IoT · Mobile · 2020
HVAC Controller
Shipped multi-platform IoT control for commercial HVAC and cut post-launch bounce rate.
A commercial HVAC manufacturer wanted something that did not exist yet: first-of-its-kind apps to control their air-curtain units through the IoT cloud, across multiple sites, from web and mobile. The goal was full control of temperature, fan speed, and more, with every unit paired over Bluetooth to a single business account. The challenge was making industrial hardware feel as simple as a thermostat.
Design process
To get this right, I led with research. I started from real user needs before moving into ideas, then tested and refined wireframes and prototypes throughout. Working with cross-functional teams kept the design grounded in what was technically practical while still pushing into new territory.
Research
I dug into what operators actually needed and the hurdles they hit with their HVAC systems, through surveys, interviews, and a look at the market. I also built a technology map, a blueprint so the team, especially engineering, could see how everything was meant to fit together. That kept everyone aligned and pointed the work at something people would genuinely use.
Persona
I built personas from the research: real goals, daily frustrations, and context, so the people we were designing for stayed front and centre. They weren’t decoration. They steered every decision toward something genuinely useful rather than just clever.
User flow design
I mapped the core journeys: onboarding, unit pairing, and the general flow of the app. Onboarding had to make account setup feel like a welcome. Unit pairing had to walk someone through connecting real hardware, step by step, with nothing left to guess. The general flow tied it together, showing how people move through features and settings.
Wireframing
In wireframing I sketched the app’s skeleton, focusing on where everything goes and how people navigate without getting lost in visual detail. The aim was an app that feels intuitive from the first screen, where each control sits right where you expect it.
Results and takeaways
The launch delivered remote, contactless control of commercial HVAC units, all paired to one business account and reachable from web or mobile dashboards. Operators called out the streamlined navigation and easier scanning, with faster access to the units they needed and a finish that finally matched the hardware it controlled.
