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2020-2021
CHEF iQ

Designing
Smart thermometer

In my role as a I.o.T product designer, I was responsible for overseeing the entire product design development process, from initial concept development to setting product strategy and mapping the core user experience. To achieve this, I collaborated with a cross-functional team comprising an industrial designer, a sound designer, a motion designer, firmware/hardware/software developers, UX writers, and UX researcher by taking the lead in the UX design. I owned the crucial main two features; onboarding process & guided cooking feature.
Consumer technology design
End to end product development
Multi-modal interaction design
Data visualization
Rapid prototyping
Physical to digital product design
Refining product concepts
Final Result

Currently on the market

The Chef iQ Smart Thermometer (iQ sense) was launched in the market in 2022. Within just six months of its release, the product has received an average customer rating of 4.8 stars across major online and offline shops, with overwhelmingly positive reviews.
5-star rating
4.5
from 1,119+ reviews at Amazon
Go to CHEFIQ website
Go to Amazon
Recognition

Upon launch, the CHEFiQ product garnered significant recognition from avid home cooking enthusiasts, cooking media, and the community.

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CHEF iQ wants to make you a smarter cook by InsideHook

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CHEF iQ launched a new smart thermometer by Trendhunter

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The Best Wireless Meat Thermometer for Hands-Off Grilling by Epicurious

Initial research

Exploring when, where, and why a smart thermometer provides value to users

While identifying key features, our UX team collaborated with internal research to better understand user mental models and motivations for using a smart thermometer.
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Objective

How can we develop a new smart thermometer that enhances the CHEF iQ ecosystem by integrating with the smart cooker?

As a prominent player in the realm of intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) kitchen appliances, Chef iQ's primary focus in 2020-2021 was the development of its second smart kitchen product: the 'Smart Thermometer.' The objective of this new product development was to create the world's thinnest and most intelligent thermometer for cooking, with a user-friendly design, real-time data interface, and wireless connectivity, surpassing existing competitors in the market.

As a lead I.o.T product designer, tthis journey provided me with unique opportunities to collaborate with various design experts, including industrial, sound, and motion designers.
Design process overview
Concept development

Initial concept design sketch to define core features

Initial concept development

Onboarding user journey design from unboxing to connect the smart thermometer with mobile devices

Product key feature idea sketch

I utilized my domain expertise in physical interaction design and human-computer interaction to lead the ideation and development of key features for the product.
Initial concept flow
Defining key features

Push technical boundaries to become a leading innovative smart kitchen brand

I co-led a rapid design sprint aimed at uncovering innovative ideas to potentially patent, enhance the brand, and reduce physical supply chain costs. During this sprint, we collaborated with engineering leadership to define and prioritize feasible key features that would also optimize user experience design.
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Design iteration

Collaborative design iteration with engineers and a culinary director

Considering the complexity of physical to digital interactions, I spearheaded the design iteration process alongside hardware, software, and firmware developers, encouraging them to contribute their ideas. Given the intricacies of specific recipes, incorporating feedback from the culinary director was crucial throughout the design iteration process.
Initial concept flow
User flow

Led multi-modal interaction UX flow with hardware & firmware developers, audio designer, and visual designer

Given the complexity of multi-modal interaction feedback when connecting the thermometer to the mobile app, I was chosen to lead the user flow with a cross-functional team. With that, I orchestrated a smooth onboarding process that features multi-modal interactions and delightful micro-interactions, while also addressing technical constraints.
Initial concept flowInitial concept flow

To simplify the complex connection flow and enhance engagement, I concentrated on integrating micro-interactions based on the flow. I created the initial design draft and provided guidance to the visual design contractor for its development.

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Final Design development

Crafting a seamless experience from physical to digital design by collaborating industrial design team

To ensure coherent branding and product experience, I collaborated closely with the industrial design team, providing feedback from a user experience perspective. My focus was particularly on information design, high leveluser flow, physical interaction design—areas the industrial design team might overlook.
Initial concept design

Package design ideation

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Hub material ideation

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Probe design ideation

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User interview

Final Design- Onboarding flow
Multimodal interaction design

Design lead for the Onboarding including multi-modal interaction with visual, audio, and ambient lighting feedback.

After numerous iterations and collaboration with a cross-functional team, the onboarding flow now features seamless synchronization of visual, audio, and ambient lighting feedback, creating a delightful experience for first-time users.
Onboarding flow

Selecting thermomete and initializing

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Connecting with Bluetooth and update firmware

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Register a probe

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Celebrating setup completion

Final Design- Guided cooking
Dashboard design

Design lead for the 'Guided cooking feature', the primary driver of user engagement and retention for CHEF iQ

I led the development of a guided cooking experience using the Smart thermometer, a key feature of CHEF iQ and a major driver of user retention. Overcoming numerous technical challenges was a rewarding part of the development, as we consistently tested recipes to identify technical limitations and optimize the user flow. During the pandemic, we joined our chef's test kitchen virtually to further refine the process.
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Selecting a recipe

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Step 1: Guide for the Pre-heat

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Step 2: Prep the ingredient

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Step 3: select the prob

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Step 4: Caculating time

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Step 4: Caculating time

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Step 4: Guiding to be ready for the next step

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Step 5: Guiding to remove the food from the heat

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Step 6: Timer fo the resting

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Step 7: Guiding to pull out the prob from the food

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Step 8:Tips for the serving

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Celebrating finishing the recipe

Final Design- Manual cooking
Data visualization

Manual Cooking with Thermometer: Deep dive into designing temperature-based data visualization

I mentored a junior UX designer in creating the Manual Cook feature, providing expertise in data visualization and interface design across several feedback sessions.
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Ready to manual mode

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Select a doneness guide by USDA

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Manage your team with reports

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Reach the target temparature

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Celebrating when cooking is done

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Real time temperature chart view

Result

Successfully debuted in the marketplace

The Chef iQ Smart Thermometer was launched in the market in 2022. Within just six months of its release, the product has received an average customer rating of 4.8 stars across major online and offline shops, with overwhelmingly positive reviews.
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Amazon- Avg 4.4 star rating

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Walmart- Avg 4.9 star rating

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Macy’s- Avg 4.9 star rating

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Lowes- Avg 5.0 star rating

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KOHL’S- Avg 4.8 star rating

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Dillard’s- Avg 4.7star rating

Product highlight

Building inclusive home cooking experience with voice & audio feedback

In July 2022, the Smart Thermometer was launched with great success. The CHEF iQ mobile app has been downloaded over 10,000 times from the Apple App Store and over 50,000 times from the Google Play Store.

Despite being a small startup, CHEF iQ is committed to providing the ultimate home-cooking experience for everyone. We received valuable feedback from a customer with low vision regarding her experience with our first product, the multi-functional cooker. To ensure an inclusive cooking experience, we incorporated a speaker into our hub and created a detailed voice guide that synchronizes with the smart thermometer and cooking status for individuals with low vision.
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Conducting audio interaction tests with a prototype

To test audio interaction alongside lighting feedback during the pandemic, the firmware engineer, audio designer, and I collaborated closely by shipping the physical prototype to each other's homes.
© 2024 Anna Oh
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