Kohler India – Aquifer Smart Water Filter App

Project Overview

Aquifer is Kohler India’s smart water filtration system designed for modern homes. The product integrates a physical water filter with a companion mobile app, enabling users to monitor filter health, water usage, and automatically replenish filter cartridges through third-party e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Kohler.com.

This project focused on designing a holistic end-to-end user experience that connects:

• A physical IoT device
• A native mobile app
• External e-commerce and subscription platforms

The core challenge was to translate a complex, multi-system ecosystem into a simple, trustworthy, and low-effort experience for everyday users.

Business & User Context

Business Goals

• Increase adoption of automatic filter replenishment (DRS)
• Reduce friction in device onboarding and re-registration
• Drive repeat purchases through subscription-based replenishment
• Build long-term trust in Kohler’s smart ecosystem

User Goals

• Ensure continuous access to clean drinking water
• Avoid unexpected filter expiry
• Understand filter health at a glance
• Control purchasing preferences without technical complexity

Design Challenges

1. Multi-platform orchestration
   Users moved between the Kohler app, Amazon login, subscription setup, and external web views.
2. Conditional complexity
   The experience varied significantly based on:
   • First-time setup vs re-adding a device
   • DRS ON vs DRS OFF
   • Amazon vs Kohler.com as purchase preference
   • Registration success vs failure
3. Invisible value
   Automatic replenishment is a “set once, forget forever” feature—hard to explain, easy to misunderstand.
4. Trust & control
   Users needed reassurance around automatic ordering, billing, and data sharing.

UX Strategy

1. Progressive Disclosure

Instead of overwhelming users with setup details, the experience reveals complexity only when required, especially during:

• DRS activation
• Subscription management
• Filter replacement alerts

2. Status-First Design

The app prioritises real-time filter health visibility using:

• Visual rings
• Percentage indicators
• A clear warning states when replacement is required

3. Clear Ownership Boundaries

Users are always aware of:

• When they are inside the Kohler app
• When they are redirected to Amazon or Kohler.com
  This avoids confusion and increases perceived security.

4. Error-Tolerant Flows

Every critical action includes:

• Retry paths
• Safe exits
• State recovery without forcing re-onboarding

Key User Flows

1. First-Time Device Setup & DRS Introduction

• Device successfully added to the app
• Users are guided to set purchase preferences
• Amazon Dash Replenishment is introduced as an optional value-add
• Users can Get Started, Learn More, or Skip

Design Intent:
Position DRS as helpful, not mandatory—building trust before automation.

2. Aquifer Registration & Subscription Setup

A structured, step-by-step flow:

1. Log in to Amazon
2. Grant security permissions
3. Confirm filter products
4. Complete payment setup
5. Registration success confirmation

UX Principle:
Break a complex financial and permission flow into mentally manageable steps.

3. DRS ON – Automatic Replenishment Active

When filter health drops below the threshold:

• Visual alerts appear in the device dashboard
• Amazon automatically places an order
• Users can manage subscriptions externally
• Outcome:
• Zero-effort continuity for essential consumables.

4. DRS OFF – Manual Purchase Mode

For users who opt out:

• Filter health warnings are shown clearly
• “Buy Now” CTA redirects to the preferred platform
• No automatic orders are triggered

Design Balance:
Empower users without penalising them for opting out.

5. Switching Purchase Preference (Amazon ↔ Kohler.com)

• Seamless preference switching within settings
• Contextual behaviour adapts based on prior DRS state
• Prevents duplicate registrations or accidental reactivation

UI Design Language

• Dark, premium interface aligned with Kohler’s brand positioning
• High-contrast status indicators for instant comprehension
• Minimalist layouts to reduce cognitive load
• Motion and micro-feedback are used sparingly for state changes

Accessibility & Usability Considerations

• Clear typography and contrast for low-light kitchen environments
• Large tap targets for quick interactions
• Explicit confirmation states for critical actions
• Non-technical language for mass-market adoption

Outcomes & Impact

• Simplified onboarding for a highly technical IoT product
• Increased clarity and adoption of automatic replenishment
• Reduced support dependency through self-explanatory flows
• Created a scalable framework applicable to other Kohler smart products

Key Learnings

• Trust is designed, not assumed—especially in automated commerce
• Cross-platform UX must feel intentional, not stitched together
• IoT experiences succeed when technology stays invisible
• Designing for failure states is as important as success flows

Reflection

This project reinforced my belief that great UX leadership lies in simplifying systems, not screens. By aligning business goals, technical constraints, and human behaviour, the Aquifer experience transforms a critical daily need—clean water—into a seamless, worry-free service.