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Connected Home Hub is a mobile app designed for energy consumption analysis. It provides users with the right tools to reduce their heating and water bills, helping them to start their journey towards sustainable living.
Goal
A complete redesign and rebranding of the former 'HomeManager' application, developed for energy management and smart home control.
My role
Understand customer needs through discovery research, craft end-to-end experience, and validate designs in usability testing sessions.
Getting started
The user experience of the Connected Home Hub app centres on simplicity and minimalism. The customer journey begins with the installation of the Q-Reader, a smart meter reader that facilitates energy data collection. Once installed, users can effortlessly create an account in just a few clicks, ensuring a swift transition from installation to engagement with the app's core functionality.
Learning from data
Energy analysis is one of the main features, empowering users to gain insight into their heating and water consumption, which are often the primary contributors to energy bills. The user interface has undergone several iterations, each aimed at exploring and testing key considerations, such as:
- What is the most suitable data visualisation type (bar, pie, or line chart)?
- How should data be displayed over time (e.g., the last 7 days or Mon-Sun)?
- Are there any comparisons that would be meaningful (e.g., the user’s previous week, neighbours’ average usage)?
Optimising heating
Beyond energy monitoring, users place great value on controlling and scheduling their heating. They recognise its importance for effective energy management, providing both comfort and cost-saving benefits. The UI design offers an intuitive calendar view, making it easy for users to see their schedule at a glance. When setting up heating schedules, the temperature indicator is colour-coded to encourage users to select lower temperatures, promoting energy efficiency and cost reduction.
Automating for efficiency
To get the most out of heating automation, users can activate holiday mode to ensure that no energy is wasted while they are away from home. The feature is quick and easy to set up, even on the go, offering choices for duration, temperature, and which rooms to adjust. Returning to a warm home is a hassle-free experience, thanks to the system's effective energy management.
Embracing sustainability
As users interact with the app, they not only save energy but also contribute to a more sustainable future. Energy-saving tips integrated into the app represent a strategic design choice aimed at enhancing user engagement. These tips provide easy-to-follow suggestions to help users conserve energy, empowering them to adopt a more eco-conscious lifestyle with minimal effort.
