Case Study: Prototyping
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Centralis’ design made controlling luxury smart bed features a dream.
The Challenge
Tempur Sealy is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of bedding products. As part of its commitment to providing a good night’s sleep, the company sought to develop a new mattress remote that offered independent controls to sleepers on both sides of the bed. Features controlled by the remote would include adjusting mattress temperature, degree of head elevation, and a massage feature.
Tempur Sealy chose Centralis to evaluate the current remote, design an improved version, and optimize the new design by testing it with customers.
The Process
We began by conducting stakeholder interviews with the client team to ensure we understood the functionality and platform constraints inherent in the remote control. We then performed an expert evaluation of the current design, noting areas where it worked well and where users may struggle.
After gathering these requirements, we designed new process flows for key remote-control functions, including initial setup and features related to massage, bed position, and temperature control. Our team created an interactive prototype of the new design, which we leveraged during usability testing at our lab. We established a comfortable home-like setting, and used multiple camera angles to record participants’ interactions with the remote control.
The Impact
Centralis’ evaluation uncovered inconsistencies in navigation patterns, as well as redundant screens within several key user flows. Our revised design incorporated a new “home” screen to clearly display the current status of the system, such as “heat on” or “massage off.” We clearly communicated our findings to the client, who enthusiastically agreed to the new direction.
Usability testing revealed additional opportunities for improvement, which we explained and illustrated using screenshots of the interface paired with direct quotes from users. Our findings and recommendations guided Tempur Sealy during their subsequent design efforts, keeping them focused on a user-oriented product.
Our Value
Centralis worked collaboratively with Tempur Sealy throughout the project, ensuring alignment before proceeding at every step. Our team provided both research and design services, seamlessly integrating findings from expert evaluation and usability testing into the new and improved remote control.
Tempur Sealy has credited Centralis with changing their approach to digital interface design and partnered with Centralis again to conduct test and improve another leading-edge sleep solution.
- Market Research Manager, Tempur Sealy