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In short
For over a year, stakeholders from various organizations and companies in the energy and education sectors have been developing a tool to calculate electricity consumption. As part of a mentorship, Valerie S. and I conceptualized and designed the user interface for the EVO-Tool. We translated stakeholder ideas into a functional interface through continuous iteration and close collaboration. Entering the project with similar backgrounds and interests, Valerie and I either worked on tasks together or divided specific features to work more efficiently, emphasizing clear communication throughout. It was a valuable and educational experience, giving us the opportunity to work closely with stakeholders and gain first-hand insight into a real-world project with clients.
Tools
Axure (prototyping)
Figma (UI-design concept)
Notion (planning)
Teams (communication)
Lookback (testing)
Tasks
Ideation
Wireframing
Testing
UI-design
Design system
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Year
2024 - 2025
Duration
22 Weeks/
130 hours
Team
Me
Lead on features e-mobility, general usage and heating
Valérie S.
Lead on features PV system, battery, and calculations
Angie B.
Lead UX, mentor
Problem
Switzerland’s energy strategy 2050 envisions a more decentralized energy supply. Optimizing self-consumption of photovoltaic energy can reduce grid load and increase the economic efficiency of solar installations, benefiting prosumers while contributing to sustainable energy goals. Current software solutions fall short: free tools offer limited functionality and cannot account for project-specific conditions, manufacturer-specific tools are restrictive and require registration, and professional simulation software can only be used by trained experts.
Solution
This project aimed to create the missing piece: a tool for calculating and optimizing photovoltaic self-consumption that allows users to account for their own energy usage and production patterns, as well as define custom storage strategies. The tool is freely available online and designed to be easy to use. Innovative homeowners, energy consultants, and planners can use it to understand how different measures affect their self-consumption. Additionally, the software is intended for use in bachelor-level courses and continuing education programs on self-consumption optimization.
Project Tasks
The final product consisted of several calculable factors, referred to as features, such as heating systems or solar installations. Valerie and I divided the features between us to work more efficiently. Each of us was responsible for implementing the requirements provided by the feature owners and confirming with them that the implementation met the goals of the final product.
I led the features “General Usage”, “E-Mobility” and “Heating” while Valerie led “PV system”, “Battery” and “Calculations”. This process created a continuous communication loop with the feature owners, allowing us to learn how to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and professionals in their respective areas.
User Testing
After creating the low-fidelity prototype, we tested it with six participants using Lookback. The participants were selected for their background in solar energy and extensive knowledge of the field. To ensure a fair distribution of roles, Valerie and I each moderated three sessions while the other team member documented observations. The testing was carefully prepared, and the testing plan was reviewed in advance with our mentor. We then presented the results to the stakeholders and discussed the next steps.
Endproduct
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