Experienced UI/UX designer with over 4 years specializing in visual design and user research for retail organizations. Passionate about creating designs that enhance user experiences, I continuously seek opportunities to expand my expertise and improve lives through design.
Global climate change has long been a pressing issue. To reduce energy consumption in the UK, the government encourages the use of smart meters in every household (Zheng et al., 2013). “Young constrained families” are the target users in this project – balancing limited time and money while prioritising their baby’s well-being. How can we design a mobile app that leverages smart meter data to help these busy families reduce energy use effortlessly, while ensuring they’re still providing the best care for their baby?
Oliver is 3 months old and Sarah is trying to set a bed time routine as she will soon return to work. It’s December and the weather is cold at night. She is worried about if Oliver is warm enough but not over heat. To build Sarah’s trust, the app could track and provide feedback on how well the baby slept based on the suggested temperature. Showing patterns of improved sleep with specific settings would reinforce trust in the app’s recommendations.
This app helps new mothers manage energy consumption through smart meter data while caring for their baby. Acting as a daily assistant, it aims to address key pain points like disrupted sleep due to the baby crying from an unpleasant indoor temperature. New mothers, especially those with limited childcare experience, often feel frustrated and uncertain about how to take good care of their babies. With a strong sense of responsibility, mothers may feel self-blame and doubt when their child faces health issues, affecting their overall well-being.
By integrating a wrist sensor, Sarah can monitor the baby’s health, including heart rate and sleep duration, while also tracking household energy use and costs through the app. Feedback on the baby’s sleep helps her find the optimal room temperature. Since mothers are often busy, the smart meter provides real-time energy data for each appliance, helping Sarah identify off-peak times to save energy efficiently.
I created a low-fidelity prototype using MARVEL and conducted a usability test with a Loughborough University student. The participant, though not the target user (a new mother), successfully completed tasks such as adjusting indoor temperature, saving energy, and ensuring the baby’s comfort. The app allows users to control smart appliances and monitor the baby’s health via a connected sensor. However, the participant faced issues with the interface: the “connect” and “switch” buttons were unclear, appliance information wasn’t fully visible, and the temperature adjustment step was confusing. Based on this feedback, I revised the interface and screen flow to improve usability.
Based on participant feedback, I modified the user flow and screen sequence. A new prompt now guides users to connect the baby sensor, which detects if the room temperature is too high, triggering a notification to adjust it. The user follows recommendations to lower the temperature, receiving feedback on energy savings and the baby’s comfort. The redesigned homepage prioritises the baby’s health and energy usage, showing heart rate, body temperature, and energy data across daily, weekly, and monthly charts. Alerts notify users if the baby’s temperature is too high, offering guidance for adjustments, while AI tracks the baby’s optimal sleep temperature for continuous feedback.
