Project Brief
This project focuses on designing a mobile app that leverages smart meter data to help technologically challenged families produce, exchange, and store solar energy. The app will provide a user-friendly interface that simplifies energy management, allowing families to easily track their solar energy production and usage. It will also encourage energy sharing within the community, fostering collaboration and promoting sustainable living. By making clean energy more accessible and manageable, the app aims to empower users to contribute to a greener, more energy-efficient future.
My Role
User Experience Designer and Researcher
Softwares
Figma, JIRA, Miro, Photoshop
Secondary Research
What is a smart meter?
How can Technology play a vital role to conserve energy ?
The choice is Smart - The Smart Meter
Smart meters play a crucial role in establishing the foundation for smart grid infrastructure. that uses digital technology to enhance the sustainability, efficiency, and reliability of the distribution of electricity usage. Smart meters are vital for the building of this infrastructure. Digital technology is used by smart meters to measure energy use accurately. Sensors measure voltage and current in order to calculate electrical consumption in watts, which is then multiplied and integrated over time to determine the general use of electricity. Utilizing flow sensors and technologies such as ultrasonic or turbine-based meters, gas and water meters calculate energy consumption and measure volume (IBM, 2024).
Target User
Preventive Measures
In the UK, household energy and gas usage is one of
the major factors contributing to climate change!
How can we help reduce the energy usage?
Air Dry Laundry
Turn off standby mode
Washing at low temp.
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Energy saving bulbs
Smart water usage
Energy efficient windows
Design Problem
How might we design a mobile app that utilizes smart meter data to
encourage technologically challenged family to produce, exchange
and store solar energy for themselves and in their community.
About the app
Motivates young individuals to conserve energy by linking savings to loan reductions.
Abigail, a university student from an environmentally aware family, mindful of her surroundings but not tech-savvy.
Ties energy conservation to tangible benefits, like reduced student loans.
Appeals to younger audiences through relatable incentives, promoting both financial savings and environmental responsibility.
"WattSave" makes energy conservation engaging, rewarding users with real financial gains while contributing to climate action.
The Process
Assumptions for the family
These were some assumptions made on the basis of the data I had researched and the the things that I feel would match the family. This was just a part of my process of the brain storming. Furthermore I carried the process using the COM B model which led my path towards the UX Vision Statement.
The Wholesome Experientialist Family
COM-B Model
I used the COM-B model to understand the capabilities, opportunities and motivations to understand the target user. This helped me to carry a comprehensive framework for examining the factors that were affecting what are the capabilities of the user to participate in an activity, what kind pf opportunities they can think they have and a list of things that motivated them to do their part. This helped me delve deeper into the path of my application design process.
End Goals and Pain Points
Key Quote
“Saving energy is not only about preserving resources but also about generating and trading for the future”.
Proto Persona
Experience Goals
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She wants to feel that she is doing her own part even after being away from her family.
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She wants to experience how people (students) around make use of energy.
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Do other people have a sense on energy conservation
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Wants to experience how can she help her family by not being with them.
End Goals
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Energy Conservation the main motive.
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She wants to focus on her university and still wants to try different things.
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Stay connected to her family.
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Helping in the community and play an active part around the people.
Pain Points
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She struggles a bit as she is getting used on how to deal with digital things.
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She wants to learn new things but does not want to get addicted to the technology
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Afraid of how can she convince her family about these technical things in a positive way.
User Need Statement
As a young member in the family lacking confidence in technology, I need a way to know how much energy is being used in my university accommodation so that I can generate , store and trade energy.
Can this be achieved by Households?
By generating, storing and trading solar generated energy.
UX Vision Statement
I believe there is an opportunity to design a mobile application for the daughter in technology adverse family that encourages her to save energy using digital technology that overcomes her tech related fear, so that she generates, stores and trades energy for both personal and community benefits.
UX Principles
In accordance with my research and understanding, I have determined the experience design principles listed below that can make the daughter feel better. Here a version to technology is the main consideration in the application s design, so simplicity is essential in addition to the other components of design.
Design Process
The design process began with comprehensive primary and secondary research to understand energy needs and user behaviors. We defined key user personas, pain points, and experience goals using the COM-B model, followed by brainstorming and prototyping to refine core solutions. Finally, user testing was conducted to gather feedback, leading to iterations and the delivery of a user-friendly app that meets both functional and emotional needs.
Brainstorming
AI Personality Traits
Incorporating personality traits to an app is a smart approach that will eventually boost user satisfaction and the application's performance through offering an unique, practical, and engaging user experience.
