shield automotive
ui/ux and speculative design
I was challenged to dream up my ideal autonomous car and then design the interfaces, exterior, and interior features. After collaborating with a partner on the research and ideation, I designed interfaces for the car’s interactive screen. These interfaces showcase the features as well as the AI-assistant personalized to the driver, enforcing safety through check-ins and reinforcement learning tactics, its strength growing the more the user drives the car. I completed extensive research on what features would be the most beneficial to solo drivers, aiming to provide a comforting, enjoyable, and protected experience. For many women, cars become a place of anxiety and fear, particularly for those who frequently drive alone, whether it be on long road trips, the commute to work, or late night outings. In creating this speculative design project, I thought about an autonomous car that would serve as a safe-haven for women.
I also collaborated with AI and machine learning to strengthen the ideation, create mockups of the outside and inside of the car and features, and create base images to show scenarios. Through researching autonomous cars that are already on the market, I chose the exterior of the car to be subtle, appearing nice and luxurious without flashiness or easily noticeable features.
Although challenging to think about every feature that is included in a car interface, especially with an AI agent integration, I was able to visualize and include a panic mode, optimized gas routes and rest stops, internal and external sensor detection, and more.
the interfaces
My interfaces were built with the intent of the home screen being a main hub for anything the user may need immediately. I created a pattern library first, aiming to display all of the main functions such as phone connection, exterior camera footage, interior lighting, self driving, the panic mode, and so on. I then designed the map with suggested routes, as the car will always aim to provide the safest routes based on town crime rates and reviews. The user is also able to engage with their AI assistant at any point, either through the interface or voice control. Lastly, I made sure the user was always able to see the status of their sensors, if the doors were locked, and how many people were in the car.
A representation of the interface in context.
Interface for safest gas stations.
Interface for suggested routes.
Interface for panic detection.
Interface for panic mode initiation.
Interface for re-routing.
the features in motion
Utilizing AI, I created images to represent what the car and its features would look like, such as the external sensors that light up underneath the car and the ambient lighting inside the car. After I was satisfied with the image, I generated video content that I imagine would be successful in marketing the car.
the key ring and interactions
Instead of designing a traditional car key, my partner and I decided to create a discreet ring. The ring would track biometrics, thus being able to detect signs of alarm such as an increased or irregular heart rate. The ring would then ask the user if they wanted to initiate panic mode, leaving the control in the user’s hands. Or, the user could initiate panic mode themself through triple tapping the ring. The user can unlock the car with the fingerprint detection on the top of the ring, ensuring safe entry into the car.
panic mode scenario
In order to accurately represent the panic mode in the car and the interaction between the agent and user, I prototyped out the interface’s reactions to user input and initiation. Play to view.