Next Step
Take Aways
Prototype and User Testing: Develop a high-fidelity prototype of Xenos, focusing on the onboarding guide and voice control. Conduct user testing with first-time EV buyers to gather feedback and optimize the experience.
Importance of User Understanding and Feedback
Before starting the design process, deeply understanding users’ thoughts and conducting thorough research is crucial. It was only when we placed users directly in the EV and observed their behavior in real time that we discovered their driving habits as an untapped market space. Continuous communication with users throughout the design phase, along with timely feedback, is essential to creating an effective solution.
Iterative Design Process Based on Critiques
As we progressed through the design process, we regularly reported our updates to professors and fellow design students, receiving valuable feedback that shaped the project. Based on this input, we refined our design solutions and adjusted our prototypes, then presented the updated versions to the target audiences for further insights.
Collaborate with Engineers: Work with software and hardware engineers to integrate Xenos into existing EV systems, optimizing voice recognition and ensuring stability and safety.
Real-World Functional Testing : Test Xenos in a real or simulated EV environment, ensuring the voice control is responsive and safe for multitasking while driving.
Iterate and Optimize : Use feedback from users and engineers to refine Xenos, testing in diverse driving scenarios to ensure broad usability and safety.
Next Step & Take Aways
“Hey Xenos, turn on hazard light”
“Sure! Hazard light turns on”
Smart Xenos
“Hey Xenos, where is defroster? Need to turn on the defroster now! ”
“I’ve turned the defroster on for you, no worries!”
“Hey Xenos, pick up phone call for me”
“Sure! Phone call is connected”
Smart Xenos will also intelligently detect the safe distance between you and the object ahead, and alert you through the HUD display
Xenos Beginner Guide - Heads Up Display
Users can also onboard certain features, such as locating charging stations, through the Heads-Up Display (HUD). This approach offers a larger screen and an enhanced user experience.
During the wireframing process, my team and I not only explored various design styles but also focused on ensuring that our design solutions were accessible to all users.
Wireframes & Sketches
Xenos Beginner Guide - Center Console
This interaction appears during a new user's first time onboarding Xenos, allowing them to choose whether to start the Xenos Beginner Guide
Instead of traditional text-based tutorials, we’ve combined text with visuals for a more engaging experience
The real-time tutorial allows users to see each feature's location and usage directly
Users can also revisit the guide anytime
Center Screen Visual Design
We finalized the design language for Xenos' center console to enhance the display of both the Xenos Beginner Guide and Smart Xenos
Center Screen Interaction Walk-Through and Charging State
Navigation
Entertainment
Traffic condition monitoring
Final Prototype
Design Thinking Process
buy new EV
Want to learn new features
Look up features on phone
start driving
phone call
distracted to pick it up
dangerous driving
bad weather
can’t find defroster
Call customer service
interact with center console
Opportunity Space for Xenos Beginner Guide
Opportunity Space for Smart Xenos
Current Journey Map
Competitive Analysis
Low Visual Appeal
Complex to Understand
Low Voice Sensitivity
High Voice Sensitivity
Tesla's In-Car Tutorial System
Hyundai Blue Link
Hyundai Blue Link
Chevrolet MyLink
Apple CarPlay
Apple CarPlay
Mercedes-Benz MBUX
Mercedes-Benz MBUX
Amazon Alexa Auto
Amazon Alexa Auto
BMW iDrive
BMW iDrive
Google Assistant in Cars
Google Assistant in Cars
FordPass App
FordPass App
Toyota Owners App
Toyota Owners App
Interactive tutorial system that helps new users understand vehicle features
provides remote access to vehicle features, including navigation assistance and educational resources
provides tutorials and guides on how to use the car's features, including smartphone integration, navigation, and entertainment options
Integrates smartphone features into the car’s infotainment system, allowing for hands-free calling and messaging
A voice-activated infotainment system that offers navigation, messaging, and climate control
Voice-activated assistant that controls music, navigation, and smart home devices while driving
BMW's in-car infotainment system that allows voice and gesture control for navigation, music, and calls
Allows drivers to use voice commands for navigation, messaging, and music control
Provides users with a digital owner's manual, allowing them to learn about vehicle features and scheduling maintenance
Digital owner's manual and tutorial videos for Toyota vehicles.
Easy to Understand
High Visual Appeal
High Response
Accuracy
Low Response
Accuracy
Tesla's In-Car Tutorial System
Chevrolet MyLink
Goal for
Xenos Beginner Guide
Goal for Smart Xenos
Apps for In-Vehicle Features Guide on the market
Apps for AI Assistant for Safe Driving on the market
Personas - - Our Target Audience
Based on the interviews, I developed these two personas
Based on first round research findings and insights, we sketched two ideas: Smart Xenos, and Xenos Beginner Guide and test them with new interview round
Tailored Questions
General Questions
Stimuli we made to give the interviewee
a brief presentation of our idea.
