Smart Blind App

Building hype for a disruptor product through a user-validated, testable prototype.

  • How might we create a companion app for the smart blinds that provides relevant features and rivals smart home experts Google and Amazon.

  • Success for this engagement looked a little different than a typical one. The client was marching toward a trade show where they would need to gather buy-in from the window industry. While the end user is representing throughout the process, a vital goal was creating a working prototype of the app to be demoed at the trade show.

  • I was the Lead UX Designer for the entire project, working in tandem with a team of project managers, strategists, hardware engineers and a team of full-stack developers.

Discover & Define

To compete with smart home giants like Google and Amazon, we needed to know our users well— like, really well. We took ample time to understand their pain points so we could tailor the experience perfectly for them. We considered how the user would purchase the blinds, whether they would come fully charged, and who would be installing them.

Working with a hardware team, I also planned workflows for onboarding. Mapping the correct screens needed for Bluetooth pairing, error states, and everything inbetween.

User Interviews • Market Research • Competitor Matrix • Journey Mapping • User Flows

Design & Deliver

The documentation was thorough and validated, so the wireframes took shape effortlessly. The true challenge was accommodating user configuration options and balancing that with a seamless UI. For example, a user could have four blinds for one, four-paneled window. I needed to solve for those various configurations and give the user the ability to make the blinds function as one or separate controls.

Wireframes • Prototyping • Usability Testing • Design System

Final Impact

The final deliverable was a fully functioning prototype that was demoed at the window industry trade show with giants like Pella and Anderson. It had massive success and many window manufacturers were lined to up partner with the project. Initial usability tests also showed positive feedback and a healthy market for the product.

Can UX be “One-for-One”?

Next Case Study