CASE STUDY - 2020
Do + Bushi App
Providing feedback, like alarms, videos and other types of communication is key in security applications. We have a great product, but how could we increase the functionality and efficiency in our app? I lead design to make sure our features set us apart.
MY ROLE
UX Designer - Discovery, User Research, Design and Testing.
TEAM
Santiago De Los Santos - Front End Developer
David Camillo - Engineer
Sara Zaragan - Product Manager
PROBLEM
Current Smart home systems exclude privacy as a core feature since data is transferred and stored on the cloud for anyone to access. And the applications for these systems have many issues that make using these systems more difficult.
RESEARCH
An extensive study on our competitors showed me that there are many bugs that need to be resolved and features that could be added to make the application run more efficently for the user. As a result, users are settling for applications for systems that are lacking since they still want to protect themselves, family and homes. Through user interviews and surveys it became evident that there are massive painpoints in relation to home security systems.
- Too many notifications (for every movement infront of the camera)
- Alarm delays
- Application crashing while zooming
- Slow connection
- No playback feature
Exploration and Iteration
Initially I explored many different ways the user could view the map feature. But I realized that the outside areas needed to be differenciated clearly from the inside rooms. As far as the notification was concerned we realized as a team that it needed to look more cohesive with the rest of the app and It did not register as very urgent. The dashboard features needed to be extentended since it was the homepage. Also we decided from a color stand point the green tones were too earthy and needed to be brigther.
V 1 - Map (Active)
V 1 - Notification
V 1 - Dashboard
V 2 - Map
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V 2 - Map
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V 2 - Map (Active)
V 2 - Login
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V 2 - Login
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V 2 - Profile
Household Member and Guest Framework
Adding or taking away access of houehold members and guests is crucial for Do+Bushi to function correctly. AI needs to detect who is allowed onto the property on a day to day basis. By allowing users to quickly upload a few photos of the member to create a profile, this makes the process simple and efficient.
V 2 - Profile
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V 2 - Household
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V 2 - Household
V 2 - Household
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V 2 - Household
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V 2 - Profile
V 2 - Notification
Alerts and Notifications
Color coded architecture for detection. Green for household members and yellow for guests notifications. Alerts unknown people and events.
Outcome
This was a reallly exciting and fun project and my first foray into startup culture. It provided so much value to me since it involved a ton a research and detailed work. However, shifting priorities have delayed the launch of this application. Still, I learned some important takeaways from this project related to the product and business processes.
Always fight for good UX
Sometimes being the only designer can be hard and I work under strict technical contraints, but still fight for what I believe is essential to having a good user experience.
How to adapt to changing requirements
New timelines and reprioritization meant the scope of the project was constantly changing. I had to adapt to those changes and still deliver the best design in time with tight deadlines.