Selected works > Smart Shower

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Smart Shower

Enhancing the shower experience

 
UI/UX | Product Design | User Research.
 
 
MY   ROLE

UX Designer

 
TYPE

Academic

 
TIMELINE

7 Weeks

Summary

Smart Shower is undertaking a collaborative multidisciplinary project along with two Industrial design students. The project explored the eco-friendly problem space with the desire to help people and the planet. This project sought to enhance the shower experience as well as encourage users to use less water.

 

Team

Oluwatoni Daramola, Lili Wang, Alexa MacLean, Ivan Feng, Cameron Barber, Atakan Ozdemir and Victoria Yeboah.

Problem Space

40 gallons of water is used in the shower per day per family and 17% Portion of total Indoor water use per household is in the shower.

We wanted an idea that:

• Empathized sustainability

• Eco-friendly

• Helped both people & the planet

• Ecological

• Safe

 
 
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Problem Statement

“How might we encourage users to use less water while showering and improve their shower experience?”

Overview of Interdisciplinary Design Process

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

 Problem Finding

Problem Phase Questions

 

Problem Finding

  1. Why do Canadians have the water use behaviors they currently exhibit?

  2. Why would people want to be aware of their water consumption?

  3. What if we could quantify the amount of water we use?

  4. What if we could determine how much water someone is saving if they took less time in the shower?

  5. How can we quantify water consumption and its impact on the environment?

  6. How would a non-visual user interface function?

Problem Understanding

  1. Why do people not turn off the water when not using it?

  2. Why do so many accidents happen in the shower, affecting people's safety?

  3. What if people became more aware of water consumption & the impact on the environment?

  4. What if we used positive reinforcement to encourage reducing water consumption?

  5. How could we notify individuals that they have saved/ consumed x amount of water?

  6. How can we focus on shower safety?

Problem Solving

  1. Why is it important to make the showerhead sync with the phone?

  2. Why is it important for the control knob to be user-friendly?

  3. What if we make the interaction features adjustable?

  4. What if the product was rendered in different finishes?

  5. How can we improve visual cues with LED color prompts indicating system status?

  6. How do we make sure our controls are easy to understand?

Problem Reflections

  1. Why is it beneficial to review final prototypes for potential refinement?

  2. Why is it important to create concept arts about the foreseeable user experience?

  3. What if we give the background color some purple to add some mood?

  4. What if we add VUI to the product design?

  5. How can we sure that our product is safe to use?

  6. How can we make a difference by exceeding the limitations of the current technologies on showering experience?

 

Early Problem Scenario Storyboard

 
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

User Scenario: How might we encourage users to use less water while showering.

Persona: People trying to become more environmentally conscious, or lower utility bills.

 

 Problem Understanding

Questionnaire:

 

95 participants completed

Helped us understand the shower experience in terms of:

  • Shower frequency

  • Water usage

  • Behaviors

  • Preferences

  • Interest in water conservation

 

How many showers do you take in a week?

 

Would you be interested in reducing your water consumption levels?

 

How long do you spend in the showers?

 

Before taking a shower, do you wait for the water to heat up before entering?

 

Key Themes and Insights

 
 

 Problem Solving

Design Sketches

 
 

UI Sketches

 
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
 

Mid Fidelity Wireframe

 
 

Mood Board

 
 

Dynamic

Friendly

Modern

Clean

Calming

Sleek

 

 Problem Communication

Final ID Concept

 
 

Final Mobile UI

 
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Login/ Sign Up Screen

 

Check Water Usage Levels

 

Music/ Entertainment Selection

 

What is currently playing and where it Is playing

 

Final Shower UI

 
 

Set up shower head height

 

Time Remaining Countdown

 

Set Water Temperature

 

Activate Water Conservation Mode

 

Prototype

 

Key Shower Head Features:

  • Select account.

  • Set up shower time.

  • Set up shower head height.

  • Set up the temperature.

  • Active water consumption mode.

  • Play music.

 

Key Mobile Features:

  • Set up a personal account.

  • Check water usage (daily, weekly, monthly).

  • Music Set Up.

  • Edit and personalize the shower profile.

 

Final Poster Designs

 
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Contract

Colour contrast was used to give emphasis to the headings of the product’s features. A blue colour font was used to stand out from the grey background.

Repetition

Repetition of the typographic styling, image sizes and colour scheme were used to establish consistency.

Alignment

Text boxes and images are aligned to the right and left of the poster to create cohesiveness Sequenced images are aligned.

Proximity

Labels are placed directly under their corresponding images to communicate that they are related.

 

Reflection and Next Steps

Reflection 

Collaboration between ID and UX students has provided an opportunity to bring Smart Shower to its full potential. Through considering both aspects of UI and product design, the experience of the end-user is fully realized. Together we were able to create a reliable, desirable, and feasible product that meets users’ needs.

 

Next Steps

  1. Implement a voice user interface to the design.

  2. Materials, engineering & assembly.

  3. Conduct usability tests.

  4. Create a physical prototype.