Smart Lighting App for Hikari

HIKArI

Smart Lighting Control App

The problem

Setting right colors for right mood can feel chaotic and frustrating—even for experienced users.

Despite the growing trend in connected home systems, most apps fail to offer a seamless, intuitive experience.

Users struggle with confusing setup flows, overwhelming feature overload, and performance reliability issues—undermining the potential of ambient smart lighting to transform everyday environments.

PROCESS

User research and synthesis, ideation, prototyping, interaction, usability testing

ROLE

UI/UX Designer, End-to-End Designer

TOOLS

Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator

DURATION

6 weeks

STEP 3

STEP 4

IDEATE

to create the app design

PROTOTYPE

to create an app for testing

STEP 1

EMPATHIZE

with the users through interviews and market research

STEP 5

TESTING

by asking users to perform tasks in the app

STEP 2

DEFINE

the design statement

empathize

I interviewed 5 designers, 5 engineers, 5 developers, and 5 end users, ensuring that both the user’s experience and the creator’s experience were equally represented.

This approach allowed me to uncover pain points from those who design and build these systems as well as those who live with them daily.

I developed detailed personas to capture their goals, frustrations, and needs, and identified recurring themes—ranging from complex setup processes to cluttered interfaces and unreliable performance.

To truly understand the challenges of setting the right colors for the right mood, I began by speaking directly with those who interact with smart lighting from different perspectives.

This empathy-driven foundation shaped the project’s direction, ensuring that the final design addresses problems holistically, not just cosmetically.

"Complex and unintuitive setup process"

50%

man in black and white striped long sleeve shirt wearing black framed eyeglasses

"Overwhelming interface and feature clutter."

30%

"Poor app performance and reliability."

20%

Needs

"App design that manages user expectations with clear feedback during loading and error states and limits resource-heavy operations to maintain smooth performance."

"Clean, focused interface and logical navigation so that users of all levels can intuitively control lighting without feeling lost or overwhelmed."

"Streamlined, guided setup flow to pair devices without technical hiccups, allowing focus on lighting design rather than troubleshooting."

INSIGHTS

"Simple and predictable setup gives confidence to recommend the product to others, increasing adoption of smart lighting solutions in professional projects."

INSIGHTS

"Essential controls in a clear hierarchy make users feel empowered and engaged, leading to more frequent and satisfying interactions."

INSIGHTS

"Transparent communication of status and gracefully handling delays or failures keeps the users patient and confident in the product."

The Engineer

The Creator

The Developer

KITCHEN

WORK

LIVING

BEDROOM

Fresh

Hungry

Colorful

Familiar

Hygienic

Relaxed

Romantic

Nostalgic

Peaceful

Pleasant

Focused

Fresh

Productive

Inspiring

Practical

Active

Neutral

Stressed

Exposed

Tiring

Warm

Energy

Relaxed

Party

Cozy

Dull

Happy

Nostalgic

Romantic

Calm

Warm

Familiar

Playful

Romantic

Sad

Happy

Nostalgic

Tiring

Anxious

Cozy

"Post-update, the lights reset to default settings instead of my saved preferences after power cycling."

"Fantastic functionality with versatile color options; a scheduling feature would be a welcomed addition."

"Exceptionally bright and adaptable lighting, with an array of colors and themes for diverse atmospheres; seamless integration with Alexa – I love it!"

"I appreciate the functions but seek a simpler, less content-heavy interface for ease of use."

"Experienced multiple apps; looking for automatic color settings to simplify the process."

Other Comments

For example, warm, soft tones in a bedroom can promote relaxation, while bright, cool lighting in a workspace can enhance focus.

Each room’s psychological impact was considered to understand how lighting could amplify or transform the user’s experience.

This analysis informed the app’s color and scene presets, ensuring that every lighting adjustment aligns with the emotional intent of the space.

To design an app that could genuinely enhance mood through lighting, I conducted a qualitative research and mood analysis of different home spaces. This involved observing and documenting how lighting, color schemes, furniture arrangement, and overall ambiance influence a person’s emotional state and it became evident that lighting significantly influences emotional and physiological states.

The research revealed recurring pain points: complex setup processes, overwhelming interface clutter, and inconsistent performance that frustrate even tech-savvy users.

Competitors often attempt to pack in every possible feature, but in doing so, they sacrifice clarity, speed, and intuitive interaction.

By mapping these shortcomings against user expectations, I was able to pinpoint a clear gap for a streamlined, reliable, and emotionally engaging lighting control experience.

To identify opportunities for improvement, I conducted an in-depth analysis of existing smart lighting apps currently available in the market.

This review focused on user reviews, app store ratings, feature sets, and overall usability.

How might we design a simple and intuitive UI with easy setup, reduce interface clutter, and ensure reliable performance, so users can experience effortless personalization of colors to set the mood?

My research led me to ask....

define

Building on the insights from research and mood analysis, I began translating ideas into low-fidelity wireframes to explore different ways the app could deliver a seamless and engaging user experience.

These early sketches focused on streamlining navigation, reducing interface clutter, and creating clear pathways for users to personalize lighting with minimal effort.

By rapidly iterating on layout concepts, I was able to visualize multiple interaction flows and test how the design could balance simplicity with functionality, ensuring the emotional intent of mood lighting with right colors was preserved without overwhelming the user.