Consistent/Cautious
The app has consistent features to enhance usability. It is cautious users safety and data privacy.
Efficient / Organized
It is efficient to minimize the steps for optimal performance. Organized layout will enhance the user experience.
Easy Going
Offering the user an intuitive experience, and an enjoyable user journey.
Friendly
The friendly language would make the user comfortable as if they are talking to a trustable friend.
Challenging
This helps motivating users to solve the complex task and give the feeling of accomplishment at the end
Secure/ Confident
Securing and making it more confident would help in reliable functionality and offer a good user friendly interface.
User Journey
By creating a distinctive, beneficial, and engaging user experience, embedding personality traits into an application is an effective approach that will ultimately enhance the user experience and the application's performance.
Stages
Doing
Thinking
Feeling
Pain Points
Opportunities
Before
What is the purpose of the application ?
How can it be useful to me ?
Which strategy can I use to save energy ?
How can I do that being away from my family ?
I want to help in the community
How can I contribute in the family from university ?
What if the app does not show the accurate data ?
What if the app keeps distracting me by notifications?
How can I get rewarded ?
Easy and user intuitive
Good clarification
During
Get updated about the energy saving tips
Check smart meter data routinely.
Is the data that is displayed valid?
When will I get to know how much I have saved ?
All these updates are so helpful to me.
I feel so confident while using the app.
I am afraid if I get addicted to the technology.
I do not want to engage and make incorrect unnecessary steps.
The interface of the app feels user friendly.
How can I recommend this to other people (family) ?
After
She is able to save energy and money by using the app efficiently.
Now she is confident enough to share this app with her family and friends.
She feels the need to tell everyone the usage of the app and encourage others to do the same.
She is afraid on how can she trade energy at the university.
She found a long term solution in terms of saving energy and money, which is useful for university students.
Storyboard
Site Map
After returning from university, Abigail, feeling exhausted, takes a nap and wakes up to a notification about her unpaid tuition fees. Before talking to her parents, she checks the Watt Save app and discovers she’s saved enough energy to reduce part of her loan. Motivated, she seeks more energy-saving tips from the AI, Electra. She then calls her parents, assuring them that she’s staying balanced and still contributing to energy conservation in the community. Her father appreciates her involvement in both society and environmental efforts.
WattSave
Opens the App
Checks appliances status
Tracks Trading
Tracks Trading
Tracks Progress
Submits next bills
Checks down the meter
Chats with Electra (AI)
Asks questions
Visits Profile
Logs out of the account
Shuts down the app
Wireframes
User Testing
Experience Prototyping
I did the paper prototyping with the real user. This helped me in the following ways-
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I could figure out that initially there was no tracking record of the energy consumption.
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The AI was an helpful asset for them as it would save their time to research about things, as AI would give them the ready made information.
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There was no option to explore on trade page to see how many people are actually involved currently. This would help the user gain trust.
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The site map was amended a few times after the user testing and knowing the vital changes.
Final Concept
Innovative Concept
The primary concept behind my application design, "WattSave," is aimed at motivating young individuals to practice energy conservation through offering them substantial benefits. In simple terms, those who utilize this application will save a lot of money on their loans, which will be directly linked to how much energy they save.
Desirable and Meaningful Ideation
The "WattSave" application has unique strategies for conserving energy. This combines significance and visual appeal for the users while interacting with the application. It’s attraction arrives from its younger target audience, which finds the idea relatable and interesting. Through connecting energy savings to real benefits, like loan reductions, the application targets a significant incentive that appeals to the users. This approach not only makes energy conservation relevant to each individual, but it also offers a clear and significant benefit of financial savings. In the context of personal finance and environmental responsibility, "WattSave" is not just desirable but also essential due to its relatable notion, tangible rewards, and potential for financial gain.
Reflection
Assuming
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In today's updated world, finding someone who is not aware of technology is nearly impossible (especially a teenager)
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Why would young generation be so environmental cautious ?
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Will the family allow their kids to share the personal information with the application which includes high amount of money ?
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Will trading energy attract lead users in other wrong trading things ?
Resolving
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This can be resolved by conducting survey and interviewing people depending on their preferences and background.
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Meeting younger generation, asking them related questions and offering them good rewards.
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There should be data privacy policy and a signed consent from their parents if they are not in a proper age of taking their own decisions.
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There should be some limitations applied on the trading part. This would not be addictive but to save energy to a certain level including basic gaming.
Final Mockups
Thanks for taking the time to watch!