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Cync by GE

Cync by GE

2020

2020

2020

Client

General Electric

Problem

General Electric approached our team to transform, rebuild, and relaunch the mobile experience at the heart of their connected smart-home ecosystem. The existing app, designed to manage multiple smart devices each with unique technical requirements, had significant user experience issues. Users regularly struggled to successfully navigate the commissioning process, causing frustration and negatively impacting the over all experience.

Research Insights

Approach

Along with my team I started by auditing existing flows and personally testing the commissioning process across all physical devices. I identified points of confusion and breakdowns, using those insights to guide a simpler, more intuitive redesign. I also took the time to gain a deeper understanding of Alexa and HomeKit integrations through the C-Reach hub, ensuring the new flows provided the clearest possible path for users. Throughout the process, I worked closely with developers to keep iOS and Android experiences consistent, while respecting the native behaviors unique to each platform.

Process

Research Insights

Approach

Along with my team I started by auditing existing flows and personally testing the commissioning process across all physical devices. I identified points of confusion and breakdowns, using those insights to guide a simpler, more intuitive redesign. I also took the time to gain a deeper understanding of Alexa and HomeKit integrations through the C-Reach hub, ensuring the new flows provided the clearest possible path for users. Throughout the process, I worked closely with developers to keep iOS and Android experiences consistent, while respecting the native behaviors unique to each platform.

Process

Outcome

By the end of the project, the Cync app delivered a much smoother and more reliable experience for users connecting and managing their smart devices. The redesigned commissioning flows made device setup easier, clearer, and five times more successful, especially for users integrating with Alexa, HomeKit, and multi-device environments. We also introduced clearer troubleshooting steps that helped users fix issues on their own, reducing pressure on customer service teams. Improvements to the app’s structure and controls made everyday interactions faster and more intuitive. Building a unified component library allowed the design and development teams to move faster and stay aligned across iOS and Android. Beyond immediate product wins, this work created a scalable foundation for Cync’s future growth without sacrificing consistency or quality.

Outcome

By the end of the project, the Cync app delivered a much smoother and more reliable experience for users connecting and managing their smart devices. The redesigned commissioning flows made device setup easier, clearer, and five times more successful, especially for users integrating with Alexa, HomeKit, and multi-device environments. We also introduced clearer troubleshooting steps that helped users fix issues on their own, reducing pressure on customer service teams. Improvements to the app’s structure and controls made everyday interactions faster and more intuitive. Building a unified component library allowed the design and development teams to move faster and stay aligned across iOS and Android. Beyond immediate product wins, this work created a scalable foundation for Cync’s future growth without sacrificing consistency or quality.

What I learned

This project completely shifted how I think about design systems. Early on, the lack of a unified system created confusion across the design team, slowed down development, and led to inconsistencies that made even small changes feel harder than they needed to be. Once we invested time in building and documenting a proper system, the difference was immediate. Designing new features became faster, handoffs were cleaner, and the product felt more cohesive. It was through this project that I became an advocate for systems thinking — not just as a way to maintain consistency, but as a foundation for moving faster, scaling better, and creating a better experience for users and teams alike.

App Store

App Store

App Store

App Store

Google Play

Google Play

Google Play

Google Play