Alejandra Peñas
From Friction to Flow: a Comprehensive UI Makeover for Fronpoint
Role: User Experience Researcher and Designer; Live Site Developer
Duration: October 30, 2023 - November 16, 2023
Tools:
Overview
The Problem
Frontpoint's current user interface (UI) is not streamlined and user-centered. This can lead to false alarms, as users may not be able to easily find and manage their alarm settings. Additionally, the UI can be difficult to use on mobile devices, making it difficult for users to access their security system features when they are away from home.
Proposed Solution
We believe that updating Frontpoint's UI to be more streamlined and user-centered will address these problems and improve the overall user experience. By making the UI more user-friendly, we can help to reduce false alarms and improve peace of mind for our customers.
Research
Leveraging user experience with security apps and our proto-persona, we crafted questions to explore how users approach home security and the impact it has on their sense of safety.
From our interviews, we learned that users' decisions to install security systems are influenced by various factors, including their experiences with crime, the presence of pets or belongings they want to protect, and the level of security they feel in their surroundings.
The decision to install a security system is ultimately a personal one, influenced by individual needs, experiences, and risk perceptions. Individuals prioritize different aspects of security depending on their circumstances, with some focusing on indoor monitoring, outdoor surveillance, or pet care.
Based on the interviews we see the rise of our user persona Miranda Noble. She is a communications manager in Orlando, Florida who wants a home security system that should have an easy-to-navigate dashboard that allows you to see everything at a glance and instant notifications so she knows what's happening on her property as soon as it happens.
Miranda prioritizes a user-friendly, affordable security system with good audio/video and a mobile app for easy monitoring. While mindful of cost, peace of mind from remote access is important to her forgetful mornings.
After analyzing our competitors (Ring, Arlo, Blink, and Lorex), we identified a common thread: clean, streamlined interfaces that guided users through setup. This insight, along with our prioritization matrix, informed the design of our initial Frontpoint application prototype.
I want to be able to receive real-time alerts and notifications if there is any activity at my home...
I want to be able to integrate my home security system with other smart home devices...
Self-installation
We prioritized features with the highest impact, resulting in three key functionalities:
Ability for users to access all of the automation through their mobile app and set schedules with ease.
An organized dashboard for users to easily modify with drag and drop to easily customize.
Intuitive new flow and streamlined set up process for all available devices.
Ideation and Sketching
Our research highlights the need for a user-friendly redesign. Miranda desires a simple, intuitive UI for quick system checks, reminders, arming/disarming, and timely notifications. Complex interfaces and delays have frustrated her in the past.
User Flow and Sketches for Arming and Disarming System
User Flow and Sketches for Device Management
Mind Mapping and Wireframes
Arming and Disarming Alarm
Device Management
Designing and Styling
UI Style Guide
Initial Wireframes
Arming and Disarming System: Our wireframes included a dashboard with a quick and simple way of arming and disarming her security system with both icons and clearly labeled buttons that allow her to know the current status of her system at all times and change it quickly should she need to.
Multiple visual cues to help user clearly see the status of their system.
Instead of a dropdown, we opted out for an overlay design.
Customizable widget-style dashboard allows user to prioritize their features.
Device Management: The streamlined and intuitive 'Add a Device' flow simplifies the process of expanding your Frontpoint security system, allowing you to integrate new devices with ease. The user-friendly interface guides you through each step, ensuring a hassle-free experience whether you're adding a new sensor, camera, doorbell, or other compatible smart home device.
Categorized devices for users for better organization.
Action verbs to help the user better understand how to follow and complete the process of adding a device.
Model image and title
to avoid user confusion or stress.
Clear and simple installation
instructions for users to follow.
Help and assistance
available throughout the whole process.
Show new device in list
to provide further confirmation that task has been properly completed.
Clear and concise explanations
to provide transparency to user.
Prototyping and Testing
During user testing, we each completed one user test on our initial prototype and had a 100% success rate with setting up a device and navigating to the home page and an 80% success rate with activating the alarm and modifying the thermostat. The feedback we received was very positive and it was extremely aesthetically clear and easy to explore.
Our refined Frontpoint app design seamlessly integrates bold branding, interactive elements, and effortless usability. The hi-fi prototype demonstrates how our three key user flows simplify arming your system, adjusting thermostat schedules, and taking control of your home's environment and sense of safety.
New Iterations Post-Testing
Project Summary
Key Takeaways
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The user testing emphasized the need for enhanced clarity and simplicity within the app.
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Implementing visual cues to indicate the current mode and status of schedules for thermostat homepage cards would greatly improve user experience.
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Streamlining the layout and using clear, concise language would enhance the app's user-friendliness.
Next Iterations
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Continued testing and development of other features and sequences within the app will ensure it continually meets user needs.
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Ongoing website redesign will align with evolving user expectations, enhance search engine optimization (SEO), and strengthen brand perception.
Overall Goals
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Enhancing the simplicity of the app by improving visual cues and adopting a user-friendly layout.
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Developing and testing more features in the future.
Continuing to explore website redesign, focusing on SEO to position Frontpoint as a leading security solution.