The solution worked because it changed the unit of design from a screen or control to a complete routine.

WorkedDid not

Core idea

Stories as the product¹

Old app as the organising model¹

Setup

Zero-configuration routines²

Technical configuration¹

Experience

Clearer everyday outcomes¹

About 120 screens¹

Validation

User success and awards²

Unresolved legacy complexity¹

The prototype shifted the focus from fixing the old app to delivering routines that worked out of the box.² That decision made the “stories” themselves the product, reducing complexity by giving users a recognisable outcome instead of a catalogue of controls.¹

The approach was tested early with users before the programme expanded.² Its later recognition through the Red Dot Award and the iF Design Award, followed by Apple’s similar notion in smart home, reinforced the direction without changing the basic design logic.¹²

Small prototype team creates ‘stories’ concept that replaces complex smart home app