Car UX for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)

I designed the SiriusXM interface and user experience for the 12" portrait screen in the 2019 Dodge Ram 1500. I created the mockups, screen flows and completed a full spec document containing annotations for the project.

I worked hand-in-hand with the HMI (Human Machine Interaction) team at FCA to design and create the mockups and user experience for SiriusXM. This included a handful of trips for workshops at my client's office and defining new UX logic that will affect the rest of SiriusXM's automotive clients.

Pain point

Designing for vehicles follows a different set of requirements and many of my challenges revolved working within my client's parameters. The screen size is a 12" portrait and not only is it a touch screen, but steering wheel and hardware buttons surrounding the screen are included in the user experience.

While the screen itself is large, I was unable to move key components on the screen and worked within limited real estate on the screen. For example, I was unable to move the Play/Pause button and other core navigation or audio elements on the screen. Also, I had to work within FCA's realm regarding logic and functionality and ensure a high level of usability despite limitations and parameters.

Usability Testing

I completed 6 usability tests in June 2018 in-vehicle and the responses was so positive from users and the press, that we implemented the SiriusXM experience in over 10,000 vehicles in 2018. With time, this number will steadily increase as model years tend to stay in market for several years.

Wards Auto User Experience Conference 2018

The Dodge Ram 1500 Limited was recently named one of the top 10 user experiences in 2018 by Wards Auto. I attended the conference on Oct. 2, 2018 and listened to the leaders of the automotive industry talk future trends, technology and design.

Solution

• A tile based layout within Categories rather than a list based design to increase readability and ease while driving
• Larger font size to increase readability at a glance
• Offering various paths for users to find content, rather than forcing users into one path

Deliverables

• 600 page spec document
• Clickable prototype