Energy management application
HVEX is a startup that offers solutions in the electrical sector. The application below supports these solutions, making it easy and quick to manage equipment energy.
Project date: March 2023
Timeline: One week
Client: Hvex
Services: UX, UI, User Research
Platform: Mobile app
Design tools: Figma, Figjam, InVision, Concepts, Illustrator, and Notion
Briefing📋
Hvex created a challenge for candidates applying for the Junior UX/UI Designer position to better understand their skills. I saw this as an opportunity not only for the job, but also to add another project to my portfolio.
Project Challenge:
The challenge was to design an interface for an energy management application which includes the following features:
Monitor energy consumption
Manage connected devices
Alerts for consumption
Alerts for failure cases
Energy consumption history
The Process ⚒️
I had less than a week to complete the project due to the challenge constraints, so I had to work quickly and efficiently to ensure that the project was completed on time.
To begin, I conducted research into the company and the sector in which they provide solutions. This involved analyzing the developments in the industry, as well as identifying the unique challenges faced by the company.
Once I had a clear understanding of the requirements, I began organizing the challenge information to make it clearer and easier to understand. This involved breaking down the information into smaller, more manageable chunks and creating a comprehensive plan of action to ensure that the project was completed efficiently.
Competitor Analysis
With clear information in hand, I began to search for competitors from which I could gain insight. I analyzed not only applications but also software, such as Siemens Sentron Powermanager.
Unfortunately, due to constraints, I had to forego conducting interviews. Additionally, I needed more information in order to better understand how to conduct the interviews. Therefore, I focused on areas where I could work well with the information that Hvex provided.
Features
The analysis of our competitors provided valuable insights and potential features that could be added to our primary ones. I researched each feature to determine which made the most sense for the application and could provide the greatest positive impact for the user.
I then proceeded to organize the app's design, deciding which features should be included on each screen and how information should be presented. I gave priority to the main functions outlined in the briefing and added the remaining features to other areas of the app.
User flow and Sitemap
Before beginning the design process, I created user flows to gain a better understanding of the necessary screens and the user journey throughout the app. Following this, I developed a sitemap to provide a clear overview of the application's structure.
Time to Start the Designs✍🏻
I began working on the wireframes for the app. I wanted to make sure that the design was intuitive and user-friendly. To help with this, I looked through the web for similar apps to draw inspiration from. I found several designs that I really liked and started thinking about how I could adapt them to my own app. After this, I created a moodboard to consolidate my ideas.
Design Solutions
First opening
I've created an introduction that highlights the main features of the application, which should help users feel more welcome and less overwhelmed when they start using it. By doing so, I believe that users will be more inclined to explore the application and discover all of its features.
Dashboard
The dashboard is where users can view details on how their devices are performing, including consumption, the number of connected devices, and any failures. It also allows for quick and easy exporting of all data provided by the app.
Carbon Footprint and Bill simulation
During my research, I found two additional features that could be included with the ones mentioned in the briefing. The carbon footprint feature allows for a better understanding of the amount of CO2 being produced, while the bill simulation feature provides an estimate of the cost for energy consumption.
Home Screen
The purpose of the home screen is to provide a quick view of the main features of the application. This allows users to easily monitor their energy consumption, activate and deactivate devices, view recent alerts, track their carbon footprint, and simulate their bill.
Devices and Alerts
This feature allows users to manage connected devices, including adding, excluding, and synchronizing them. For each device, it's possible to create individual alerts to assist with management.
The Results 📱
This project was quite challenging due to the tight time constraints. I had to produce high-quality work quickly and efficiently. However, this experience taught me how to prioritize tasks and focus on what would yield the best results. Maintaining an organized approach also helped me save time by avoiding unnecessary searches for materials.
