Hublix
Smart Home App (IoT)
Overview
A smart home infrastructure platform and mobile application specifically designed for the unique dynamics of multi-generational Indian households.
Role
Product Strategy & UX Consultant
Timeline
6 Months
01. Problem
02. Research
03. Strategy
04. Execution
05. Outcomes
01. The Problem
Existing smart home applications in the Indian market suffered from poor localization, complex onboarding flows, and a lack of support for multi-generational households with varying tech literacy.
02. Research & Insights
Conducted usability testing with older demographics (50+ years). Observed how they interacted with existing apps like Google Home and Tuya.
Key User Insights
- 01.Icon-heavy interfaces confuse older users; they prefer explicit text labels.
- 02.The concept of 'If This Then That' automation is too abstract; users prefer 'Scenarios' like 'Going to Sleep'.
- 03.There's a deep fear of 'breaking' something or accidentally giving outsiders access to the home.
03. Strategy & Design
Core Strategy
Design a mobile interface centered around 'Rooms' and 'Routines' rather than individual device controls. Implement a tiered access system for different family members (Admin, Member, Guest).
Design Process
Created large, highly-tappable card interfaces with distinct active/inactive color states. Introduced a simplified 'Guest Mode' for visiting relatives or domestic help.
04. Execution & Challenges
Implementation
Prototyped the entire flow in Figma, focusing heavily on micro-interactions for device toggling. Mapped the frontend state architecture to handle real-time WebSocket updates.
The Challenge
"Mapping complex device states (e.g., an AC that is 'On' but 'Fan Only' at '24C') into a single, intuitive card UI without cluttering the main dashboard."
Learnings
Latency is the enemy of trust in IoT. If the UI updates instantly but the hardware takes 2 seconds to respond, the user assumes the app is broken. Optimistic UI updates must be handled very carefully.
05. Outcomes
Reduced average onboarding time from 15 minutes to under 3 minutes.
Successfully beta-tested with 20 diverse households.
Secured seed funding based on the strength of the UX prototype.