Cupido / Lunar+ app
2019
Product Design
User research
Prototyping
Visual Design
Industrial Design
OVERVIEW
Cupido, an Indian Startup in the space of e-commerce wanted their own line of products to sell to customers. With an increased popularity and interest in smart-luggage market, Cupido saw a gap amongst the Indian players in the travel accessory domain.
BACKGROUND
As the sole designer on this freelance project, I led the branding, smart luggage UX, and Lunar+ app design. I collaborated closely with key stakeholders to shape product decisions. Though the project wasn’t launched, it provided valuable end-to-end design experience.
I designed a smart travel system with IoT features to simplify and enhance the travel experience. The Lunar+ app focused on a clean, intuitive interface that delivered value through thoughtful interactions and features.
"My very first project after graduation, I was super excited for an opportunity to design the hardware experience intersecting with the software experience."
*Cabin 22 smart luggage to which the app connects to.
For this portfolio we will focus on the Digital Product Design of the IoT app Lunar+.
CHALLENGE
Since India didn't have a smart luggage market, I had to do desk-research, watch hours of existing smart bag reviews, reading customer forums and app-store reviews that exposed what existing customers are saying globally. I then conducted qualitative research with Indians who travel frequently and are avid users of cabin-sized luggage.
01
Current smart luggage leaves customers juggling Apps in between their trips.
02
Apps are not simple and easy to use with gimmicks and frequent connectivity issues.
03
Customers already own a powerbank and device charging capability was not useful. Airlines didn't allow smart bag check-ins with Lithium batteries.
04
Users requiring the app to perform basic tasks like unlocking the bag.
"Cupido needed the Lunar+ app to connects to the bag via IoT seamlessly, to add perceived value to customers, without being gimmicky and distracting"
KEY INSIGHTS FROM INDIAN TRAVELLERS
My qualitative interviews with travelers gave me some key insights regarding the experience with their respective cabin luggage:
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Conditions of clothes after packing isn't great for quick change.
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Anxiety during luggage. dispersal at the arrival airport was commonly expressed.
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Accessories owned by people expresses who they are, therefore style points are a must for the bags they carry.
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Safety of their luggage when left at the hotel or an airbnb also leaves many anxious.
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Travelers also expressed dissatisfaction with lock and security of their bags.
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Many travelers faced weight limit at the airport unbeknownst to them, which caused further hassle.
PRODUCT VISION AND SOLUTION
From these findings, the next step was to decide as a product experience, some key business goals and clear decisions that would be unique to what we were aiming to provide to travelers using Cabin 22 smartbag.
01
Communication
Travellers don’t need more data; they need timely, contextual nudges that remove cognitive load in their user journey.
02
Transparency
Putting functionality at the fingertips with clear communication and microcopy.
03
Simplicity
Overloading is a CX killer. Design of Lunar+ should include quick actions with least distraction.
04
Hardware synergy first
Every feature leverages Cabin 22 sensors: weight, lock, battery, location.
05
Show, don't ask
Notifications show at the right context, at the right time for taking action. (e.g., “Bag rolling out soon”).
06
Craftsmanship
Pixel perfection of the app along with fit and finish of the smart bag will define our market perception.
THE DESIGN
My inspiration for the design was the simplicity of Uber's design language, with the added twist of Lunar Branding.
explore the prototype
INTEGRATED BIOMETRIC LOCK
The power button of the bag was tricky. I first thought of a manual switch inside the bag. But I felt that was too much work for the customer.
So I came up with a solution where the user presses the power button for 3 seconds to turn it on or off (demonstrated in the prototype above).
Once the biometric lock is set up, while pressing and holding for 3 seconds, the last one second is when it scans the user’s fingerprint and authorizes the unlock. I thought this was a better way to reduce the effort.
In case the bag is being turned on for the first time, it will turn on the bag if the lock button is pressed for 3 seconds and doesn't require a fingerprint.
GIST - This smart luggage connects to your phone using Bluetooth and cellular tech to keep your bag safe and secure. It has a fingerprint lock that only opens for you, but if that fails, you can still use a number code. You can track where your bag is using a map on your phone, and if you accidentally walk away from it, the app reminds you. If someone tries to move your bag while you’re not around, it senses the motion and instantly alerts your phone, so you always know if something suspicious is happening. It's like having a security guard built into your suitcase!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
With an accelerometer on the SoC in the Cabin 22 Smartbag, Motionsense - a security feature unique to Lunar Bags - helps achieve never before seen security measures against theft and misplacement of the bag.
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MotionSense is a feature that locks the cabin 22 bag once activated.
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It turns on automatically once the user is out of bluetooth range.
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MotionSense alerts the user on their phone via Lunar+ app if someone moves the bag without their permission.
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Once a traveler confirms the bag wasn't moved by himself/herself, the bag goes into a super secure mode where both number lock and biometric lock is required to unlock the bag.
Motionsense in action: 1. You get notified > 2. You are asked if it was you > 3. If not, you are prompted to contact authorities
TAKEAWAYS
This project was an absolute delight to work upon as it made me apply my knowledge holistically, something I learnt from my years in design college. This project made me apply everything I learnt from my design school, from Industrial Design, Graphic and Branding to Designing an app that connects to the smartbag through IoT which involved system design thinking. I am grateful for this project and the team at Cupido as I enjoyed our discussions and decision making sessions.
We together weren't just selling a smart product, we wanted to sell a lifestyle around travel. Furthermore, user experience is pivotal because people will only care about how they feel about the product. The simplicity of our app's experience, the way it blends into the lifestyle helped to differentiate our proposition and stand out.
