AETHER
This project was conceived at Apple Developer Academy by five students, we had the challenge of building a product end to end. We developed an product that would bring the comfort and modernity of home automation in an accessible way to residences in Brazil. We worked to develop the best product, with the best cost benefit, most intuitive usability and maximum integration.
2020
APPLE ACADEMY
UX/UI & Research
METHODOLOGY
At the Apple Academy we use the Challenge Based Learning (or CBL) which provides an efficient and effective framework for learning while solving real-world challenges. The Challenge Learning Framework is divided into three phases: Engage, Investigate and Act. Each phase prepare you to move to the next phase. Within each of the phases there are opportunities for applying all sorts of methodologies.
ENGANGE
In the engange phase, we move from an abstract big idea to a concrete and actionable challenge. To find the most suitable theme that would engage the whole team, we went through a series of processes involving a lot of brainstorming.
FINDING THE CHALLENGE
After a lot of ideas resulting from our brainstorm, some voting and discussion, all members of the team showed interest in the home automation subject, so we decided to move forward with the theme as our big idea.
Along with the big idea came a wide variety of essential questions, and we decided that the one that most motivated us was "how to popularize automation systems in brazil?"
Finally we needed to decide our challenge, which is turning the essential question into a call to action to learn deeply about one area of the subject. We identified as our actionable challenge: "Provide an accessible home automation system."
Big idea
Home automation
Essential question
How to popularize automation systems in brazil?
Challenge
Provide an accessible home automation system.
INVESTIGATE
The investigation phase begins with generating questions related to the challenge. The questions included everything that needs to be learned to develop a solution to the challenge. As guiding activities and resources we used benchmarking, online research, a focus group and a survey
Benchmark
We got in touch with places that offer the automation services, and prices were as high as R$1000 per lamp, an extremely high price.
Focus group
Participants said they were interested in home automation, but they assumed it was an expensive service and difficult to install.
Survey
Around 50% of the participants responded that work force was a factor in their lack of interest in these types of products.
ACT
In the act phase evidence-based solutions are developed and implemented. The solution we found most suitable was
To propose an app that works with a lamp adaptor to automate house lights
We started by defining the core features after a value proposition canvas, then the user flow, followed by a UI studied.
START BUILDING
After the UI study and I started the development of the design system and the intire user flow journey in app. In paralel we also build the lamp adaptor with 3D printer together with an asp 32 for the hardware part.
USABILITY TESTING
To validade the first version of the user flow, we applied a usability test with 15 participants, 5 of then had already experienced the installation process for a lamp adaptor. After analyzing de results, some changes were made regarding the writing and user interactions for a better experience.
FINAL SCREENS
The first version of the final application the user interface shows a clean arrangement of elements keeping the legibility of elements. We focused on building a refined onboarding, so the users wouldn’t have difficulties on the installation of the adapter.
BETA TESTERS
To validate our first version of the product, we delivered six of our adaptors to beta testers. They received at their homes and downloaded the app for the first time, passing through all the installation process and using it for a few weeks.
"YoI already had a really great experience with your digital product, but I loved how the accessory was delivered!The logo in the adapter… the card with the QR code! It shows that you’ve put effort to create a great experience"
"You guys managed to reproduce very well the feeling of opening a smart light from a consolidated brand.”
"I just loved the care you’ve put on everything! It’s all really well done!”
LEARNINGS
This project was one of the most I learned and had experiences in technology, design and business.
It was the first time a worked with an app involving a hardware, so it taught me a lot about service design and how to work with other technologies besides mobile ones. I also loved having the opportunity of building a design system and coming up with a tone of voice and principles for the product from the start. I consider this project as one of I most enjoyed participating in.
