FOX - Smart home app
Client:
F&Home
Timeframe:
7 months
Introduction
In the rapidly evolving smart home industry, the Fox mobile app stands out as a comprehensive solution for controlling a wide array of smart devices within the home. Developed by FHome, a pioneer in smart home technology, the Fox app has undergone significant transformations to meet the growing demands of users for intuitive and seamless home automation experiences.
Challenges
- Complex Utility Flows: Users faced difficulties navigating through the app due to its intricate processes.
- Unstructured Task Management: The lack of a structured system for task assignments resulted in inefficiencies and miscommunications, primarily managed through informal Slack conversations.
My Role
My main task was to redesign the app’s user processes to be simple and intuitive, as well as to create new ones. This involved directly confronting the existing complexities and ensuring that users could easily navigate and control their smart home devices without frustration. An important aspect was also the creation of a local design system from components and materials that were being used in current tasks.
Process Improvement
- Task Management Process: To address the disorganized task management system, I initiated a new protocol by creating a comprehensive document that outlined each task’s necessary details in a clear and concise manner.
- Local Design System Creation: To accelerate the design process and ensure consistency across the app, I developed a local design system.
Design Process Overview
Research and Understanding : The first step in addressing a new task was always to thoroughly analyze and understand it, followed by extensive research and benchmarking.
Workshop : With sufficient information on hand, workshops were conducted to brainstorm and select the most user-friendly and clear user flows. This was particularly challenging due to the complexity of the app’s features and functions.
UX Phase : Based on research and workshops, I created a flow for a given utility. We design iteratively to meet the users’ requirements and to make the entire process simple and intuitive for them. After the business accepts the wireframes from the last iteration, we move on to the UI phase.
Iterative design
UI phase :After the business gave its approval, we leveraged the local design system that I had put together upon joining the project. This allowed us to streamline the screen creation process, significantly enhancing both work comfort and efficiency.
Recent flows designs
Lessons Learned
The Fox app project taught me valuable lessons about working within imperfect project processes, common in real-world scenarios. The early changes I implemented helped streamline the project workflow, allowing for more efficient task execution. Moreover, designing for the smart home industry’s complex usability processes presented a unique challenge, emphasizing the importance of user-centered design in creating intuitive experiences.
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