Learnt

Project

Trust Smarthome

Type

B2C Home Intelligent APP

Industry

Smart home utility, mobile/tablet

Role

Product analysis, User flow, Stakeholder management, User Testing, Interface design

Product analysis

What issue this project was trying to solve

The first version of the smarthome mobile app was designed by our manufactors and refined by engineers. We received complaints about the interface, complicated user experience in performing basic functionalities like adding a light to the system and some functions were simply broken.

Sorting out the tasks and priorities

I analysed the existing app and listed out a list of functionalities; the hardware and their respective behavior; user scenarios by occurance and how the app was performing in different fields, including ease of use and consistency. I also analyzed market offerings for insights on how to improve our app.

Analyze and benchmarking against competitors

Key activities

Get user feedback on ease of use, prioritized user scenarios, pain/gain points, UI/UX satisfaction.
Manage stakeholder expectations and push for a complete redesign of the application and process.
Gather information on hardware and software limitations and process.
Get insights from competitors and analyse their offering.

Key Insights

Users find the UI ugly and difficult to understand. More than 50% of the users couldn’t find what they were looking for.

Users get really frustrated with the troubleshooting process. The task flow is broken.

The most used function on the app is to turn lights lights on/off.

Many users were unaware of some basic functions like changing colors of the lights.

User flow

Redesigning the app

I redesigned the app to allow users to be able to do most tasks in 4 steps. The steps to create a new rule is a good example. If a user wanted to "turn on the living room light every night at 6pm", the existing app asks them to create a new rule, set a name, choose a time in 2 steps, check each day & months, finally compete the task by selecting the lamps individually. The new user flow allows users to create the rule in as little as 3 steps by allowing users to fill in the form in one page and only edit the necessary steps.

Top: old userflow; Bottom: new userflow for creating a “Rule”

Stakeholder management

The process is as important as the end result

Throughout the redesign process, I involved the product managers in the creative process regularly. I also refined the product implementation roadmap and introduced an agile approach for the team to work in sections. This was new for the traditional industrial product focused company and I learned a lot in stakeholder management. I was also responsible for the creating slidedecks and presenting to product managers, head of R&D and the CEO.

Interface design

The final touch

I redesigned the UI of the app for mobile and tablet. The app needed a refresh and a signal to show our increased investment in user experience. Just like the new user flow, with the interface I made sure all elements were consistent and sharp. I also added images to add warmth and relatability to the design.

A valuable learning experience

I consider this project as one of the most valuable learning experience as I had experimented with different software and ways to communicate design concepts with developers, engineers, users and business stakeholders. I had sharpened my soft skills in stakeholder managements and presentations. Reflecting on both the design and the process, I would do things quite differently, knowing that I am continuously growing gave me motivation for my work.