Summary

This project is still a work in progress. The aim of this project was to create a dashboard for an autonomous vehicle. This took more research and ideation than most projects I have done, as it is still a new and unfamiliar concept, with only a couple existing companies making automated cars.

Introduction

The idea for my project was basically to create a robot taxi service, aimed mainly at people who currently use traditional taxis as a form of transport. This would include young people as well as old people and anyone in between, which made it important to design something that everyone could understand and use.

Empathise

To gather info for this project, I conducted extensive research on existing automated vehicle interfaces. The 2 main companies utilising automated vehicle technology currently are Waymo and Tesla, so most of my research focused into them. I also researched interfaces in regular cars as well as automated ones to gain insight on a wider range of design.

Define

After analyzing my research findings, I identified key challenges and opportunities for designing an automated vehicle interface. The main issues included creating an intuitive and accessible interface for a diverse user base, creating an inviting interface to ease peoples skepticism, and ensuring users have control over all aspects of the vehicle. These insights helped the development of my final design that would meet all identified user needs.

Prototype

I began the prototyping stage by creating low-fidelity paper wireframes to explore different layouts and information hierarchies. These initial sketches helped me visualize how essential information could be displayed clearly and intuitively. From there, I developed high-fidelity mockups in Figma, focusing on creating a clean, modern design that would be easy to use and accessible. I also decided to create a mascot that could guide you through the experience, as I thought this would make it more inviting and add to the novelty of the experience.

Test

I used feedback received during the critique session in class to identify areas for improvement and refine the project. This project is still in this phase, as not all the changes have been applied yet and there is always room for improvement. The next steps would be simplifying some confusing interactions and making small adjustments to enhance the usability of the interface.