A Platform for Connection
Afotalk is a mobile app designed to manage Afobot, an all-in-one smart home AI assistant and video companion robot for families.
This user-friendly app allows users to remote control and easily make group video calls between AfoBots and iOS/Android devices. Users can create albums, share photos and videos, and make to-do lists and calendars in family groups for home assistance and companion care scenarios.
My Role
- Product Designer
- Visual Designer
Deliverables
- Design Roadmap
- Feature Proposal
- Information Architecture
- User Flow
- Wireframe & Prototype
- Brand & Identity Design
Duration
16 weeks
Challenges
Throughout this project, I was the only app designer. I played a multifaceted role in this project as a UX/UI designer and Visual Designer. I aimed to provide comprehensive design solutions for iOS and Android applications, encompassing the Feature Proposal, Design Roadmap, Information Architecture, LoFi and Hi-Fi prototype, and CIS design.
I faced challenges with time limits to generate as much creativity in Afotalk projects and simultaneously manage the other design projects to deliver on time.
Within four months of the beta development phase, I led a full design process for iOS and Android apps, from product strategy to end-to-end design. I also helped build a team and coordinated with various stakeholders, including two product managers, two development team leads, a data analyst, and a BD manager, to ensure weekly iterated development. Additionally, I assisted the design manager in creating proposal presentations that reported to the Vice President simultaneously. The project was successful, and I continued maintaining the app after its launch.
Team Structure
Process
This is a design-led project, and we had greater freedom and creativity in defining the app’s functions, making it a more experimental and entrepreneurial endeavor.
Brainstorming Workshop
The initial features mainly came from brainstorming workshops and competitive analysis with other remote control apps with surveillance functions.
We invited 22 participants, including 16 developers, 4 tech managers, and 2 product managers from the iOS, Android, and Cloud service development teams to join the workshop. During the workshop, we utilized an affinity diagram to summarize the user scenarios and needs that were discussed.
As workshop co-host, I facilitated the discussion, encouraging developers to share their perspectives and insights. This project also provided an opportunity to gather valuable feedback from the development teams.
Wireframes in Weekly Iterated Development
As the sole product designer responsible for both iOS and Android design delivery in weekly iterations, each day feels like a race. We prioritize efficient communication and rapid prototyping. Below is the wireframe for the login process.
What People Say
“Pei is a great designer who has the professionals in interface design, and the generates beautiful, yet easy-to-use design to us. Furthermore, her designs are reasonable for our developers to implement because she always opens for discussion with us about how to make things better. Which is important for a detailed-oriented designer.
She helps me by providing designs of our products, and this means her works are responsible for delivering first impressions from the beginning. This is a very challenging task in my opinion, but her professional knowledge makes a very good job.
As a Product Manager, I am happy to work with her. And looking forward to having further chance to co-work with her on other projects.”
— Hanz Sung, Department Manager of QNAP
