into the final high-fidelity design.

Solution

A unified web app providing real-time visibility for managers. Staff receive clear daily lists to ensure nothing is missed.

See demo

Everything accessible from one dashboard for the servers

Instead of using multiple menu levels, all task categories are immediately visible on the home screen. This reduces navigation time during busy shifts. The managers have their own navigation

Simplified navigation

Tasks are automatically organised

Rather than displaying every task equally, the system automatically surfaces high-priority and time-sensitive tasks first, helping teams stay focused during busy shifts.

Designed Around Priority

Designed around task completion

The interface was built around checking off tasks as quickly as possible. Every screen supports the primary goal: completing operational tasks efficiently.

Check-box
first design

Outcome

Users reported significant time savings and reduced confusion. By moving stock registration, onboarding progress and cleaning tasks into one digital system, managers gained a better overview of what was happening on the floor. The system also made task registration more consistent, transparent and easier to check.

What I learned

Involving frontline staff early was critical for adoption. I learned to balance complex operations with a minimal, focus-driven UI.

I love turning complex workflows into clear, human-friendly tools.

Let’s work together

Role

UX / UI Designer

Type

Tailored SaaS platform

Tools

Miro, Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lovable