Case Studies

Identifying Barriers for Smart Home Product via In-Person Concept Testing

Written by Stephan Sigaud | Aug 23, 2019
  • Our client was seeking to assess the usability and overall user experience of their smart thermostat, mobile application, and web portal through user testing.
  • One-on-one, task-based interviews were conducted with 20 participants with no prior experience with our client's thermostat. Recruitment was targeted to match our client's target persona demographics.
  • A thermostat device was installed into Phase 5’s usability lab, and participants were observed undertaking thermostat set-up and configuration using the wall-mounted devices as well as the companion mobile app and web portal.
  • The study uncovered core mismatches between the interface and users’ mental models of scheduling and setting preferences, and tactical issues with labeling, iconography and product messaging.