Home Control System
The Home Control System is a personal project that I have been creating on my own.
The Problem
Users want better and more accessibility to control and monitor their home devices.
The Goal
Design an application that allows users to easily control all their homes devices from.
Understanding the User
To understand our users I conducted surveys and interviews. Which I then used to create user insights, personas, and empathy maps to help design for their needs. A primary user group identified through research people that often traveled. Secondly busy families also believed that such a device would be useful.
This user group confirmed initial assumptions about the home control system customers, helped to guide the initial design.
Surveys
To get some basic information about users. I created a survey asking questions about how users currently use most of the devices. What benefits they thought would be most useful in a smart home system.
Interviews
I also conducted a few in person interviews of people who used smart homes devices. To better understand how they used them and what pain points currently exist in competing products.
Observations
I additionally observe a number of smart home product devices videos on YouTube. Which enabled me to gather many insights on current product and use cases by reviewing, comparison, unboxing, product demo videos.
Competitive Analysis
I then completed a competitive analysis to understand the current range of products and features being offered. Which helped to better understand users needs and product expectations.
Mind Map
I created a mind map to better understand and connect the differing parts of the app and control devices.
User Research: Pain Points
Personas
Big Picture Storyboard
This is storyboard of Jake using the app though out his day.
Design
Starting out the design phases I worked on creating basic ideas though sketching out basic components and wireframes.
Paper Sketches
For this project I took the time to sketch drafts for many ideas and create detailed sketches to help save time latter on in the design phases.
Usability study: findings
Though the design process I preformed a few usability studies to validate my designs. To look for potential problem areas.
Digital Wireframes
Creating the home screen layout to visually represent the rooms and areas of the house that is being controlled. Creates a simple intuitive and visual means of understanding the control selection process.
Digital Wireframes
The control page provides an easy overview of all the controllable devices and actions can be taken. That is organized and understandable.
High Fidelity Prototype
HCS Prototype
Next Steps
Final Thoughts
At this point I really don't consider the design to be complete as many additional features and functionality would be needed for such a product that I have not designed yet. Also what I have built so far I think is headed in a good direction but still needs more work to be perfected before I would consider it ready.
