Bear SDS Smart Sound Detection for
Home Security
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Bear SDS provides complete home security in a single, portable, and lightweight device.
It works by detecting sound waves throughout the entire home—even through walls—and alerts the renter when a potential breach is detected. Bear SDS is the first Asurion product to feature both hardware and software developed under our own brand.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Led UX design across structure, wireframes, visual design, and specification delivery for both iOS and Android mobile platforms. Created the complete branding for Bear and provided high-quality art and UX direction to engineers and contractors.
Collaborated closely with Asurion’s innovation team, including four engineers, an innovation director, and a product manager.
END-TO-END UX DESIGN PROCESS
Based on market research conducted with the product manager and director, we brainstormed potential new features and integrated them into the system. We began by designing the onboarding experience and then expanded to additional features. Working within an agile process allowed us to deliver high-quality products, increase productivity, and reduce time-to-market. For our MVP, we kept the experience simple, focusing on the product’s core value.
STRUCTURE, USER FLOW & WIREFRAMES
These screens represent our MVP UX assets. Our team began with the onboarding flow, starting with login, and gradually added key features. The selected features were based on what our engineering team could realistically support in the short term, as the product was being built from the ground up. We focused on smaller, achievable features first, then expanded over time as the product evolved.
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BRANDING GUIDELINE
When we launch Bear SDS, we will also launch a new brand. Creating a strong brand is essential to engaging with customers effectively. A trustworthy brand can inspire loyalty, leading customers to make repeat purchases and become brand advocates.
UI DESIGN
The name Bear came from B + Ear, highlighting that the product works by listening—without relying on video monitoring. Using a bear figure for brand recognition was a unique approach that made the brand more memorable and easily identifiable. With our modern visual direction, we aimed to avoid the look and feel of a traditional home security product. I also provided specs and design assets to the engineering team for both iOS and Android mobile platforms.
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BEAR ALPHA PILOT TEST
We conducted the Alpha release of the Bear Sound Detection System in 2017 to test both the Android and iOS mobile applications. We selected a group of individuals to explore and evaluate the mobile interfaces on both platforms.
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Android: Tester 1 (San Francisco)
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Android: Tester 2 (San Mateo)
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Android: Tester 3 (San Francisco)
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iOS: Tester 4 (San Ramon)
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iOS: Tester 5 (San Jose)
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iOS: Tester 6 (Foster City)
PACKAGE AND HARDWARE DESIGN
I directed a contractor in evolving the initial product concept from sketches to final prototypes, using 3D printing for rapid iteration. In addition, I designed the product packaging for Bear and led the full onboarding experience for our Alpha testers—from unboxing through system setup.
