AquaLuxe by
Luxury home water automation
〰️
Luxury home water automation 〰️
Overview
Roles
UX Designer System Designer
Time taken
4 months
Team
Prithvi Vetrivel Alessandro Tomaghelli (Product Designer), Devin Kakuda (Product designer)
User persona
The carters family
Based in outskirts of LA California. Three kids, one baby, a dog, private chef and maintenance home workers.
Problem Statement
The homemakers can’t conveniently optimize the water usage in appliances, so they need a smart unified system of products and interfaces to accommodate their extreme resource use.
Target audience
Eco-conscious Luxury Homeowners
Individuals or families living in high-end residences who are not only interested in the luxury and comfort provided by advanced home automation, but also deeply care about sustainability and the environmental impact of their lifestyle.
They seek innovative solutions to reduce their water footprint while maintaining or enhancing their quality of life.
User Needs
- Real-Time Monitoring
- Leak Detection
- Customizable Alerts
- Integration with Smart Home Systems
- Data Insights and Analytics
Behaviors
1. Going out on weekends
2. Hanging out with the family at home
3. Swim laps in their pool
4. The chef cooks breakfast and sometimes dinner
5. Maids are responsible for indoor and outdoor cleaning
Pain points
1. Not being able to monitor the water hardness levels
2. Takes a little time to heat up the water
3. Having to wait for parts and filters to arrive
Each family member wants a tailored experience
Core needs
1. Clean and clear water
2. Access to drinkable water in all bedrooms
3. Easy to understand products and interfaces
Basement
Household pre-filter
Big water softener
Gas tank water heater
Big water heater
Bedrooms
Small water dispenser
Living room
Big water dispenser (wall)
Smart Central Hub
Main kitchen
Big water dispenser (stand)
Bathroom 1
Small water heater
Product system map
Inspiration Board
Finalized Color Material Finishes
Aqua luxe Product Family
As the system designer, I collaborated closely with product designers to develop a cohesive design language that harmonizes the UI with the physical products. Together, we meticulously discussed each aspect of the user experience, focusing on the ergonomics, aesthetics, materials, and cost-effectiveness of every product. My role was to ensure that the system we created was seamless, where every product effortlessly communicated with each other, providing a unified and intuitive user interface. We carefully considered how users would interact with the products, ensuring that the design was not only visually appealing but also functional and comfortable to use. By integrating the digital and physical elements into a cohesive system, we were able to create an experience that is both luxurious and user-friendly, reflecting the high standards of the Midea brand.
Central smart hub
Tankless water heater
Water dispenser
Water softener
Water dispenser
Water heater enhancer
Water dispenser
Low- Fi Screens
I started a rough layout with the basic requirements.
The Smart Central Hub
Mid- Fi Screens
Then after some discussions, I decided to show three different styles for the stakeholders, and this is when I decided on the product’s CMF that influenced the final Hi-Fi screen after some user testing we finalized.
The central hub is designed to cater not just to homeowners but also to others such as cooks, gardeners, and maids, who shouldn't need to download an app to access essential information. The main screen provides an at-a-glance overview of key details like next week's forecast, current week's water usage, water quality, total usage, and more. The design strategy prioritizes simplicity, ensuring that all vital information is accessible in just one or two clicks, minimizing the time spent in front of the screen. Additionally, the hub is paired with users' personal devices for even easier access.
Working prototype
The prototype seamlessly integrates advanced leak detection and automated replacement ordering, ensuring that all complex processes are handled behind the scenes. Users can easily monitor water usage across their appliances and view schedules, all conveniently linked to their mobile phones. The system further enhances efficiency by analyzing water usage data for each profile and optimizing consumption through interconnected devices and smart algorithms, significantly reducing waste. For the user's convenience, only essential notifications are provided, sparing them from unnecessary details. However, if they wish to explore the process further, comprehensive information is readily available within the default Midea app.
Outcome
The outcome of the project was highly successful and provided me with several valuable learning experiences. I learned how to effectively collaborate with a stakeholder company, finding that Midea was particularly open to discussions, which facilitated a productive working relationship. This project marked my first experience working closely with product designers, where I discovered the dynamics of collaborative discussions—while these discussions could sometimes become heated, they were ultimately fruitful, leading to innovative solutions. Through this process, I gained a deeper understanding of how compromises and the collective expertise of a team can significantly enhance the quality of the final product. This experience has greatly enriched my approach to future collaborative efforts.
Rest of my Creative Quests
Solitude
Mowtown Murals
Aqualuxe
InnoVision
The Man cave
Others