PIT BOSS’S
PIT BOSS’S
GRILLING CONTROL CENTER
GRILLING CONTROL CENTER
An intuitive, modular remote grilling control system.
An intuitive, modular remote grilling control system.
Startup
Startup
End to End
End to End
Design System
Design System
Illustration
Illustration
My Role:
My Role:
UI/UX Lead
UI/UX Lead
Timeline:
Timeline:
6 months
February 2024-
July 2025
6 months
February 2024-
July 2025
In Collaboration With:
In Collaboration With:
Ryan Minor (Lead Developer)
Mauro Minor (Back End Developer)
Jake Alexander (Front End Developer)
Ryan Minor (Lead Developer)
Mauro Minor (Back End Developer)
Jake Alexander (Front End Developer)
PIT BOSS’S
GRILLING CONTROL CENTER
An intuitive, modular remote grilling control system.
Startup
End to End
Design System
Illustration
My Role:
UI/UX Lead
Timeline:
6 months
February 2024-
July 2025
In Collaboration With:
Ryan Minor (Lead Developer)
Mauro Minor (Back End Developer)
Jake Alexander (Front End Developer)
Pit Boss Bluetooth & Wifi controllers let users control their grill and view it’s status from up to thousands of miles away on the PB App.
Pit Boss Bluetooth & Wifi controllers let users control their grill and view it’s status from up to thousands of miles away on the PB App.
However, the app’s interface has had many UX issues; customer support calls increased by over 60% since the app’s launch.
However, the app’s interface has had many UX issues; customer support calls increased by over 60% since the app’s launch.
How might we redesign a Bluetooth-controlled digital grill control system to provide a more intuitive, modular, and scalable experience?
How might we redesign a Bluetooth-controlled digital grill control system to provide a more intuitive, modular, and scalable experience?
In brainstorming and user testing sessions, we sought to make the current control design into a smoother and more efficient experience.
It is estimated that 1/3 of households with grills own multiple.
Must have the capabilities to support using multiple grills at once.
Users will often grill different meats or veggies at the same time with different cook times
Multiple timers that can be named.
There are plans for future products and features to be incorporated
New design needs to be modular to allow expansion for potential elements
Graph of the cook length was removed as a feature; customers left many negative reviews on social media asking for it back.
Return the cooking graph feature,
Font is condensed and hard to read, and colors do not pass accessibility testing
Readable, less stylized fonts, and careful selections of colors
In brainstorming and user testing sessions, we sought to make the current control design into a smoother and more efficient experience.
It is estimated that 1/3 of households with grills own multiple.
Must have the capabilities to support using multiple grills at once.
Users will often grill different meats or veggies at the same time with different cook times
Multiple timers that can be named.
There are plans for future products and features to be incorporated
New design needs to be modular to allow expansion for potential elements
Graph of the cook length was removed as a feature; customers left many negative reviews on social media asking for it back.
Return the cooking graph feature,
Font is condensed and hard to read, and colors do not pass accessibility testing
Readable, less stylized fonts, and careful selections of colors
Should we explore sponsorship/brand Integration?
Should we explore sponsorship/brand Integration?
I wanted to find a way to bring the excitement and team spirit of the sporting brands that Pit Boss collaborates with beyond social media posts.
I wanted to find a way to bring the excitement and team spirit of the sporting brands that Pit Boss collaborates with beyond social media posts.
These themes could appear on specific event days.
These themes could appear on specific event days.
Or, themes could be used as a reward for point accumulation.
Or, themes could be used as a reward for point accumulation.
Ultimately, I could see that these iterations and details were busy and crammed. The data and important markers get lost in the detail; these iterations just won’t work.
There is potential in this idea, but for now it must go to the UX graveyard.
GRILL OVERVIEW
Grill overview cards are scrollable, to allow user to quickly identify which grills are in use.
Pause buttons for active timers for quick access to stop the timer in case of an issue.
Guide videos and manual are accessible even when the grill is off; this encourages the user to troubleshoot the issue before calling customer care.
GRILL CONTROLS
Each malfunction card links to related guides and manual pages.
“GRILL NICKNAME” header on the main temp card to allow for a user to quickly know which grill they are controlling if active on multiple grills.
Timer name Is stacked on top of time countdown, to allow length along the card for a higher character limit.
SET GRILL TEMP
Fahrenheit/Celsius toggle in temp settings; it was originally on the main control screen, but as a content altering component it belongs on the temp control screen.
Saved temp presets to act as a reference for safe internal temps of different meats (chicken, steak, etc) and for favorite recipes reuse.
GRILL OVERVIEW
GRILL OVERVIEW
Grill overview cards are scrollable, to allow user to quickly identify which grills are in use.
Pause buttons for active timers for quick access to stop the timer in case of an issue.
Guide videos and manual are accessible even when the grill is off; this encourages the user to troubleshoot the issue before calling customer care.
GRILL CONTROLS
GRILL CONTROLS
Each malfunction card links to related guides and manual pages.
“GRILL NICKNAME” header on the main temp card to allow for a user to quickly know which grill they are controlling if active on multiple grills.
Timer name Is stacked on top of time countdown, to allow length along the card for a higher character limit.
SET GRILL TEMP
SET GRILL TEMP
Fahrenheit/Celsius toggle in temp settings; it was originally on the main control screen, but as a content altering component it belongs on the temp control screen.
Saved temp presets to act as a reference for safe internal temps of different meats (chicken, steak, etc) and for favorite recipes reuse.
Grill can only be powered on in person by a physical button as a safety precaution, and thus controls can only be accessed when grill is on.
Grill can only be powered on in person by a physical button as a safety precaution, and thus controls can only be accessed when grill is on.
Will take user to manual for ease of troubleshooting
Will take user to manual for ease of troubleshooting
For a probe to appear, it must be physically plugged into the grill.
For a probe to appear, it must be physically plugged into the grill.
When target temp is reached, the probe indicator changes for a quick visual cue.
When target temp is reached, the probe indicator changes for a quick visual cue.
Different font on timer countdown for quick visual difference from temp readings.
Different font on timer countdown for quick visual difference from temp readings.
Will take user to manual for ease of troubleshooting
For a probe to appear, it must be physically plugged into the grill.
When target temp is reached, the probe indicator changes for a quick visual cue.
Different font on timer countdown for quick visual difference from temp readings.
At the end of every grill session, you will be prompted to save this cook-or not.
At the end of every grill session, you will be prompted to save this cook-or not.
Access your cook graph history to check for grill issues, and what you’ve cooked.
Access your cook graph history to check for grill issues, and what you’ve cooked.
Toggle on/off views in the legend
Toggle on/off views in the legend
LET’S GET COOKIN’!
Jenna Himel:
Designer, artist, and expensive hobby pursuer in Phoenix, Arizona.
Let's work together
Jenna Himel:
Designer, artist, and expensive hobby pursuer in Phoenix, Arizona.
Let's work together
Jenna Himel:
Designer, artist, and expensive hobby pursuer in Phoenix, Arizona.
Let's work together