UX/UI for embedded systems

Whether it’s a consumer-focused wearable, an industrial-grade machine, a connected home device, or a vast IoT sensor network poised for smart city deployment, your requirements are unequivocal. You need interactivity, seamless communication with other devices, and the capability to upload data to the cloud. Thus the necessity to think your UX/UI journey beforehand.

What is UX/UI in embedded projects?

Embedded UX/UI design focuses on creating user interfaces and experiences for devices with integrated hardware and embedded software. Unlike conventional software design, UX/UI in embedded systems must account for hardware limitations such as processing power, memory constraints, and display capabilities. The objective is to deliver an interface that is both visually appealing and operationally efficient within these limitations.

The pillars of UX/UI for embedded devices

Human-centric design

Understand the value you’re delivering to your users, and validate it with them before initiating development.

Technology consulting

Select the most appropriate technology tailored to your product, your specific requirements, and the desired outcomes for your users.

Architecture & auditing

Establish the optimal architecture for your embedded systems, ensuring stability, scalability, and security are integrated from the start.

Key embedded UX/UI elements to keep in mind

The Right Decisions Begin with Your Customer

Many IoT UX designers prioritize familiar technologies over what truly benefits you and your customers. At Witekio, we focus on understanding your customers’ needs first, then designing a system architecture that meets those demands.

Understand Resource Constraints

When developing design strategies, it’s crucial to recognize typical constraints in embedded UX/UI, such as limited processing power, memory, display capabilities, and alternative input methods, as traditional peripherals may not be available.

Plan for Scalability

While launching an innovative product is exciting, it’s easy to lose sight of long-term scalability amidst initial challenges. At Witekio, we ensure your architecture supports not just a successful launch but also future growth.

SUCCESS STORY

Designing the UX/UI journey of Philips coffee machines

Our team got to work creating custom code for everything from low layers to advanced HMI, managing the database, languages, and cloud connectivity. Knowing Philips ambitious end goals for the appliance, and that the company needed not one, but four models for the product range, our team developed a common code to simplify evolutions and optimize maintenance. Thanks to our wide skillset and embedded software experience, we were able to:

Find and resolve issues that appeared during product development
Develop the full UI of the coffee machine

Additional considerations

Tools and technologies

Choosing the right tools is paramount in designing efficient UX/UI for embedded systems. Platforms like Qt, Flutter, and Slint provide powerful environments to craft visually appealing and high-performing interfaces. These platforms enable designers to prototype and develop UIs with embedded device constraints in mind. Other critical tools for balancing functionality and aesthetics include embedded-specific UI frameworks, vector graphic libraries, font optimization tools, and performance profiling software.

Best Practices in Embedded UX/UI Design

Embrace a user-centered approach by thoroughly understanding user needs, preferences, and behaviors. Conducting user research and usability testing throughout the design phase ensures that your interface aligns with user expectations.
Embedded UX/UI often requires multiple iterations to strike the perfect balance. Continuously testing your designs on target hardware helps identify performance bottlenecks and usability issues early in the process.
Collaboration is key in embedded design. Designers, engineers, and end-users must work together, as each provides critical insights that lead to a balanced and optimized final product.
Ensure your interface is responsive and adaptable to different screen dimensions while preserving both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Many embedded devices employ touchscreens, so design elements should be appropriately sized for touch interaction. Considerations like finger size and the absence of hover states are crucial for ensuring usability.
As the embedded UX/UI field evolves, designers must remain up-to-date on emerging technologies and shifting user expectations. By staying focused on user needs, leveraging the right tools, and continually refining the design process, designers can create embedded interfaces that not only meet functional requirements but also offer a seamless and engaging user experience.

Witekio can guide your UX/UI journey

Our customers value our IoT UX design process because it prepares them for success while aligning with their customers’ expectations. They gain from our technology consulting, which allows them to make informed decisions, explore a broader range of options, and consider architectures that less-experienced teams may overlook. Our robust development sprint plans and reliable software delivery timelines give you confidence, ensuring you can move forward with your launch day plans, knowing a Witekio UX designer will deliver precisely what is needed.