Overview

Cradlewise's Smart Crib, equipped with an in-built baby monitor streaming on the Cradlewise app, underwent a transformative enhancement with the introduction of Dark Mode. This highly requested feature was perfect for those 3 a.m. wakeups, as the Dark Mode is not as bright when parents are nursing or trying to get their baby to sleep at night.

As the lead designer for this feature, I worked on the conceptualization, design, and implementation of the Dark Mode feature.

Team

JP Stallard (Chief Experience Officer)
Sharath Shenoy P (iOS Developer)
Vinodh Upparapalli (Android Developer)

Conducted a comprehensive study on dark mode guidelines from Material Design, Superhuman, and Apple Developer.

Analyzed acclaimed apps with dark themes to get insights into user expectations and preferences.

Adhered to accessibility guidelines to ensure optimal contrast and legibility, prioritizing user comfort during prolonged usage.

Research

Design Process

Color Exploration: Explored darker shades, aligning with Cradlewise's brand colors, to maintain warmth while meeting the dark mode requirements. Ensured that the selected palette resonated with the brand's image of warmth, comfort, and safety.

Usability Testing and Optimization: Conducted usability testing across various lighting conditions to refine the theme. Optimized contrast levels for an enhanced user experience.

Final Theme Creation: Synthesized research findings and user feedback to create the final dark mode theme.

The release of the Dark Mode significantly resonated with Cradlewise's user base. A substantial increase in adoption post-release demonstrated its success. The incorporation of the purple and midnight tones into the company's visual style guide further solidified the app's aesthetic alignment with Cradlewise's brand identity.

Outcome