Circle Status

An emergency smart nightlight paired with a companion app.

Role

Product Manager

Revenue

$1,055,736

Duration

3 months

From idea to reality, Circle Status represents a 0-to-1 functional MVP built on a foundation of user needs, sustainability, and technological feasibility. Designed with a long-term strategy in mind, it leverages intuitive design and cutting-edge features to solve a clear pain point while establishing a scalable business model.

The Problem

How might we help individuals and families deal with electrical power outages, to ensure that basic needs can be met, minimizing disruptions to daily routines, and/or possible benefits of the situation are leveraged or embraced.

Background Research

Room temperature during outages is a major concern
Food spoilage during power loss is a significant issue
Users experience feelings of isolation and lack of communication

Room temperature during outages is a major concern
Food spoilage during power loss is a significant issue
Users experience feelings of isolation and lack of communication

User Research

We conducted a series of semi-structured interviews with +50 adults between the ages of 20-50. Participants represented a diverse cross-section of students, working professionals, and retirees, offering a wide range of perspectives.

100% expressed a sense of isolation during outages.

78% prioritized devices (e.g., fridges, WiFi).

45% of respondents cited food spoilage as a primary concern.

Desires:

Easy-to-use solutions, independence, peace of mind.

Desires:

Easy-to-use solutions, independence, peace of mind.

Pain Points:

Safety concerns, communication barriers, reliance on complex technology.

Pain Points:

Safety concerns, communication barriers, reliance on complex technology.

2 Options

"Stay Indoors"

Focused on making the home environment self-sufficient during outages, emphasizing safety and independence. Features included room temperature regulation and minimizing reliance on external support. (Some of the other team member’s favorite)

"Circle Reliance"

Centered on fostering community support during outages. It leveraged trusted social connections to create a network of help, providing users with the ability to share resources or seek assistance from friends and neighbors. (my love to bring people together)

Personas

Primary User

Values simplicity, safety, and maintaining independence while staying connected with loved ones. 30-50 year old.

Primary User

Values simplicity, safety, and maintaining independence while staying connected with loved ones. 30-50 year old.

Secondary User:

Prefers modern, sleek designs with seamless functionality to complement a busy lifestyle. 20-30 year old.

Secondary User:

Prefers modern, sleek designs with seamless functionality to complement a busy lifestyle. 20-30 year old.

Design Sprint 1

Ideation & Early Feedback

With user insights in hand and caffeine levels high, we jumped into a massive brainstorming session, throwing out over 100 ideas. The goal wasn’t to stay realistic—it was to let creativity run wild. If someone shouted out an idea involving jetpacks and solar-powered pizza ovens, we probably would’ve run with it for a minute. This part was about dreaming big, knowing we could sort out the practical stuff later. The vibe?

No bad ideas, no egos—just pure creative chaos.

Concept Creation & Feedback

From the mountain of ideas, we plucked three concepts that felt promising (or at least less ridiculous) and took them out into the real world for feedback. We used two approaches:

Digital surveys:

Great for reaching those harder to reach individuals.

Digital surveys:

Great for reaching those harder to reach individuals.

In-person interviews:

Prototypes in hand, I visited coffee shops, turning curiosity into insightful conversations.

In-person interviews:

Prototypes in hand, I visited coffee shops, turning curiosity into insightful conversations.

Disguised Device

Automatically alerts closest contacts, back up power, discreet design

Fridge Lock

Temperature controlled, energy efficient, projected energy loss

Light a Path

Back up illumination, renter, friendly, versatile

Results

The community alert device got a lot of love. People thought it was practical, fresh, and something they could actually see themselves buying. Meanwhile, the fridge lock... well, let’s just say we learned an important lesson about explaining concepts clearly. Some folks got it, others didn’t, and the mixed feedback showed us we needed to do a better job communicating the idea next time. Live and learn, right?

