Heuristic redesign for SICOR Alarmas
B2C
Redesign
App
Overview
SICOR Alarmas is the companion app for SICOR’s home security service. It enables users to control all installed security devices, both globally and individually, while also managing access for other members and overseeing their alarm service subscription.
The why
The business team and stakeholders requested a redesign of the app after receiving negative user feedback regarding usability and visibility. Among the main requirements, they wanted a clear and visually appealing UI that also reinforced the brand’s identity to create a more consistent and recognizable experience with their service.
My role
In this project, I took on the role of Design Lead as the sole designer with UI/UX expertise in the company. I worked closely with the Product Manager, while collaborating remotely with the outsourced development team to ensure alignment.
Defining the direction for change
To begin with the project, I conducted an heuristic analysis of the app to identify key issues. This process allowed me to prioritize the areas for improvement and define the necessary changes to enhance the overall user experience.
System visibility & error prevention
The app lacked proper system status updates and clear error messages, leaving users confused, especially in cases of improper data entry.
Overuse of technical language
The app used jargon, making it hard for non-expert users to understand the purpose of various components.
Consistency issues
Design inconsistency across screens and menus made navigation challenging, with unclear button hierarchies and unrelated icons.
Aesthetic & accessibility problems
The design was cluttered, lacked contrast, and did not integrate brand elements, failing to meet accessibility standards.
Refining navigation
Following the analysis results and specific user feedback about the app's navigation difficulties, it became clear that it needed to become more intuitive and user-friendly, aiming to simplify the learning curve. Users specifically mentioned issues such as not knowing how to activate or deactivate the alarm system or having trouble on how to access to their profile.
I began the process by reimagining the user flows. Conducting a detailed review of each app feature, considering the various user goals and the different decisions they would need to make depending on each screen.
I could restructure the information architecture and the steps users need to take on each screen. This involved grouping and organizing menus based on priority, reducing intermediate screens for specific tasks, and simplifying the interface to align with a design that felt more familiar to users.
From Branding to UI
Stakeholders requested a redesign of the app's look and feel, as it didn’t align with the brand, recognizing that simply using brand colors was not enough. They demanded a cleaner and modern interface that would be more competitive in the market.
Their request also aligned closely with the findings from the heuristic analysis, which revealed significant accessibility issues, lack of consistency across the UI and use of technical jargon that made the app difficult to understand from user’s perspective.
I began redesigning the layout structure based on the previously created user flows.
The low and mid-fidelity wireframes helped me establish visual hierarchy and gradually simplify the design to achieve the clean, modern and competitive look requested by the stakeholders.
A thorough review of the color scheme was conducted to increase contrast and meet WCAG accessibility standards.
Text sizes were standardized to enhance readability and some copy was revised to ensure clarity for all users.
Buttons and icons were standardized to reinforce consistency and reflect brand identity.
As a result, the stakeholders were highly satisfied with the outcome, expressing that I had successfully met their key objectives.
They particularly appreciated the modernized look and feel, which was more in line with their vision, acknowledging that the app now felt more intuitive and appeared more competitive in the market, successfully fulfilling the expectations set at the start of the project.
Outcomes & KPIs
The redesign had a significant and measurable impact on both the app's performance and user experience.
User satisfaction increased by 50%, with users reporting a much more intuitive and easy-to-use interface, which also led to a considerable reduction in customer support inquiries.
Downloads grew by 10x over three years, jumping from under 1,000 to over 10,000.
App's rating improved dramatically, rising from 2.5 stars to 4.6 stars based on 2,000 reviews.
