Winter 2025 · 10 Weeks
Google Nest Thermostat Redesign
Reframing energy consumption into transparent cost feedback — shifting users from passive monitoring to active, cost-aware climate control.
Role
Lead Prototyper / UX + UI
Year
2025
Duration
10 Weeks
Context
While Nest presents detailed energy metrics, it lacks a clear financial narrative that supports real-time decision-making. This redesign reframes energy consumption into transparent cost feedback — shifting users from passive monitoring to active, cost-aware climate control.
My Role
I led the end-to-end redesign of the Nest Thermostat mobile experience, defining a "Green & Affordable" product strategy that translates energy data into clear financial impact and behavioral feedback. I developed the interaction framework, visual system, and sustainability feedback model — aligning user research, system constraints, and business considerations into a cohesive product direction.
Problem Statement
Users seeking an eco-friendly and affordable smart thermostat often feel overwhelmed by complex interfaces and unclear energy feedback. Current products fail to balance cost-efficiency, environmental awareness, and usability for everyday households.
Unclear System Logic
Users are unsure how the system decides when to adjust, causing confusion and distrust.
Invisible Energy Impact
Users can't see how their actions save energy, reducing motivation to stay eco-friendly.
How might we visualize energy usage and savings in a way that feels concrete and motivating?
Key Insights
Users are not motivated by "saving energy" itself, but by seeing how their daily actions translate into real money and comfort.
Strategy
Convert Sustainability Into Economic Visibility — instead of presenting abstract energy metrics, I chose to visualize savings in monetary terms.
Prototype Iterations
Iteration 01
Interaction Logic Exploration
This first prototype exposed a structural issue: users needed to move across multiple layers to access scheduling, energy feedback, and confirmation states. I chose to flatten the navigation hierarchy, prioritizing immediacy over structural purity.
Iteration 02
Balancing Insight and Interaction Speed
I expanded the interface to include richer energy analytics. However, testing revealed hesitation during quick daily interactions. Reduced cognitive load enables habitual interaction.
Iteration 03
Designing for Sustained Behavior
I strengthened the financial feedback loop, making savings more immediate and personally relevant. Behavioral reinforcement replaced passive visibility — amplifying financial cues to make consequences tangible.
Before vs After
The redesigned home screen surfaces savings directly — making energy impact concrete and personally meaningful.
Before
After
Core Features
Reflection
In future iterations, I would validate these assumptions through usability testing and behavioral metrics. The core theme throughout: turning abstract sustainability into concrete daily behavior.