Celebrity Stateroom Panel Usability
Usability research for Celebrity's Edge-class ship automation panels, delivering insights that shaped next-generation cruise technology.
Project Snapshot
Celebrity Cruises (via Philosophie)
Travel & Hospitality
November 2017 - December 2017
UX Researcher & Product Strategist
Angular 2, IoT Systems, Responsive Web Design, User Testing Platforms
UX Research, Usability Testing, Interface Design, IoT Strategy
Cross-functional team of 8: Lead UX Researcher (myself), UX Strategist, Prototype Developer, plus Celebrity Customer Insights team and Fantasy Interactive designers
What It Was
A critical usability study for Celebrity Cruises' revolutionary stateroom automation panels, designed for their new Edge-class ships launching in 2018. The project involved testing three distinct interface concepts to determine optimal user experience for controlling lighting, temperature, housekeeping, and room features. This research was essential for ensuring guest satisfaction with the cutting-edge technology that would define Celebrity's next-generation cruise experience.
What I Did
- Led comprehensive UX research strategy and execution, coordinating with Celebrity Customer Insights to recruit 16 participants from their guest database
- Designed iterative testing methodology comparing three interface concepts: Inverted Hierarchy, One Tap, and Dead Simple designs
- Moderated individual usability sessions over two days in September 2017, using responsive web prototypes built on Angular 2
- Conducted feature prioritization through card sorting exercises, identifying guest preferences for 13 different panel functions
- Analyzed user behavior patterns, icon recognition, and navigation flows to understand guest mental models
- Synthesized findings into six strategic recommendations addressing interface clarity, feedback systems, and multi-panel placement strategies
Three interface concepts tested: Inverted Hierarchy, One Tap, and Dead Simple designs
What Came Out of It
- Delivered comprehensive usability findings that directly informed Celebrity's Edge-class ship technology implementation
- Identified key usability issues including confusing mode icons, unclear selected states, and need for contextual feedback
- Validated 'Dead Simple' design direction while recommending hybrid approach combining simplicity with granular controls
- Recommended multi-panel strategy (entrance and bedside) based on guest behavior insights like 'not wanting to get out of bed to turn off lights'
- Provided specific icon and interaction improvements that enhanced guest intuition and reduced learning curve
- Established foundation for future IoT interface design across Celebrity's fleet modernization efforts
What I Learned
Physical context is crucial for IoT interface testing – testing in actual staterooms would have revealed additional insights about real-world usage patterns. User feedback systems are essential for smart home interfaces where actions may not have immediate visual confirmation. Simple doesn't always mean limited – guests appreciate streamlined interfaces but still want access to advanced controls when needed. Multi-generational user testing reveals important accessibility and usability considerations for hospitality technology.
Working on IoT or Hospitality Tech?
Interested in user research for smart interfaces or hospitality technology design?