IoT

A mobile-first approach to smart surveillance

Designed a modern, intuitive, and mobile-first experience for Arlo’s IoT camera ecosystem—enabling seamless monitoring, device control, and security management for homes and offices.

+52%

Mobile usability improvement

+45%

Feature adoption

+38%

Device control efficiency
CLIENT
Arlo Smart Home Security App
TIMELINE
6–8 weeks
TEAM
UX Designer, UI Designer, Visual Designer

Services Used

Product & UX DesignUI & Visual Design

The Challenge

Smart home security systems rely heavily on real-time monitoring, device feedback, and user actions. Arlo needed a user-friendly mobile experience that could support multi-device workflows, live camera feeds, alerts, and system configuration without overwhelming users. 

The challenge was to simplify complex IoT functionality, present critical information clearly, and deliver a seamless mobile-first user journey for both novice and tech-savvy users. 

Key Pain Points 

  • Multiple IoT devices requiring unified control 
  • Complex camera settings and alert configurations 
  • Need for quick access to live security feeds 
  • Reduced usability on smaller screens 
  • Limited visual hierarchy within device interactions

Research & Discovery

Vector (2)

Task Flow & Usability Evaluation

Reviewed mobile task flows for device monitoring, playback, and alerts to identify usability gaps and clarity issues.

Evaluation AreasTask flows, alerts, playback, device controls
Devices Covered 4 device types
Accessibility FocusReadability, contrast, touch targets
Group 1707481824

Usage Analytics & Behavior Analysis

Analysed live usage data to understand real-world behavior across alerts, playback, and device control.

Usage Data 61% live usage observed
Mobile-Primary Users82% mobile-first interaction
Opportunity Areas Faster alerts, simpler playback access

Key Research Findings

55%

Users needed faster access to live camera streams

46%

Friction observed in device control settings

42%

Users relied solely on mobile for system monitoring

Before & After

Before

After

Dense interfaces with unclear priorities

Click to view full screen

Streamlined, mobile-friendly design with intuitive device controlc

Click to view full screen

Click to view full screen

Click to view full screen

Our Solution

We delivered a clean, modern mobile app that simplifies device management, enhances video monitoring, and ensures clarity across alerts, notifications, and security actions. 

Vector (8)
Mobile-First Camera Management
  • Quick access to live streams 
  • Intuitive device control interactions 
  • Clear device health and status visibility
Group
Robust Design System
  • Reusable components for consistency 
  • Visual patterns suited for continuous monitoring 
  • Scalability for new device types 
Group (1)
Custom Iconography
  • Distinct icon cues for device states 
  • Improved recognition across settings 
  • Reduced cognitive overhead 

Measurable Impact

Mobile usability improvement
+52%

Mobile usability improvement

Before:High friction on mobile
After:Optimized for handheld interaction
Feature adoption
+45%

Feature adoption

Before:Limited exploration
After:Increased usage across device tools
Device control efficiency
+38%

Device control efficiency

Before:Multi-step interactions
After:Streamlined UX patterns
Alert responsiveness
+35%

Alert responsiveness

Before:Delayed reaction time
After:Clear actions and triggers
User confidence in device monitoring
+30%

User confidence in device monitoring

Before:Unclear status displays
After:Strong visual feedback

Methodology & Testing

Methodology & Testing

Methodology & Testing

Clarified device interactions and triggers

Iterative UI Design

Iterative UI Design

Enhanced clarity across device controls

Mobile Validation

Mobile Validation

Ensured usability under real-world conditions

testimonial-element-top

Key Learnings & Insights

IoT interfaces demand clarity + speed

Users need instant access to critical actions

Visual hierarchy drives device confidence

Clear status = better security outcomes

Design systems enable scalable ecosystems

Essential when managing multiple device types

Mobile is the control centre for smart homes

Desktop is secondary for most users

Design Process Deep Dive

UX Steps Taken

UX Steps Taken

  • Device journey exploration 
  • Component-based UI design 
  • High-fidelity mobile prototyping 
Deliverables

Deliverables

  • Mobile UI screens 
  • Design system components 
  • Iconography set 
Notable Decisions

Notable Decisions

  • Prioritized live monitoring 
  • Consolidated advanced settings 
  • Designed scalable component taxonomy 

Implementation & Handoff

div (2)

Design Finalization

Approved IoT device workflows 

div (1)

Specification Sharing

Detailed UI and interaction specs 

div

Developer Collaboration

Synced on mobile integration constraints 

Developer Handoff Process

Documentation

Annotated mobile screens and component guidelines to clearly explain design behavior and usage.

Assets

Final mobile UI screens, design system components, icons, and interaction prototypes shared for development.

Collaboration

Regular syncs with developers to clarify interactions and resolve questions during implementation.

QA

Design reviews to ensure accurate implementation, visual consistency, and proper device states.
icon top.svg
icon top.svg
icon bottom
icon bottom

Ready to Transform Your Conversion Rates?

See how we can apply similar strategies to your product. Let's discuss your conversion optimization challenges and explore proven solutions.

hand icon