Refrigerator UI Redesign
Project Overview
Role
UX Designer
Focus Areas
Interaction design, wireframing
Tools Used
Figma, Vimeo, pencil and paper
Context
Minimalist designs often prioritize aesthetics over functionality, leading to confusion and frustration for users. This project addresses the challenges of an overly simplistic refrigerator UI that lacks clear signifiers and button descriptions, making key features difficult to access.
The Challenge
The refrigerator’s UI aimed for a minimalistic design but unintentionally created confusion by omitting clear signifiers and button labels. Users struggled to interact with basic features, like turning off the fridge alarm, due to the absence of intuitive design cues.
Goals
Enhance the usability of the refrigerator UI by introducing clear signifiers and labels.
Maintain the clean, minimalistic design aesthetic while improving functionality.
Research & Insights
Process
Conducted user analysis to identify pain points with the current interface.
Findings
Lack of visual cues made it challenging to identify the purpose of buttons.
Key Insight
Users need clear button labels and visual signifiers to intuitively interact with the refrigerator’s features.
Design Rationale & Process
Initial Concept
Pain Points Addressed
The unintuitive interface and lack of signifiers.
Design Goals
Enhance clarity while preserving the minimal aesthetic.
Wireframing & Prototyping
Early Iterations
Sketches explored improved button layouts and descriptions.
Feedback Integration
Iterative designs tested usability and refined button signifiers based on feedback.
Challenges Faced
Maintaining the minimalist aesthetic while improving usability presented a significant challenge. Minimalist designs risk feeling cluttered if additional elements disrupt the visual harmony, yet overly sparse interfaces can confuse users.
Visual Development
Final Designs
Buttons were redesigned with distinct visual cues, such as subtle iconography and descriptive labels, ensuring users can quickly identify their functionality. Key interactions, like turning off the fridge alarm, were given prominence through size, placement, and clear signifiers.
Results
Clear, descriptive button labels for intuitive interaction.
Visual signifiers that guide users while preserving the minimalist aesthetic.
Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of balancing aesthetics and functionality. Thoughtful design choices, like adding button signifiers and labels, can enhance user experience without compromising simplicity. “Obvious Always Wins” – Luke Wroblewski.