Menu-B AI

Menu-B emerged from a conversation with my friend Eshaan Sood (@thejumpymonkey). I want to credit him for inspiring this project. Eshaan and I went to undergrad together, where he lost his sight in an accident. He’s one of the most curious and sharp people I know, and an exceptionally talented musician. I initially set out to design a banking experience for blind users. It felt like a meaningful problem to solve. When I shared my idea with him over lunch, his response made me rethink everything. He explained that online banking is actually highly accessible for blind users. What I assumed was a problem came from my own perspective, not the user’s lived experience. That moment made something clear: accessibility cannot be designed in isolation. It requires co-design, and direct input from the people it aims to support. As I sat there, unsure of where to go next, he said something I still carry with me: “If it’s a problem for you, it’s probably a problem for me too.” That reframed accessibility as something shared, not separate. This insight materialized in the moment we were in. The restaurant we chose had great food, but there was no accessible way for him to explore the menu online beforehand, which he typically does through Google. I ended up reading the entire menu aloud. And even then, we struggled. Many dishes had unclear names, and no descriptions. Despite being able to see the menu, I was still guessing. That friction wasn’t his alone, it was shared. It wasn’t only about sight, but about clarity and context. Menu-B was born from that gap. A system that moves beyond reading menus to helping people explore them independently, enabling a more informed dining experience for everyone.