Client
ASSIEⒸ
Role
Product designer
Year
2024
Meet Assie, your AI-powered home assistant that seamlessly integrates your home technologies.
By learning your household patterns, Assie automatically optimizes security, energy, lighting, and appliances for a personalized and effortless living experience.
As a Product Designer, I strive to create meaningful experiences through a user-first approach.
Here’s how I contributed to the Assie project:
In-depth Research: Conducted thorough market research and user interviews to truly understand the needs of smart home users, ensuring their voices guided my direction.
Goal Definition: Defined project goals and prioritized features, crafting comprehensive user flows that reflected the users’ journey.
Collaborative Ideation: Facilitated ideation sessions, sketching initial interface concepts that sparked creativity and innovation.
High-Fidelity Designs: Developed high-fidelity UI designs and interactive prototypes for key app features, paying close attention to detail to create intuitive experiences.
User-Centric Testing: Led usability testing sessions, iterating designs based on valuable user feedback, reinforcing my commitment to emotional connection in design.
Finalization and Handoff: Finalized UI designs, created a design system, and prepared assets for development, ensuring clarity and collaboration with developers.
Future Planning: Worked closely with developers to plan future AI-driven feature enhancements, fostering an environment of trust and teamwork.
The Problem
I recognized that the proliferation of multiple apps for different smart devices was creating significant confusion for users.
This fragmentation resulted in disjointed experiences, where managing a smart home felt more like a chore than a seamless integration into daily life.
Users often struggled to navigate between various platforms, leading to frustration and inefficiency.
Additionally, I understood that critical privacy concerns and data security risks were inherent in these smart home systems.
With users entrusting their personal information to multiple devices, the potential for data breaches and unauthorized access loomed large.
This lack of a cohesive and secure solution not only undermined user confidence but also hindered broader adoption of smart home technology.
There was an urgent need for a unified approach that could address these complexities and restore trust in smart home management.
App Solution
Developed an AI-powered central command app designed to seamlessly integrate all home systems—security, climate, lighting, appliances, and more.
This unified control hub consolidated all connected devices and standards into one intuitive interface.
I crafted touch and voice-powered automation tailored to user lifestyles, allowing the predictive assistant to alleviate complex management burdens.
My interoperability engine bridged fragmented technologies effortlessly, enabling advanced personalization and optimization.
The aim was to create one simple yet intelligent app that effectively managed and optimized the entire home according to owners' lifestyles and priorities.
The AI assistant and ecosystem integration were designed to simplify home management,
leveraging smart home technology for tangible life improvements.
Assie provided an ever-attentive, user-friendly AI-powered home automation assistant that unified all smart systems—including security, appliances, and entertainment—under one roof.
This approach facilitated simplified control while ensuring continuous, personalized optimization of energy usage,
predictive maintenance, and improved safety, all tailored to adapt to users’ lives over time.
Business Plan
Revenue Streams
Free limited tier with ads
Premium monthly/yearly subscriptions
Referral commissions
Device maker partnerships and distribution deals
Go-to-Market Plan
Direct consumer marketing emphasizing a privacy-first approach, unified control, and AI-powered personalization.
Strategic partnerships with privacy-focused smart home device manufacturers.
Targeted free trials for tech-savvy early adopters to generate authentic user testimonials.
Educational content marketing highlighting the simplicity and benefits of centralized smart home management.
Participation in smart home and IoT industry events to build credibility and partnerships.
Brand Adjectives
Advanced
Reliable
Confident
Essential
User research: Methodology- In-Depth Interview
Research Goals
Uncover user challenges with existing smart devices for targeted improvements.
Define essential features for the ideal smart home app experience.
Validate the appeal of the AI-powered app to ensure market resonance.
Assess target users’ tech proficiency to inform user-friendly interface decisions.
Address privacy concerns to enhance user confidence in adoption.
Research Results
Subscription Appeal: 45% willing to pay for a consolidated solution.
