Deepika Jain
Volvo & Mack Trucks
Enhancing the climate control user experience
Role
Interaction designer, UX/UI designer
Tools
Figma
Duration
8 m0nths
Current situation and challenges
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Cluttered hardware: Physical layout and design perceived as cluttered or disorganized
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Having separate knobs for controlling temperature, fan and air distribution poses following issues
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Reduced efficiency: Adjustments takes more time consuming
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User ambiguity: Identifying the appropriate knob for specific needs is challenging
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Limited digital integration
Goal
“To create a user friendly and intuitive system by simplifying controls, convenient placement, and clear indications of current settings”
Research and Ideation
Competitive Analysis
Purpose: Conducting a comprehensive competitive analysis of climate control systems in vehicles from our competitors (trucks and passenger vehicles) to gain a better understanding of their respective benefits and usages, as well as the user perspective of having hardware or software or both and using the findings to inform the development of our own climate control system.
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Below are the few images of competitors infotainment system highlighting the climate control.
Data Analysis from Competitive Research
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1. Hardware controls
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Responsive hardware control that displays corresponding result on SID
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Temperature, fan, Max defrost, Auto mode hardware controls available
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2. Software controls
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Quick access on SID home view
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Climate menu
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Temperature and fan
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Heated/vented seating
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Max defrost
Design Challenge
How might we optimize the user experience of climate control systems to ensure intuitive controls, efficient operation, and overall user satisfaction?
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1. Physical/Hardware controls
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Streamlined hardware layout with responsive controls
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Clear labeling and intuitive placement for easy identification
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2. Hybrid controls
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Integration of physical and digital controls for flexibility
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Quick access to commonly used functions via a touchscreen interface
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3. Digital controls
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Enhanced digital integration for seamless adjustment of settings
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Intuitive touchscreen interface for temperature, fan speed, and more
Information Architecture
Design
Mid Fidelity Designs
1. Hardware concepts
2. User Scenarios
3. HMI Component Design and Behavior
Physical/Hardware Controls
Hybrid Controls - Going Digital
Off/On control
Fan control
Temperature control
Climate menu
Air distribution/ Vent mode
Seat heating control
Concept 1: Climate and Map screen
Concept 2: Climate and Map screen
