Timeline

Role

UX/UI Design

Nov - December 5 2022

Tools

Figma

Project Overview

This project was done as a final assignment for an Automotive UX class where we created screen designs for the driver display and the center console of a vehicle. The solutions provided can notify users about low tire pressure and location within vehicle screens so that they can continue to monitor that problem.

Problem

With the digital transformation of automotive controls, some pages are often too complicated for the users to check important information or find help immediately.

  • How do we allow users to monitor tire pressure in the vehicle?

  • How do we allow users to get help and find information both inside and outside the vehicle?

Goals

  1. Catch the driver’s attention by showing distinct alerts and providing straightforward/effective solutions to a problem.

  2. Think of solutions that can help users fix a problem while driving and when they pull over.

  3. Use an appropriate image/representation to let users know the location of the problematic tires.

  4. Make this information and simple controls(power, lock/unlock buttons) viewable on users’ mobile devices to increase accessibility.

Solution

1

Cluster

2

Home Page - Default

3

Home Page - App Selector <Lights>

4

5

8

Driving & Low Tire Pressure - Solution Shown

Driving & Low Tire Pressure - Solution Hidden

6

Pulled Over & Low Tire Pressure

7

Pulled Over & Low Tire Pressure - Safety Page

Climate App

Rationale

#1 Different Alert Messages

Before entering the car,

  • Users can check the vehicle status through the car-connected app and get updates on it.

  • The home screen of the app will show an alert if the tire pressure is low and allow users to check details on the MORE page.

When low tire pressure is detected, it warns the driver by displaying alert messages that are viewable both outside and inside the vehicle.

After entering the car,

  • Alert messages will be displayed on both the cluster and the center display.

  • A pop-up notification is shown on the home page regarding low tire pressure and also asks the driver to pull over safely if driving.

  • A red dot is also shown next to the safety tab to help the driver notice better.

  • A distinct alert message is shown on the middle top of the cluster as well.

#2 Clear Solutions

Depending on the driver’s current situation, different options for tire pressure solutions are provided.

If the driver’s currently driving,

  • Simple solutions are shown on the left side of the main screen so the driver can slide to call roadside assistance centers or search the nearest gas station.

  • Jakob’s Law applied for solutions -> “Users prefer your site to work the same way as all the other sites they already know”

    Followed the norms established by our phones(iPhone)

If the driver’s currently pulled over & able to access the safety page,

  • Solutions would be available under the tire pressure status graphic.

#3 Immediate Access

The driver can quickly check the vehicle status while driving, also allowing users to immediately access the services/screens they need.

  • The problematic tire is displayed in red on the home page when low tire pressure is detected.

  • Users can easily notice the source of the problem by checking the location of the red-marked tire.

  • Users can instantly access the climate control screen as it is controllable as soon as the fan button is clicked.

  • Users can use the drag interaction and other buttons to effortlessly control climate features.

High-Fidelity Prototype

Low Tire Pressure Scenario - Driving

Changing Solution View

Checking Safety Page - Pulled Over

Opening Climate App

Changing Climate Controls

Reflection

While taking this class, my first automotive UX class, I got to learn how UX principles could be applied differently when it comes to automotive screens. And after learning more about how to think from the driver’s perspective when designing them, I actually found interest in this field of UX design.

Since this was one of the final projects I had to complete in a limited time with limited resources, I wasn’t able to go through user testing processes with the final prototypes and solutions. So if I had more time, I would have worked on testing the designed screens and getting more feedback on it if this would effectively improve drivers’ experiences regarding tire pressure problems.