More Than a Thermostat

Making energy visible, comfort personal, and sustainability truly affordable.

Not more automation,
Just a smarter design.

Detailed Documents

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Redesigning the Google Nest Thermostat

Final Results

Magazine

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Eco Mode
Comfort-Savings Slider

Customizable comfort, with instant visual feedback. Adjust the comfort zone, and see the savings unfold.

Real Time Energy Feedback

Users see how their settings impact savings week by week.

Eco Mode auto-activates only when no one’s home.

Manual activation needs the Google Home app.

Eco temperature ranges are fixed.

Eco Mode works even when users are home.

Quick, in-app control with a single tap.

Eco Mode adapts based on user-defined comfort zones, balancing energy savings with usability.

01
Intuitive Functionality

Designed around real behavior, scrollable, and clearly guided across both device and app.

02
Easy Scheduling

A simplified, visual timeline that replaces taps and guesswork with intuitive gestures.

03
Emotional Clarity

Supportive interactions and humanized UX writing that reduce hesitation and build confidence.

04
EcoAwareness by Default

Subtle nudges, visual feedback, and default behaviors that promote greener living.

05
Affordable Without Compromise

A clean, confident UI that feels accessible, never cheap.

Thermostat Information Architecture

App Information
Architecture

Team

Navyaa Taneja | Jinxue Yang
Siqing Zhong | Peter Yao

Role

Project Manager, Presenter,

UX Design, Usability Testing

Award

Honorable Mention: International Design Awards IDA 2025

Green and Affordable:
Smarter Temperatures, Smaller Footprints.

Our challenge was to redesign the Google Nest Thermostat and companion app to make sustainable temperature control more green and affordable. The goal was to go beyond surface-level aesthetics and explore how front-end design and design systems could empower users to balance comfort with savings, encourage eco-friendly behavior, and create an interface that feels both intuitive and accessible.

Goal

Do we stay comfortable or save money?

Most smart thermostats make you pick a side - comfort or cost.

Design Principles

How Might We

make energy-saving experiences more visible, more intuitive, and more trustworthy — without compromising comfort or affordability?

Wireframing & Ideation

Usability Testing

We tested two design versions with 15 participants, who completed tasks like changing temperatures and scheduling. Through observations, timing, and SUS surveys, we identified pain points and validated that the redesigned interface was more intuitive, efficient, and eco-friendly.

Detailed Report

Style Guide

Components

Indicates swiping down on the thermostat.

Indicates swiping up on the thermostat.

Indicates tapping on the thermostat.

What We Built

The redesigned thermostat blends comfort, clarity, and sustainability, offering intuitive controls and real-time eco feedback that make energy-conscious living effortless

and affordable.

What We Introduced

Eco Range Indicator- Smart Progress Bar

The green dots show the active Eco temperature range.  Each dot represents a point where the thermostat will operate to reach your set temperature.  Blank segments indicate temperatures the system will skip to save energy.  Here, the system won’t cool below 72°F. The current temp is 75°F, so it will only cool until it reaches the green zone, minimizing energy use.