Utility / robot vacuum app

Although this app did not make it into development, it was user tested. MyNeato app needed a major overhaul. It's information architecture and overall navigation was confusing and outdated. The app also had UX debt in its design system and style guide. Any new product or feature was Frankensteined in. I started to explore a better app.

Company: Neato Robotics

Industry: Robotics

My role: The designs and usability testing are my concept. I did work with marketing department and other designers in research.

Approaching a redesign - my steps

First off, I knew navigation was a major issue that was uncovered in usability testing, but I also questions the personas created. Navigation has a hamburger menu, bottom navigation, plus several call to actions on the home screen alone. I worked with our marketing department to really uncover who the actual customer really was. I then had to rewrite the personas based off of the interactions of customers with their robot. We went inside homes, zoomed with robot owners and non-robot users. I found that some people thought of their robot vacuum as a member of their family...naming and talking to their vacuum. Others treat their vacuums like a machine. Some babysat their robots, while others only ran their robots when they were not home.

So after re-analyzing the personas, our actual customers, I needed build empathy and journey maps. Research how customers use the app. Card sort where they thought features should be.

Card sorting and context sessions

I hosted several card sorts and context sessions with robot vacuum users, non robot vacuum users and co-workers. The biggest friction point I realized is that people don't understand the difference profile settings/preferences/control, app settings/preferences/control, robot settings/preferences/control.

One thing was clear was the top user intents....
1. Start the vacuum
2. Did my robot finish the last clean or was there complications
3. I want to create no vacuum or mopping zones

The problem, customer and business goals

Problem: As a user, my top priorities are hard to find.

User goals: Be able to locate the start vacuum button. Was the last clean successful? Edit my floorplans easily.

Business goals: Reduce user confusion, reduce UX debt.

Next, site map > product + feature list and a ton of sketches

This is the fun part and one of my favorite parts of the design process. These are were problems are being solved. My brain works on overdrive.

From the sketches came low fidelity wireframe

With a focus on navigation, I decided on a candy box or bento box style of navigation to house all of the products and features. It would also help reduce UX debt and allow growth. In usability testing, users quickly found what they were looking for. Testing was successful. See the prototype.

Next step - high fidelity

With the candy box a successful winner for navigation, next came products and features. I also wanted to challenge myself with a dark mode app. I had to take our current style guide and convert it for dark mode while designing for accessibility. Play with the prototype or watch the walk through.