Wattwise App
Wattwise App
The problem
The problem
Managing prepaid electricity is a stressful guessing game. Currently, users experience sudden disconnections because their meters offer no low balance warnings before the lights go out. To stay connected, users have to manually punch a long 20-digit code into a stiff, plastic keypad that often fails and shows confusing error numbers.
Managing prepaid electricity is a stressful guessing game. Currently, users experience sudden disconnections because their meters offer no low balance warnings before the lights go out. To stay connected, users have to manually punch a long 20-digit code into a stiff, plastic keypad that often fails and shows confusing error numbers.
Solution
Solution
To solve this, I designed Wattwise, a mobile app that gives users complete control over their energy. The app eliminates the physical meter box hassle by allowing users to recharge remotely, view their live balance clearly, receive proactive low-balance alerts, and easily monitor their daily consumption.
To solve this, I designed Wattwise, a mobile app that gives users complete control over their energy. The app eliminates the physical meter box hassle by allowing users to recharge remotely, view their live balance clearly, receive proactive low-balance alerts, and easily monitor their daily consumption.
My role
My role
Owned the end-to-end product design lifecycle, leading everything from initial user research and user flows to high-fidelity UI and interactive prototyping.
Owned the end-to-end product design lifecycle, leading everything from initial user research and user flows to high-fidelity UI and interactive prototyping.
Research
Research
I reviewed current utility apps to see where existing digital solutions fail users under real-world conditions.
I reviewed current utility apps to see where existing digital solutions fail users under real-world conditions.
Current digital solutions focus solely on token purchase and remote recharge, very few cater to monitoring, and alerting of live household energy usage
Current digital solutions focus solely on token purchase and remote recharge, very few cater to monitoring, and alerting of live household energy usage
I conducted field research and interviewed four diverse participants (households and business owners) during field research to to understand how different users manage prepaid electricity.
I conducted field research and interviewed four diverse participants (households and business owners) during field research to to understand how different users manage prepaid electricity.
KEY INSIGHTS
KEY INSIGHTS
Throughout the interviews, I discovered that all users shared a critical, core need for predictability and control over their light.
Throughout the interviews, I discovered that all users shared a critical, core need for predictability and control over their light.
Unexpected Outage
Users are caught off guard when units deplete suddenly, disrupting critical home activities and business operations.
Unexpected Outage
Users are caught off guard when units deplete suddenly, disrupting critical home activities and business operations.
Manual Token Entry
Manually entering 20-digit codes into physical meters is error-prone and stressful, especially on unresponsive hardware.
Blind Budgeting
Users have no idea how much energy they actually consume monthly, making it impossible to budget for bills.
Poor Accessibility
Low-contrast meter screens and rigid physical placements create massive barriers for visually impaired or elderly users.
Manual Token Entry
Manually entering 20-digit codes into physical meters is error-prone and stressful, especially on unresponsive hardware.
Blind Budgeting
Users have no idea how much energy they actually consume monthly, making it impossible to budget for bills.
Poor Accessibility
Low-contrast meter screens and rigid physical placements create massive barriers for visually impaired or elderly users.
UX Ideation
UX Ideation
I defined the core features, established the user flows, and mapped how the app connects to physical smart meters.
I defined the core features, established the user flows, and mapped how the app connects to physical smart meters.
USER FLOW
USER FLOW
Onboarding flow and Remote recharge flow
Onboarding flow and Remote recharge flow
WIREFRAMES
WIREFRAMES
I explored several rough sketches to test how different features could fit together. At the end, I resolved to center the main screen around one common pain point Unexpected Outage, by giving users a clear view of their balance and an easy path to recharge.
I explored several rough sketches to test how different features could fit together. At the end, I resolved to center the main screen around one common pain point Unexpected Outage, by giving users a clear view of their balance and an easy path to recharge.
I made a PDF prototype of the full wireframe and shared it with few users and designers for feedback
I made a PDF prototype of the full wireframe and shared it with few users and designers for feedback
Refining the Design
Refining the Design
MOCKUP
MOCKUP
Based on the insights from the feedback, I made changes to improve the dashboard's information hierarchy. One of the changes I made was adding an estimated usage countdown card that translates abstract kilowatt-hours into remaining days. This allowed users more predictability over their energy consumption without going through a complicated process to guess when their power would deplete.
Based on the insights from the feedback, I made changes to improve the dashboard's information hierarchy. One of the changes I made was adding an estimated usage countdown card that translates abstract kilowatt-hours into remaining days. This allowed users more predictability over their energy consumption without going through a complicated process to guess when their power would deplete.
HIGH FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
HIGH FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
After finalizing the mockups, i created the high fidelity designs with the goal of the app simple and intuitive.
After finalizing the mockups, i created the high fidelity designs with the goal of the app simple and intuitive.
Onboarding
Onboarding
Recharge meter
Recharge meter
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
High-Contrast Color System
High-Contrast Color System
When choosing a color palette, I made sure my primary colors met WCAG AA Compliance before building out the UI for each screen. I paired a light, clean interface with a deeply contrasted dark blue card to ensure the most vital information pops out immediately
When choosing a color palette, I made sure my primary colors met WCAG AA Compliance before building out the UI for each screen. I paired a light, clean interface with a deeply contrasted dark blue card to ensure the most vital information pops out immediately
Custom Keypad
I replaced the standard mobile keyboard with a custom 12-button number pad featuring large touch targets. Every single button features an immediate visual state change shifting color instantly when pressed
Going Forward
Going Forward
WHAT I LEARNED
WHAT I LEARNED
Working on this product taught me that UX design is about more than designing user interface. I learned how to look past the user path alone and think system logic needed to securely connect an app to external hardware.
Working on this product taught me that UX design is about more than designing user interface. I learned how to look past the user path alone and think system logic needed to securely connect an app to external hardware.
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
Multi-Disco Support: Expanding the system architecture to integrate with other Nigerian electricity distribution companies (Discos) beyond PHED.
Multi-Disco Support: Expanding the system architecture to integrate with other Nigerian electricity distribution companies (Discos) beyond PHED.
Appliance-Level Tracking: Exploring machine learning tools to help users pinpoint exactly which heavy appliances, like ACs or pumping machines, are driving up bills.
Appliance-Level Tracking: Exploring machine learning tools to help users pinpoint exactly which heavy appliances, like ACs or pumping machines, are driving up bills.
Going Forward
Going Forward
WHAT I LEARNED
WHAT I LEARNED
Working on this product taught me that UX design is about more than designing user interface. I learned how to look past the user path alone and think system logic needed to securely connect an app to external hardware.
Working on this product taught me that UX design is about more than designing user interface. I learned how to look past the user path alone and think system logic needed to securely connect an app to external hardware.
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
Multi-Disco Support: Expanding the system architecture to integrate with other Nigerian electricity distribution companies (Discos) beyond PHED.
Multi-Disco Support: Expanding the system architecture to integrate with other Nigerian electricity distribution companies (Discos) beyond PHED.
Appliance-Level Tracking: Exploring machine learning tools to help users pinpoint exactly which heavy appliances, like ACs or pumping machines, are driving up bills.
Appliance-Level Tracking: Exploring machine learning tools to help users pinpoint exactly which heavy appliances, like ACs or pumping machines, are driving up bills.
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