Stimuli we made to give the interviewee
a brief presentation of our idea.
Tailored Questions
An AI assistant that works like Siri helping you focus on the road and not the many screens around you.
An in-vehicle guide that helps you set up and understand how your smart car works.
What is your initial reaction to this feature?
What are the other scenarios that you see yourself using this ?
What changes would you like to make to this feature?
What are the potential concerns you have for using this feature?
Does this feature look familiar? Have you ever used something like this before?
Have you had trouble finding where certain features are in your vehicle while driving? What are those features?
What do you do when you can’t find a feature in your vehicle while driving?
Have you had trouble onboarding a new vehicle?
How do you learn where things are on a new vehicle? How does that process look?
Is there a beginner's manual for your vehicle?
Smart Xenos
Xenos Beginner Guide
Question Stimuli
Question Storyboard/Stimuli
We show both storyboard and stimuli to help interviewees
better understand this complex concept
Insights Derivation Process
Low Level - Evidence
Mid Level - Driver’s Needs
High Level - Insights
Physical interaction with features
Unnecessary show of information
Disruptiveness of visual information
Complex hierarchy in feature
Connectivity with smart devices
Inconspicuous feature indication
Complicated feature placement
Complicated onboarding manual
Drivers are unfamiliar with feature placements, even after the onboarding process and years of driving.
Drivers are unfamiliar with feature placements, even after the onboarding process and years of driving.
Current screen displays require drivers to interact physically. This interaction during driving is disruptive and dangerous.
Current screen displays require drivers to interact physically. This interaction during driving is disruptive and dangerous.
Disruptiveness of interaction while driving
Redundancy of
entertainment
Disruptiveness of unnecessary information
Desire to multitask while driving
Misunderstanding
of features
Desire to understand all features
Difficulties in finding features
A straightforward onboarding process
The ability to safely find features while driving
Research Report
6 people think EVs are unreliable
People use these to search new features
Since there are always new features they don't know about.
8 of 10 people think EV’s
features are complicated
5 of 10 people are learning new features while driving
1 of 8 people found all the basic features in 20 minutes
To gain the most comprehensive and in-depth insights, we conducted two research plans: interviews and observatory
Questions
Simulate Driving
We invite 8 car owners who have never driven an EV to enter the driver's seat and observe how they operate the vehicle. We ask them to simulate driving on the highway and pose some questions to them while “driving.”
Interview Discussion Guide Round 1
User Onboarding Observatory
Introduction
Background Questions
“We are students from Northwestern University. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.”
Introduce your name and say that ___ is taking notes.
Reassure them of anonymity and confidentiality.
Xenos is an EV brand that we are designing features for. We are going to show you a few ideas to see what you think.
There are no right or wrong answers, we really just want to know your thoughts!
Could you tell us a little about who you are and what you do?
Could you tell us about your experience with electric vehicles?
What are some things you look for in an electric vehicle?
Have you encountered any problems with your electric vehicle? What kind of problems?
How familiar are you with your electric vehicle? Do you know all of its features?
What is your first impression when you sit inside this electric vehicle (EV)?
Take a look at the dashboard and central screen—do any specific features or designs catch your attention?
Now, please feel free to explore the vehicle. In 20 minutes, we will begin the driving simulation.
Which features are you still unsure about?
Are you feeling confident about hitting the road now?
You notice your phone is ringing. What would you do?
It starts to rain now; please turn on the windshield wipers.
You’re about enter a tunnel; please turn on the headlights.
It's getting foggy; please turn on the defroster.
RESEARCH
First-time user Onboarding Guide
Heads-Up-Display Multi-tasking
PROJECT OVERVIEW
An electric vehicle assistant that can provide an easy to understand Onboarding Guide and voice-controlled Safe Multitasking while driving.
When people purchase an EV for the first time, they are often excited but may face a learning curve with the new features. Reading a lengthy user manual is clearly not an effective approach. Additionally, many drivers tend to multitask while driving, which can lead to dangerous situations. Xenos is a smart assistant designed for electric vehicles that provides visually intuitive onboarding instructions for new users. It also allows for voice-controlled multitasking while driving, enhancing safety and usability.
Xenos: A Smart Guide to Electric Vehicles
Project Type
My Role
Timeline
Class project - - Team of 4
UI/UX Designer, Design Researcher
Jan -- Mar, 2024
User Flow Chart
In order to better visualize the features, we need to implement and facilitate smoother communication with the entire team, we created this user flow chart.
Onboarding
Driver’s action
Xenos’ feature
Driving
After completing the design thinking process, we realized we should add a Heads - Up - Display (HUD) feature to better visually onboard users and assist with safe driving.
Xenos — EV Smart Guide
Contact
857-260-2996
zpwang23@gmail.com
