Mary Murray
SimpleSafe | Video Doorbell
Usability testing of customer installation, with recommendations for improvement
Summary
SimpliSafe is a company focused on creating affordable, effective home security systems that consumers can self-install. At SimpliSafe, I worked to improve the user experience for smart home products, including the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell installation.​
The Challenge
With just a few months before the product was set to ship, we needed to ensure that the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell was easy and intuitive for customers to install.
The Process
Teaming with an intern who initiated the study, we organized, moderated, and analyzed a usability study of folks installing the video doorbell in their homes.
​
I focused on issues with the doorbell's physical installation and on ways to improve the instructions and packaging to clarify the installation process.
​
Our usability study revealed several pain points for our users. For one, the tiny screws provided were frequently dropped and sometimes lost, making it impossible to attach the electrical wires. Secondly, users found out only after installing it that the mounting bracket required clearance at the top.
I presented these usability issues to the product team, along with suggested fixes. For the first issue, the industrial designer investigated affordable design changes he could make just before the product launched, including adding extra screws. To help prevent the clearance issue, I clarified the instructions and tested packaging changes to illustrate the required clearance.
Analysis of tasks
The top usability issues were frustration with attaching wiring with small screws
Another usability issue was the lack of clearance to install the doorbell to the mounting bracket
I tested adding a physical reminder to the mounting bracket to demonstrate how much space was needed.
