Case Study: A Design Sprint with Somfy – From Design Sprint to Red Dot Design Award

The story began with an initial 5-day Design Sprint conducted by our team to explore the possibilities of outdoor space control automation (IOT). The goal was clear: enable Somfy customers to control their homes even from their outdoor spaces, gardens, or terraces.

It is often VERY complicated to disclose such detailed case studies on Design Sprints for recent projects due to frequent confidentiality agreements (NDAs). Many thanks to Mathieu Prévoteau for agreeing to share everything so transparently.

In some companies, the design sprint is used as a “secret weapon” for innovation; therefore, it makes sense that we cannot reveal everything 🤫. The projects we work on are always of great strategic importance.

Our work with Somfy dates back several years. We collaborate to integrate the Design Sprint into the exploratory phase of their new projects, services, and products. This agile methodology quickly identifies the best ideas and transforms them into testable prototypes.

We have also trained their teams in internal facilitation.

In fact, Mathieu Prévoteau, director of the Somfy Design Center, himself says: “The Design Sprint has become an essential tool for us. It allows us to generate creative solutions in record time and validate our concepts with users.”

Not all projects start with a design sprint, but generally the riskiest ones, whose contours are still vague, as is often the case in innovation, at the beginning of a project.

The goal of this design sprint was to resolve a complex internal debate: should a mobile app be developed? A new kind of hardware device? Both?

No one had the answer. And it is in such cases that the design sprint brings its full value: quickly prototyping and testing risky ideas.

Our five-day design sprint was structured to maximize efficiency and innovation. Facilitator Steph Cruchon guided Somfy experts through our proven methodology:

1. Monday: Understand and Define Objectives
   • “We started by identifying challenges and opportunities,” recalls Mathieu. “This allowed us to define a clear vision for the project.”
2. Tuesday: Sketches and Brainstorming
   • “The brainstorming phase was particularly enriching,” Steph recalls. “Ideas were flying everywhere, and we sketched several promising concepts.”
3. Wednesday: Decisions and Planning
   • “We made crucial decisions regarding the product’s design and features,” explains Mathieu. “It was important to stay focused on what would bring the most value to users.”
4. Thursday: Rapid Prototyping
   • “Rapid prototyping allowed us to materialize our ideas,” emphasizes Steph. “Seeing our concept take shape was extremely motivating.”
5. Friday: User Testing and Feedback
   • “User tests provided us with valuable feedback,” says Mathieu. “We were able to adjust the prototype according to customer needs and preferences, particularly in terms of colors, materials, and use-cases.”

From day one, we had in-depth discussions about user needs. “We explored various avenues, including digital solutions like an app,” Steph recalls. “But we quickly realized that our users preferred a physical solution, something tangible they could easily handle, even outdoors.”

There was also the issue of children who do not have smartphones. Instead of a personal object like a phone, which also requires many clicks, it was clear that a new object was needed: accessible and family-friendly. It also needed to be waterproof to stay on the terrace table for many evenings.

A notable aspect of the development of the Ysia Patio IO remote was the influence of the Lunii children’s reader, which particularly stood out during the “Flash Demos” on day two.

“The simplicity and intuitiveness of Lunii’s interface and materials clearly inspired us,” explains Mathieu. “We wanted to create a user experience as direct and enjoyable.”

The choice of a physical rubber remote instead of an app became naturally evident after solution boards and especially validated during prototypes and tests. “Users wanted something durable and easy to use without having to take out their phone every time,” explains Mathieu. “Rubber provides a comfortable grip and withstands outdoor conditions, which was crucial for this project.”

The concept was appealing, but it was necessary to achieve it and, above all, to industrialize it.

This choice was influenced by several factors:

• Ergonomics and Durability: “We wanted the remote to be robust and weather-resistant,” says Steph. “Rubber proved to be the ideal material, inspired by Lunii.”
• Ease of Use: “Users found it more practical to have a dedicated device, easy to locate and handle, especially in an outdoor environment,” adds Mathieu.
• User Feedback: “Tests showed that users appreciated the simplicity of a physical remote compared to an app, which could sometimes be more cumbersome to use,” notes Steph.

One of the major challenges encountered during the project, after the sprint, was integrating the screen. “We were strongly influenced by the validated concept during the sprint, with retro-lit diodes behind the rubber,” explains Mathieu. “However, we quickly realized that a high-quality screen was needed, posing significant industrialization challenges.”

Technical Issues

Teams had to overcome several technical obstacles:

• Readability in Bright Light: “We had to ensure that the screen remained readable even in bright sunlight,” explains Mathieu. “This required several design iterations and tests.”
• Energy Consumption: “The screen should not drain the battery too quickly. We had to find the right balance.”
• Smooth User Interface: “It was crucial for the interface to be intuitive and easy to use, even with wet hands. Hence the idea of the physical wheel we loved during the sprint, but it wasn’t easy to combine with waterproof constraints.”

Clearly, the design sprint served to outline the vision and prove desirability, but it was still necessary to figure out how to make it real.

The Ysia Patio IO remote was designed to offer ease of use and a sleek aesthetic. It allows easy control of outdoor equipment such as awnings, lights, and heating systems. Its intuitive design and advanced features quickly won over the Red Dot Design Award jury, a global recognition of design excellence.

“Seeing our product win a Red Dot Design Award, one of the most prestigious industrial design awards in Europe, is a validation of our user-centered approach,” says Mathieu. “It’s also proof that our collaboration with Design Sprint Ltd paid off.”

Design plays a central role at Somfy, as it directly links to the executive committee on strategic decisions. “We firmly believe that design can transform ideas into tangible innovations that have a real market impact,” asserts Mathieu. “Working directly with the executive committee allows us to align with the company’s strategic objectives and ensure that our projects are in line with our overall vision.”

“It’s also a real opportunity for us to work in a company that truly understands the business impact of design.”

The success of the Ysia Patio IO remote perfectly illustrates the positive impact of a well-executed Design Sprint. By combining technical expertise and user focus, Somfy launched a bold product that genuinely meets customer expectations.

In innovation, the simplest and cheapest answer seems to be to do nothing: “just a feature in the app” would have sufficed for most companies. But that’s what separates mediocre companies from leaders in their sector aiming for quality, excellence, and customer satisfaction.

Because “just functional” is not enough: your customers must fall in love with your products, and often the design, in its function or form, is what distinguishes one product from another.

At Design Sprint Ltd, we are proud to have contributed to this success and look forward to continuing to support visionary companies in their innovation projects.

For more on the genesis of this project, watch the full interview with Steph and Mathieu Prévoteau on our YouTube channel.