Nest
Seamless Navigation | Enhanced Usability
ux/ui lead
10 weeks, Jan - Mar 2024
Dawna Zhang ｜ Chongyu Xie ｜Mordred Ma ｜Yifei Chen | Soojin Kim | Fozzie Kretschmer
10 weeks
time
500+
Hours Worked
4+
Iterations
360+
Iteration Interfaces
30+
Meetings
This project is dedicated to redefining the visual interface and interaction flow of the Google Nest Thermostat and its mobile application, elevating the user experience to a new standard of sophistication and innovation.
By focusing on seamless interaction, enhanced usability, and intuitive design, the goal is to eliminate friction and ensure effortless control.
The refined interface is meticulously crafted to meet the expectations of tech-savvy users, transforming thermostat management into a fluid, engaging, and visually compelling experience.
"Control your comfort with precision—where innovation meets elegance in the Google Nest Thermostat app."
MOBILE APP
Schedule WIREFLOW(Hi-Fi)
Cool mode
Mobile APP
Home
Cool mode
Heat mode
Eco mode
Fan mode
History
view schedule
check a item/
edit start & . end time
Edit temp & mode
Add schedule for multiple days at once
THERMOSTAT
"Smart comfort at your fingertips—effortlessly manage your home’s temperature with the sleek, intelligent Google Nest Thermostat."
Thermostat embedded
Different colors correspond to different modes:
Orange represents the heat mode, blue indicates cooling, green stands for eco mode, and gray represents the fan mode.
WIREFLOW(Hi-Fi)
current temp
Heat
Cool
Eco
Eco+Heat
View eco mode
OVERVIEW
Timeline
Context
Google Nest is a smart home ecosystem featuring devices like the Nest Thermostat and an app that allows seamless control, automation, and energy efficiency for a connected home experience.
Who is the user?
The "Uncompromising Geek" expects cutting-edge functionality and a seamless, efficient user experience with no tolerance for lag. They demand precision in design and functionality, modern interfaces that push the boundaries of current trends.
TECH-SAVVINESS
HIGH STANDARDS
AESTHETICS AND INNOVATION
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
GOAL
Our goal is to enhance the "Uncompromising Geek" experience by redesigning the "schedule" feature of the Google Nest Thermostat. We aim to deliver a high-end, innovative interface that blends cutting-edge functionality with a sleek, visually appealing style.
problem statement
The Nest Thermostat's physical interface and mobile app lack consistency in interaction logic and visual experience, making it challenging for users to switch seamlessly between platforms.
High-tech users expect a more intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and smooth experience. Enhancing interface design, improving consistency, and incorporating a more futuristic feel are essential to increasing user satisfaction and loyalty.
How might we?
-
How might we streamline the Nest Thermostat’s interaction flow to ensure a more intuitive and user-friendly experience across all touchpoints?
-
How might we optimize the visual design and interactive elements to deliver a premium user experience that meets the needs of tech-savvy users?
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How might we enhance connectivity between the Nest Thermostat and mobile app to ensure seamless integration and effortless control in a smart home ecosystem?
RESEARCH & DEFINE
Current Thermostat & App Analysis
“
The app's page design is simple and not visually “high-end” enough.
“
The whole process of setting up a shedule is confusing and an inconsistent experience
“
The schedule function can only be used to adjust the temperature and time with your fingers, and it is not possible to adjust the temperature precisely.
user flow & function(APP)
Schedule - Current Flow
“
The process is too complicated, causing psychological pressure and a high cognitive load for users
“
The schedule page makes it hard to know where to exit and return
“
The schedule setting is done in a point-based manner, making it impossible to set an accurate time span, and the information is unclear.
DESIGN & ITERATE
Low-Fi
I analyze the necessary features and flow design based on the user's goals and tasks.
Mobile app
Thermostat embedded
MID-FI ｜ Mobile app Wireflow
MID-FI｜Thermostat embedded schedule Wireflow
User testing
Using the SUS can help us effectively evaluate user satisfaction and product usability.
Reporting with confidence not only enhances the persuasiveness of the message, but also increases the trust of decision makers and stakeholders in the content of the report.
Standard Deviation
13.7256
confidence level
100x(1-alpha)
95%
sample size
7
Thermostat embedded
62.14
mean
Confidence interval
CI: 62.14 ±10.171
confidence level
100x(1-alpha)
95%
Confidence interval
CI: 60.71 ±7.904
Standard Deviation
10.6665
60.7132857
Mobile App
mean
sample size
7
+
+
Iterate
UX writing tweaking: Users have ambiguity and misunderstandings regarding "cancel," so it has been corrected to "delete."
Streamlining the user flow:
The goal is to minimize the effort required by users to complete their tasks, improving usability and efficiency.
Ensure functional and visual consistency between the embedded thermostat and the mobile app.
Physical Gestures(Interaction Mode)
select an item
(focus)edit an item:
select temperature
edit an item:
select end time
edit temperature
edit time
select “back”
select an item
edit an item:
select end time
edit an item:
select temperature
edit time
edit temperature
select “back”
The positions of "Confirm" and "Back" are not fixed, and the length of the items changes over time, which can lead to situations where they extend beyond the page and become difficult to control.
In the "Edit an item" state, the length of the item is fixed, while the time changes as it rotates, causing the left-side timeline to shrink.
The positions of "Back" and "Confirm" are fixed, preventing confusion during the editing and adjustment processes.
The "Selected" and "Edit" states are not clear enough, making it easy to become overwhelmed.
The visual and functional representations are clearer, reducing user effort.
mobile- edit a item
edit temperature
The temperature adjustment bar confuses users, making it difficult to maintain consistency.
There is too much information on the page, yet it still lacks the option to activate "eco" mode.
The time adjustment is also limited.
Separate the time adjustment and temperature adjustment settings. Ensure consistency between the functionality and visuals with the embedded thermostat.
Add options to activate "eco" and "fan" modes.
Make temperature adjustments more precise using finger gestures.
The interface should be clear, preventing user confusion.
FINAL DESIGN
MOODBOARD &
VISUAL CONCPT
Our team members each collected at least 60 visual elements and images that aligned with the theme of "High-End & Innovative." Ultimately, we voted on 400 images to select the most representative ones, which formed our project moodboard.
This process not only sparked our creativity but also ensured that the moodboard reflects our shared vision and design direction.
MOODBOARD
VISUAL CONCEPT
Style Guide
The final design was developed in alignment with my visual concept and color palette
Key Learnings
Through redesigning Google Nest, I gained invaluable experience in adapting to the product's unique physical interaction constraints. The small screen size and limited resolution challenged me to prioritize clear and concise information, focusing on essential elements to ensure usability.
I learned to align UI design with brand positioning, focusing on Nest’s premium status through elegant typography, colors, and materials. This enhanced my ability to balance functionality with brand identity, creating visually appealing, user-centric interfaces.
By refining the UI and interaction processes, I learned how to eliminate unnecessary pages and reduce cognitive load. This experience reinforced the importance of simplicity and efficiency, ensuring users can interact with the product seamlessly while enhancing overall usability.
Failure and feedback are essential drivers of innovation in UX design. Embracing iterative processes allows teams to view setbacks as valuable learning opportunities, leading to more user-centered solutions. By fostering a culture that openly shares failures, teams can continuously grow, adapt, and create better experiences.
