Gradient
Across the U.S., outdated systems like steam radiators, gas furnaces, and old window ACs remain common. They’re inefficient, expensive, and harmful to the climate.
Gradient’s mission is to make clean, efficient heating and cooling accessible to all.
By designing a high-performance window unit, Gradient enables retrofits in buildings that can’t support traditional systems, helping cities decarbonize while reducing energy use and installation costs.
User Research
Understanding the User and Their Needs
Living & HVAC Experience
Lives in public housing / old apartment building.
Familiar with steam heat and old AC units.
New to heat pumps.
They have never been able to control their heating temperature.
Comfort & Control Needs
Expects equal or better performance.
Prefers to use direct on-device control, remote, and sometimes an app.
Wants quick, clear feedback from the unit.
Product Devlopment
Teardown analysis of existing heating and cooling systems.
Early Prototype Validation
At the start of development, an early engineering prototype was built to evaluate overall size, handling, and physical interaction of the units proposed dimensions. This helped validate key dimensions and identify whether the unit felt too large or too small in real-world use.
Ideation and Sketching Concepts
Early Design Considerations
The unit was required and designed to be a single, holistic product, with indoor and outdoor halves that are permanently connected and cannot be separated.
The design needed to align with target cost constraints to ensure manufacturability within budget.
Optimized the number of injection-molded panel to reduce complexity and cost.
Ensured part breakups aligned with aesthetic goals and efficient assembly.
*I am unable to share all of my ideation sketches and concept work.
Early CAD Process
After sketching concepts, I then took product dimensions and required components to create the first CAD version of the unit. This model served as a reference and starting point for the engineering team’s production CAD.
During this phase of development, I worked closely with engineering to understand technical requirements and constraints. In particular, I collaborated with thermal engineers to optimize airflow, focusing on the placement and angle of the air inlets and outlets to ensure maximum efficiency.
UI Control Direction & Development
Concept Phases
Three initial concept directions were presented to engineering, marketing, and leadership: (1) a button-only interface, (2) a UI knob with screen, and (3) a circular touchscreen. After leading a series of review meetings, Concept 3 was selected as the final direction.
User testing revealed that incorporating primary control buttons significantly improved usability for elderly users. I narrowed down a wide range of early concepts into a few refined directions, and the button ring was ultimately selected.
Modeled a basic 3D concept to demonstrate feasibility and handed off CAD to mechanical engineering for continued development.
Collaborated with the electrical engineering team to source a circular LCD touchscreen, evaluating its reliability and validating display brightness (nits) for visibility in direct sunlight.
Testing UI Prototypes
Conducted user testing on mechanical engineering’s prototypes and helped determine which direction to move forward with. I strongly advocated for a seamless button ring with no visual breaks and minimal gaps between the ring and the display.
Air Louver Development
The unit required rotating louvers, and my goal was to integrate them seamlessly into the overall design while ensuring full functionality. In the early ideation phase, I drew inspiration from automotive vents, developed a CAD concept, and handed it off to mechanical engineering for further development.
Prototype Reviews
From P1 to EVT, the unit went through several prototype iterations that offered key insights and learnings, directly shaping a more refined and production-ready final design. Throughout each stage of prototyping, I documented all identified issues, created decks to highlight them, and added these findings to an MIL, which engineering then used to address and resolve the issues..
Final Unit Design
After multiple rounds of prototyping and cost-reduction exercises, the unit’s design was finalized for mass production. Throughout the process, I consistently advocated to preserve the design intent and ensure that no compromises were made to its core vision.
Early UI/UX Development
Created very early wireframes to explore and define the unit’s touchscreen interface, which helped inform the layout, interactions, and structure of the final UI.
Final UI Design
Building on the initial wireframes, I designed the final UI for the unit. The home screen focuses on presenting only the most essential information: set temperature, indoor temperature, a visual temperature scale, and clear controls for fan speed, mode, and scheduling. The result is a simple, intuitive interface that’s accessible to users of all ages.
Designed and developed Gradient’s All-Weather app, working closely with developers to ensure the final product reflected the original design intent. Also conducted pre-release testing, identified bugs, and organized design-related updates using ClickUp.
Developed the Remote from the ground up, from early ideation and sketching to final CAD handoff to overseas suppliers. Collaborated closely with them to refine details including button quality, icon placement, and alignment, and tactile feedback.
Units installed at NYCHA housing.