Design Sprint 2

Now came the tricky part—generating even more ideas and figuring out which ones were actually worth keeping. This phase wasn’t about locking down a final design; it was about dreaming up new features and throwing them into the mix to see how people reacted. For me, this was one of the hardest steps. I had to switch off my "let’s just build it already" mindset and lean into the chaotic creativity of it all. Honestly, it was like trying to tame a wild brainstorming session without accidentally crushing anyone’s enthusiasm.

Generating More Ideas

We didn’t hold back. Five more concepts were developed, each with its own spin on solving user problems. The key was to detach from logic (yes, that part was hard) and let the ideas flow. It wasn’t about making a polished product; it was about tossing spaghetti at the wall to see what stuck. And sure, some of it slid right off, but we learned a lot in the process.

The Companion App

As the hardware design took shape, we began wire framing the companion app to ensure a seamless user experience. The initial sketches focused on key flows like pairing devices, setting alerts, and accessing help during outages. These wireframes guided the app’s development, ensuring it aligned with the hardware’s functionality while remaining simple and user-friendly.

Gathering Feedback

To test our shiny new ideas, we went back to the people—survey in one hand, prototypes in the other, ready for more "that’s cool" or "meh" reactions. Some features got folks excited, while others landed with a thud. We quickly learned which ideas had legs and which needed to be gently escorted out of the room.

Hardware Usability Testing

One fun discovery during usability testing: sharp corners are not your friend. Our early design for the notification object was a bit too edgy—literally. It didn’t exactly scream "welcome to my cozy home." So, we took that feedback, rounded out the corners, and went for a matte plastic finish. The result? A sleek, inconspicuous nightlight that quietly does a ton of work in the background without looking like it came from a sci-fi lab. Oh, and it still tethers to a cellular tower, so it’s got some serious tech under the hood.

Final Deliverables

The Nightlight

The Application

The application fosters closer connections by notifying individuals when their community is in need, encouraging timely support and engagement.

Connectivity

The application’s architecture integrates seamlessly with the hardware, using a cloud-based backend for real-time data processing and responsive alerts. Its intuitive design ensures ease of use, while APIs enable reliable communication between the device and app.

Connectivity

This is where things started getting real. After gathering feedback and figuring out what people actually liked (and what they didn’t), it was time to make some tough calls. We had to streamline the product, figure out what features were essential, and toss out the fluff. One big realization? Our original design included a detachable backup battery for devices. Sounds cool, right? Turns out, not so much when it comes to costs and user priorities.

By removing the backup battery, we shifted our focus to a more specific audience—mature generations who value staying connected but aren’t necessarily looking for all the bells and whistles. This was an "aha" moment for the team: instead of trying to be everything for everyone, we decided to double down on what mattered most to our core personas.

Two Devices, One Box

Rather than just one standalone device, we opted for a two-in-one package. Why? Because connecting two households in a meaningful way felt like a natural extension of our community-driven approach. Plus, who doesn’t love getting an extra gadget for the price of one? It was a win-win, both for the product and our marketing message.

Sales & Inventory Challenges

Selling the product turned out to be a bit trickier than expected. We ran into a few hurdles with inventory management while prepping for an online trade show. Coordinating stock levels for both digital and in-person events was a balancing act—we learned that running a trade show is more than just showing up with cool gadgets and a smile.

Spoiler alert: spreadsheets became our best friends, and even industry experts reminded us that it’s always a learning process.

Reflections

Through the developmental process, I learned the value of balancing structured questions with open-ended discussions during interviews. This approach reinforced the importance of flexibility in user research, ensuring a deeper understanding of user needs and behaviors.

Each member brought unique perspectives and skills, which allowed us to iterate and refine our product. This reinforced my belief that a design project matures most effectively as multiple viewpoints are considered and integrated throughout its development.

Feedback, especially from stakeholders, was instrumental in shaping our product. Consistent critiques helped us stay aligned with both user needs and project goals. Healthy debates drive great product decisions.