04.17 + 04.19: Development + Prototyping

This week we continued developing our app and web touchpoints, and also began considering several others to prototype (including packaging and an in-room TV experience for hotel stays.)

App Wireframing

The app remains a dominant touchpoint for most users, both in-home and while traveling, so we want to give particular focus to its usability. To move forward in developing the app, we transitioned from hand sketches to digital wireframes and further fleshed out the overall flow.

In working through the high-level flow and low-fidelity screens, we were able to identify the core functionality as well as brainstorm potential opportunities to pare down user input for a minimally obtrusive experience.

Packaging Ideation

We’ve decided to prototype the Rhythms hardware packaging, so that we have an opportunity to prototype a physical touchpoint, in addition to our digital ones. This is a small touchpoint, but an important since it’s a users first interaction with the service in their home. We’ve begun to collect some inspiration of creative packaging.

Once a user enrolls in Rhythms, the hardware will be delivered to their home. The package will include a bed sensor and speaker as well as some introductory material. Our hope is to leverage the branding and package design to create a simple and intuitive onboarding experience.

Marketing Website

We’ve also started developing a home page for our web touchpoint. We want to develop a simple landing page that communicates the high-level value proposition of our service. From this page, we imagine that our more “typical” users can learn about our service as well as purchase the necessary hardware and more data-oriented users can navigate to our research portal. As we further develop our brand’s visual identity and prototype our touchpoints, we will finalize the design of this landing page.

Secondary Service Blueprints

This week we also dove into the guest and researcher service blueprint. These smaller blueprints encapsulate the service journey for hotel guests who are not already Rhythms customers and researchers who are requesting sleep data from Rhythms.

Moving Forward

In the next week, we will be user testing our low-fidelity mockups and iterating based on the feedback received. To do this, we hope to simulate a nighttime routine to see how our system might integrate with a user’s natural behaviors. We also intend to synthesize the findings from our precedent and reference gathering to develop the visual language and branding of our system to create a cohesive experience across all touchpoints. This will include explorations in color and tone as well as motion graphics to ensure a smooth and easily understandable user journey.