Gradient
Across the U.S., outdated systems like steam radiators, gas furnaces, and old window ACs remain common. They’re inefficient, expensive, and harmful to the climate.
At Gradient, the mission is to make clean, efficient heating and cooling accessible to everyone by reimagining the heat pump for easy retrofits in any building. By combining high performance with low-impact installation, Gradient empowers cities to decarbonize and transition toward an all-electric future.
Product Devlopment
User Research
During the beginning stages of creating the product, I began with on-site research and conversations with residents living in NYCHA housing.
About the User
Age range 13 to 85 years old
Housing & HVAC Experience
Lives in public housing / old apartment building.
Familiar with steam heat and old AC units.
New to heat pumps.
They have never been able to control their heating temperature.
Comfort & Control Needs
Expects equal or better performance.
Prefers to use direct on-device control, remote, and sometimes an app.
Wants quick, clear feedback from the unit.
Physical Constraints
Mobility limitations (e.g. elderly or disabled users)
Reach or grip strength considerations
Vision or hearing impairments
Tech Familiarity
Comfortable with smartphones or only basic tech
Prefers tactile feedback over digital-only interfaces
Needs minimal setup or guidance
Behavioral Habits
Adjusts temperature frequently or rarely interacts with controls
Turns the unit off at night due to noise
Prefers a “set it and forget it” experience
Emotional Drivers
Wants to feel in control of their comfort
Seeks a quieter, more dignified home experience
Curious but skeptical about “new” tech
Benchmarking Existing Products
Teardown analysis of existing heating and cooling systems.
Early ME Prototype Validation
At the start of development, an early engineering prototype was built to evaluate overall size, handling, and physical interaction of the units proposed dimensions. This made it possible to test if the unit felt intuitive and well-proportioned in use.
Ideation and Sketching Concepts
Early Design Considerations
The unit was required and designed to be a single, holistic product, with indoor and outdoor halves that are permanently connected and cannot be separated.
Must work with different window dimensions.
Must have two air outlets and one air inlet.
Must be centered around intuitive, user-friendly interaction.
Must provide intuitive, easy-to-understand controls.
Optimized the number of injection-molded panels to reduce complexity and cost.
*Unfortunately, I am unable to share all of my ideation sketches and concept work.
Early CAD Devlopemnt
After sketching concepts, I translated the ME’s prototype dimensions and required components into the first CAD model of the unit. This initial model was then handed off to mechanical and thermal engineering to build upon.
During this phase of development, I worked closely with engineering to understand technical requirements and constraints. In particular, I collaborated with thermal engineers to optimize airflow, focusing on the placement and angle of the air inlets and outlets to ensure maximum efficiency.
UI Control Direction & Development
During the ideation phase, we aimed to design a revamped user interface that was easy to use, visually engaging, accessible across all age groups, and flexible enough to evolve with the product over time. I explored multiple concept directions to define how users would interact with the system.
These three initial concept directions were presented to engineering, marketing, and leadership: (1) a button-only interface, (2) a UI knob with screen, and (3) a circular touchscreen. After leading a series of review meetings, Concept 3 was selected as the final direction.
User testing revealed that incorporating primary control buttons significantly improved usability for elderly users. I narrowed down a wide range of early concepts into a few refined directions, and the button ring was ultimately selected.
After slecting desired direction I modeled a basic screen and button module validate feasibility and handed off CAD to mechanical engineering for continued development.
During this development, I collaborated closely with the electrical engineering team to source a circular LCD touchscreen, evaluating its reliability and validating display brightness (nits) for visibility in direct sunlight.
Testing UI Prototypes
Once higher-fidelity prototypes were built, we conducted user testing to guide the final direction. I strongly advocated for a seamless button ring with no visual breaks and minimal spacing between the ring and the display.
Air Louver Development
The unit required rotating louvers, which I approached as an opportunity to create a subtle, integrated design solution without sacrificing performance. In the early ideation phase, I took mechanical inspiration from automotive vents, developed a CAD concept, and handed it off to mechanical engineering for further development.
Prototype Devlopment
Throughout the development stages, we went through multiple prototype phases that offered key insights and learnings, directly shaping a more refined and production-ready final product. I served as the point person for design at each stage, driving the identification of issues, creating decks to highlight them, and logging findings in the MIL, which engineering used to address and resolve problems.
Final Unit Design
After multiple phases of prototyping and cost-reduction exercises, the unit’s design was finalized for mass production. Throughout the process, I consistently advocated to preserve the design intent and ensure that no compromises were made to its core vision.
Early UI/UX Development
In addition to the physical design, I had the opportunity to design and build the unit’s UI from the ground up. I created early wireframes to explore and define the touchscreen interface, which helped shape the layout, interactions, and overall structure of the final experience.
Final UI Design
Building on the initial wireframes, I designed the final UI for the unit. The home screen focuses on presenting only the most essential information: set temperature, indoor temperature, a visual temperature scale, and clear controls for fan speed, mode, and scheduling. The result is a simple, intuitive interface that’s accessible to users of all ages.
Designed and developed Gradient’s All-Weather app, working closely with developers to ensure the final product reflected the original design intent. Also conducted pre-release testing, identified bugs, and organized design-related updates using ClickUp.
Developed the Remote from the ground up, from early ideation and sketching to final CAD handoff to overseas suppliers. Collaborated closely with them to refine details including button quality, icon placement, and alignment, and tactile feedback.
Units installed at NYCHA housing.
