As Co-Lead Designer on this project, I worked closely with stakeholders from both USM and Burg to deeply understand and translate USM’s heritage and brand philosophy into a digital product. I also collaborated tightly with the development team to ensure the technical feasibility of the NFC hardware-to-software interactions.

The goal was to design an app that reflects the iconic modularity and timeless character of USM Haller furniture. The app serves as a digital key, enabling users to quickly and seamlessly lock and unlock individual compartments using NFC technology, developed in partnership with the lock manufacturer Burg.

To create the best possible user experience, we needed to test the physical-to-digital interaction in real-world scenarios. We conducted on-site testing in USM showrooms, allowing employees to interact with our early clickdummys and feeding their insights directly back into our iterative design process. Furthermore, the client provided us with physical locks and furniture, enabling us to test the haptics and ergonomics firsthand.