Multi-functional VoIP/IoIP Device
Role
UX/UI Designer
Industry
Smart Building Technology
Communication Systems
Business Model
B2B Hardware & Software Sales (Enterprise Clients, System Integrators, Building Automation Partners)
Executive Summary
A Modular UI for a Device That Does It All
From 2012 to 2015, I served as the founding designer at bct electronics, a startup spun out of Commend International. Tasked with creating the UX/UI for a multifunctional communication device pre-Figma, I built a modular design system. This resulted in an interface used globally in smart buildings, offices, and high-security environments, and later adopted into Commend’s official product lineup.
Challenges
Design one interface to rule them all.
The product in question was a compact communication device that needed to do a lot: act as an intercom, SIP phone, smart home hub, CCTV viewer, security control center, and reception desk assistant. It had to serve wildly different user groups from office workers to building managers to security teams.
Approach
Full Immersion
This was pre-Figma and pre-Component Libraries. I designed the system using Illustrator smart objects and stitched everything together in Photoshop. The key was modularity, crafting an interface flexible enough to adapt to each user group’s needs, yet consistent enough to feel intuitive across all scenarios.
I worked shoulder-to-shoulder with our hardware and software developers, testing ideas directly on prototypes and refining flows based on real-world constraints. I also traveled to international trade fairs, speaking with vendors, integrators, and partners to get a front-row view into how our device was being used (or could be used) in the wild. This shaped a deeply contextual, user-informed modular design.
The outcome
A powerhouse,
used worldwide
We created a multifunctional interface that seamlessly combined intercom, SIP telephony, and video surveillance. It handled emergency calls while letting users manage heating, lighting, and visitor access from one compact device. The system was later integrated into Commend’s global product portfolio and rolled out across buildings, smart homes, and office environments worldwide.
