Nowadays, cars have unbelievable functions, such as park by themselves, programs routines to charge the battery, warm up the wheel, and more.
Hereafter, how do users need to experience these features? How will they interact the better for the safest?
challenge:
Ensuring the advanced vehicle functions are both safe and intuitive for users during operation.
As a UX/UI designer, my goal was to find those pain points that could make unsafe the Cupra users while driving. Furthermore, design a complete experience made by all the fantastic functions the current technology is able to provide.
key features involved:
Autonomous parking, E-Manager for charging, climatization, ambient lighting, car information control, maps, sound, etc.
ux research:
A combination of qualitative and quantitative research, utilizing in-depth interviews and A/B testing methodologies.
We implemented two different research strategies depending on the infotainment system we are focusing on—redesigning existing features, already tested through various tools and methodologies, is fundamentally different from defining entirely new features from scratch.
Both types of infotainment systems require a combination of quantitative and qualitative testing, depending on the scope of the concept, hypothesis, or UI component being evaluated.
We used to come up with unexpected insights to see how users understand the technical face of functions on a visual digital screen. Besides, our responsibility is also to communicate with stakeholders (Function Owner), and so get fix all the points between each other.
We used UserTesting, Hotjar and for in-person interviews for qualitative results (8/10 people).
concepting,
wireframing:
We defined the concept, developed wireframes and prototypes to create the most realistic simulation of our ideas, and collaborated closely with other teams, including developers, engineers, and project managers. Together, we refined the UX and UI to ensure an optimal user experience before validating it through real user testing.
idea validation,
usability testing:
Once the concept is defined, we moved into the validation phase to ensure that our solutions are both intuitive and technically feasible.
We conducted a series of qualitative and quantitative user tests.
Throughout this process, we worked closely with developers to validate technical constraints and feasibility, ensuring that our designs are not only user-centered but also aligned with implementation requirements.
If the data reveals usability issues or technical limitations, we iterated on the design, refining interactions and visual elements until we achieve an optimal balance between usability, functionality, and development constraints.
collaboration with tecnical teams:
Developed high-fidelity prototypes in close collaboration with development teams, followed by rigorous validation with engineering and product teams.
conclusion:
This project reinforced the importance of designing for safety and usability in high-stakes environments like in-car interfaces. Through continuous research, iterative design, and close collaboration with engineering teams, we were able to refine advanced vehicle functions into a more intuitive and seamless user experience. By validating concepts through real user testing—both in controlled and live driving conditions—we ensured that the final design minimized cognitive load and enhanced driver confidence. The outcome was a more user-centric infotainment system that not only met functional requirements but also elevated the overall driving experience for CUPRA users.