AI Interest: 50%, but skepticism about voice assistants prevails at 60%.
Desired Onboarding: 40% prioritize incremental, reliability-focused introduction.
Frustration with Multiple Apps: 90% expressed a desire for a unified control solution.
Compatibility Concerns: 50% emphasized the need for seamless integration among IoT devices.
Privacy Worries: 60% prioritized robust security and data protection.
Resetting Hassles: 30% noted a demand for streamlined settings management across apps.
Abandonment Fears: 40% sought future-proof smart gadgets.
The primary user base for current smart home apps comprises tech-savvy professionals aged 25-44 who value customization and programming abilities.
Additionally, business owners and financial professionals are prominent users.
Two personas emerged:
Tech-Savvy Professionals: Advanced tech skills and a desire for customization.
Mainstream Smart Home Beginners: A broader audience seeking an easier on-ramp into the ecosystem, emphasizing improved ease-of-use for market expansion.
Competitive Analysis
In my research, I conducted a competitive analysis of four prominent smart home apps to identify strengths and weaknesses that can inform the development of Assie.
This analysis focuses on how each app addresses user needs and creates meaningful experiences.
Samsung SmartThings:
Strengths:
Wide Ecosystem Support: Offers extensive integrations with a diverse range of devices, enhancing user flexibility.
Visual Automation Mapping: Allows users to create automations through an intuitive visual interface, making complex tasks more accessible.
Voice Assistant Compatibility: Integrates seamlessly with major voice assistants, providing users with a user-friendly interaction model.
Weaknesses:
Device Reliability Issues: Users have reported inconsistencies with certain devices, leading to frustration and reduced trust.
Opaque Subscription Benefits: Lack of transparency regarding subscription upgrades can leave users confused about their options.
Vivint Smart Home:
Strengths:
Professional Installation and Monitoring: Provides peace of mind with 24/7 monitoring, enhancing the user’s sense of security.
Customizable Bundles: Offers tailored solutions for varying budgets, allowing for a personalized experience.
Integrated Control via Vivint Sky App: Centralizes control of the entire ecosystem, simplifying user interaction.
Weaknesses:
High Overall Costs: The pricing structure can be prohibitive, limiting accessibility for many potential users.
Lengthy Contracts: Multi-year commitments can deter users who seek flexibility.
Difficult System Removal: Complicated processes for uninstalling the system may create user dissatisfaction.
Honeywell Home:
Strengths:
Reliable Brand Reputation: A trusted name in home automation, fostering confidence among users.
Customizable Systems: Offers both wired and wireless options, allowing users to tailor their setup to their specific needs.
Optional Professional Monitoring: Gives users control over their level of engagement with monitoring services.
Weaknesses:
Outdated App Interface: The app’s design lacks modern aesthetics and functionality, hindering the overall user experience.
High Upfront Pricing: Initial costs can be a barrier for users looking for budget-friendly solutions.
Belkin Wemo:
Strengths:
Reliable WiFi Modules: Provides dependable connectivity, essential for a smooth user experience.
Intuitive App Design: Simplifies automation and scheduling, making it easy for users to manage their devices.
Value-Priced Hardware: Offers cost-effective options for users seeking affordable smart home solutions.
Weaknesses:
Hub Requirement: Some devices require an additional hub for connection, complicating the setup for users.
Limited Product Suite: Being restricted to Belkin’s ecosystem can frustrate users looking for broader compatibility.
Basic Automation Rules: The app primarily supports simple automation, limiting advanced user capabilities.
Key Insights for Assie
Through this analysis, I gained valuable insights into user preferences and pain points.
These findings inform the development of Assie’s features and user experience design.
By prioritizing seamless integration, intuitive interfaces, and robust security, Assie aims to address the shortcomings identified in these competitive offerings.
User Flow
APP Map
UI Solutions
© 2020-2024 Diana Saka