Roomba HomeHow we taught the robot to understand your home

Roomba Home is iRobot’s global robot-vacuum app with 1.5M+ MAU. I was responsible for designing and launching core surfaces in the new app: FTUE, the redesigned mapping experience, cleaning launch, routines, system states, and user communication. Beyond the interface, I established the product process with a cross-functional team—from hypotheses and design decisions through validation, alignment, and release. This is an abridged case study; message me on Telegram to request the full version.

The main challenge was not to give people another remote control for their robot. The product needed to understand real household context: children, pets, different kinds of mess, habits, constraints, and cleaning expectations. The old experience pushed too many decisions onto the user and did not build trust in the robot’s actions. We reframed the app as a system that helps people describe their home faster, choose an appropriate journey, and understand why the robot behaves as it does.

I led the team that designed and successfully launched Roomba Home, from first-time use through everyday cleaning management. We made maps and routines clearer, strengthened feedback about robot state, and built personal recommendations around the home profile. The new UX was therefore a product change rather than a visual redesign: Activation Rate increased by 17 percentage points and SUS by 23 percentage points.