In order to create a product that is extremely easy to use, it is important to first know what users need and how they use their devices. For this reason, I carried out a series of structured user interviews, collating the results into a set of user requirements.

Using the requirements, I began sketching out some first form and interaction concepts. The focus here was on creating a concept based on letting the form disappear into the background as much as possible, as well as minimising any interaction with the product itself. This goal came from the key finding from user research, that people don’t want to deal with setting things up on small displays, all they really want to do is turn a knob to change the temperature. This interaction concept set the product apart from most programmable radiator controllers of the time which made users set schedules using buttons on the device.

Based off several key-sketches, I built a range of foam models and low-fidelity interaction prototypes. I used these to test the proportions, as well as run first usability tests on the concept.

Creating a curved display, which lights up at a turn of the knob and is otherwise white was a key part of the tado design language. In order to make this possible, I researched how this was done in other products, as well as building and iterating on the concept in solidworks.

The result of this project is an award-winning product which makes use of design-for manufacture principles, is easy to install and use, and fits perfectly into the tado product range.