Skills
UX/ UI Design, Brand Design, Graphic Design, Product Design, CAD
Team
Sofie Palmkoeck, Kayla Fentzel, Janya Nelahonne, Connor Atkins
Timeline
5 days
Role
UX Researcher and Data Analyst
The Problem: Many people want to reduce their energy use and lower their utility bills, but traditional smart thermostats often feel intimidating, overly technical, or easy to ignore. As a result, households struggle to build consistent energy-saving habits, leading to unnecessary consumption and higher costs. Existing tools rarely make sustainability engaging or accessible, leaving users without meaningful motivation to adopt greener routines.
The goal of this project is to create an intuitive, approachable smart-home experience that empowers users to manage their energy consumption effortlessly.
The Solution: Thryve combines a smart thermostat disguised as a decorative plant with a companion mobile app designed to encourage sustainable habits. The device helps users regulate home temperature efficiently, while the app provides personalized guidance, eco-friendly tips, and energy-saving insights. A gamified reward system allows users to “grow” their digital Thryve plant as they make greener choices, turning responsible energy use into a fun, motivating experience. Together, the device and app help households reduce waste, save on utility bills, and build lasting environmentally conscious behaviors.
Discovery
The discovery phase began at the SCAD StartUp challenge unveiling, where my team was introduced to the theme “The Future of Interaction.” We brainstormed ways to make eco-conscious living more intuitive and discovered that many people find smart home devices too technical or unengaging. Through quick interviews and competitor research, we identified an opportunity to pair sustainability with a more approachable, emotionally friendly experience. These insights led to the early concept behind Thryve.
Constraints and Tradeoffs
This was my first ever UX project, so understanding the trajectory and how to map out to build
Design
In the design phase, we explored how to turn Thryve into a simple, inviting smart-home solution. We refined the idea of disguising the thermostat as a decorative plant to make it feel natural in any space, and created a CAD mockup to bring it to life. We began designing wireframes of a companion app that motivates eco-friendly habits through tips, tracking, and a gamified growing plant. Iterating through sketches, prototypes, and feedback allowed us to shape Thryve into an experience that makes energy management easy, engaging, and visually welcoming.