Smart Block Heater Mobile App

Overview

This case study details my design journey of VoltSafe Winter, a companion app for VoltSafe's flagship magnetic smart plug. The app was specifically designed for cold-weather drivers who need to use an engine block heater to prevent their engine from freezing over during frigid winter nights. It allows users to remotely turn their VoltSafe Winter device on and off, as well as program the device with automated schedules.

Discovery

Before ideating the design, the problem and end-users needed to be understood. I surveyed over 300 enthusiastic backers from a successful Kickstarter campaign, obtaining detailed accounts of their user experience. I also traveled to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to meet with multiple auto-accessory retailers and repair shops to get first-hand accounts of the types of problems users were actually dealing with. The user's main pain points were identified as:

1. Going out to plug in the block heater in the cold is a tedious and possibly a dangerous task.
2. Leaving the block heater on overnight can waste tremendous amounts of electricity.
3. Lack of maintenance and observation could cause fires or property damage.

I also conducted a user interview with Bronwen Procina, a stroke survivor who described her activities of daily living post- stroke. It was an eye-opening interview that gave me and my team a unique insight into a user’s journey that relies deeply on the accessibility of our design.

Empathy Map

To ensure that VoltSafe Winter met the needs of its target users, I developed empathy maps for three different personas. These maps helped the team gain a deeper understanding of their users' pain points, thoughts, and feelings, which informed the design and development of the app.

Persona 1: Sarah

Sarah is a 35-year-old mother of two who lives in a suburban area with her family. She works part-time from home and is always looking for ways to make her life easier.

Says: "I need a product that's easy to use and saves me time."

Thinks: "I want to be able to control my engine block heater from inside my house."

Does: Searches online for ways to remotely control her engine block heater. Reads reviews and compares prices.

Feels: Frustrated when she has to go outside in the cold to turn on her engine block heater. Worried about leaving the heater on all night and wasting electricity.

Persona 2: John

John is a 50-year-old truck driver who spends a lot of time on the road. He travels through different climates and has experienced many issues with his engine block freezing.

Says: "I need a reliable product that can withstand harsh weather conditions."

Thinks: "I want a product that's sturdy and can handle the wear and tear of being on the road."

Does: Researches different engine block heaters and reads reviews from other truck drivers. Looks for a product that's easy to install and durable.

Feels: Frustrated when his engine block freezes and he's unable to start his truck. Concerned about the cost of repairs and lost time on the road.

Persona 3: Maria

Maria is a 60-year-old retiree who lives in a rural area with her husband. They own a small farm and rely on their vehicles to get around.

Says: "I need a product that's affordable and easy to use."

Thinks: "I want to be able to control my engine block heater without having to go outside."

Does: Talks to other farmers in the area and asks for recommendations on engine block heaters. Looks for a product that's cost-effective and simple to install.

Feels: Anxious about leaving her engine block heater on all night and causing a fire. Worried about the cost of repairs if her engine block freezes.

Ideation

After empathizing with the user, I proposed the solution of an app that would allow the user to set schedules, view the plug's status, and control the plug's power flow. The team designed a minimum viable experience (MVE) for the MVP, which included the MVP features along with other supporting features such as reminders, customer support, and more.

Production

The app consists of four sections: onboarding, home, device settings, and settings, which contain multiple sub-sections. I followed a two-week-sprint schedule, which involved designing the features and UI as the developers built the corresponding code in React Native.

The most challenging yet rewarding component I created for the project was the Circle Slider in the Scheduling screen. It had to be intuitive, easy to use, and visually captivating for users.

I used many examples of high contrast and signature VoltSafe branding to achieve this design. I was also heavily inspired by Apple's sleep tracker interface.

Validation

The public release of the app for iOS and Android was a significant milestone for the team. The app was designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with a focus on providing a seamless experience for users. To streamline the feedback process, the team decided to use a third-party service called Feature Upvote. This service allowed users to centralize their feedback in one online board, making it easier for the development team to keep track of it all.

Moreover, users could add and upvote feedback directly, which led to a number of product enhancements and inspired future ideas.

Refinements

I added a user login, a device-sharing feature, and JSON/Lottie animations across various parts of the app. These refinements improved the intuitivity, cohesiveness, and overall enjoyability of the app, making it a more user-friendly experience.

Outcomes

The app's user base continues to grow from the current 500+ downloads, and the team strives to maintain and improve upon the current success of the VoltSafe Winter app by tracking qualitative and quantitative performance metrics.

The app has a conversion rate of 19.4% above competitors and a usability benchmark 7.52X higher than competitors.

Conclusion

VoltSafe Winter's companion app has been a game-changer for the entire VoltSafe Winter product experience. The app has not only made the product experience more valuable, desirable, and accessible for users, but it has also completely transformed the way users interact with the product. By carefully analyzing user feedback and conducting extensive research, I was able to deliver an intuitive, cohesive, and enjoyable product experience that exceeded user expectations. The app has also opened up new avenues for the company to explore, such as developing new features and partnerships to enhance the user experience even further. Overall, the VoltSafe Winter companion app has proven to be a vital component of the product ecosystem and has set a new standard for what a companion app should be.

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Still not satisfied? For a more in depth case study of the VoltSafe Winter companion app, click here!