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City Transformer

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City Transformer

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City Transformer

Designed the in-vehicle HMI and mobile app for an electric vehicle rental service by City Transformer and Bosch. Focused on user research, vehicle-specific UX, and seamless booking, planning, and navigation while collaborating with both teams to optimize the experience.

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Role:

User Research, Interaction, Visual design, Prototyping & Testing

Industry:

Micro electric vehicle

Duration:

2022 - 2023

Overview

As part of the UX/UI team, I designed the HMI screen and mobile app for renting and navigating the CT vehicle. I collaborated with City Transformer and Bosch developers to ensure seamless design-to-code integration throughout the project.

Challenges

Unique Vehicle UX: Designed for a foldable mini-EV, considering its expandable wheelbase for stability and maneuverability.

  • Seamless Integration: Ensured smooth interaction between the mobile app and in-vehicle HMI.

  • Tight Deadline: Developed a mature concept within constraints for the BCW exhibition, aligning with the vehicle’s current capabilities.

  • Testing Limitations: Without access to the actual vehicle, used physical and digital models to refine interactions.

  • POC for Bosch & City Transformer: Demonstrated Bosch cloud services through CT-1 capabilities, focusing on a seamless transition between mobile and HMI for browsing, planning, reserving, and navigation.

My Approach

Convenience First: Users prioritize a seamless transition between the mobile app and vehicle HMI for minimal effort.

  • Flexibility Matters: Designed an intuitive interface for browsing, planning, reserving, and renting a CT on the go.

  • Real-Time Feedback: Integrated expanding/collapsing animations and dashboard indicators for wheelbase status.

  • Immersive Experience: Added Spotify, mobile calls, and navigation to enhance multitasking while driving.

Phase 1 - BCW

We designed a POC for the BCW exhibition, where City Transformer and Bosch announced their collaboration. The POC included the HMI screen and mobile app for browsing, planning, reserving, and renting a CT.

Despite a tight deadline, we developed a mature concept based on the vehicle’s current capabilities. Close collaboration with Bosch ensured seamless CT-1 and Bosch cloud services integration, resulting in a successful demonstration that received positive feedback at BCW.

This led to the next phase—developing a comprehensive POC showcasing CT-1’s full potential in greater detail.

Phase 1 - BCW

We designed a POC for the BCW exhibition, where City Transformer and Bosch announced their collaboration. The POC included the HMI screen and mobile app for browsing, planning, reserving, and renting a CT.

Despite a tight deadline, we developed a mature concept based on the vehicle’s current capabilities. Close collaboration with Bosch ensured seamless CT-1 and Bosch cloud services integration, resulting in a successful demonstration that received positive feedback at BCW.

This led to the next phase—developing a comprehensive POC showcasing CT-1’s full potential in greater detail.

Phase 1 - BCW

We designed a POC for the BCW exhibition, where City Transformer and Bosch announced their collaboration. The POC included the HMI screen and mobile app for browsing, planning, reserving, and renting a CT.

Despite a tight deadline, we developed a mature concept based on the vehicle’s current capabilities. Close collaboration with Bosch ensured seamless CT-1 and Bosch cloud services integration, resulting in a successful demonstration that received positive feedback at BCW.

This led to the next phase—developing a comprehensive POC showcasing CT-1’s full potential in greater detail.

Phase 2 - POC

After the successful BCW exhibition, we moved to a comprehensive POC, further showcasing CT-1’s capabilities and Bosch cloud services. This phase focused on refining the HMI screen, mobile app, and ensuring seamless integration between them.

Phase 2 - POC

After the successful BCW exhibition, we moved to a comprehensive POC, further showcasing CT-1’s capabilities and Bosch cloud services. This phase focused on refining the HMI screen, mobile app, and ensuring seamless integration between them.

Phase 2 - POC

After the successful BCW exhibition, we moved to a comprehensive POC, further showcasing CT-1’s capabilities and Bosch cloud services. This phase focused on refining the HMI screen, mobile app, and ensuring seamless integration between them.

Indicator for wheelbase expansion



During this phase, one of our main focus points was to incorporate an indicator on the dashboard that would notify the driver if the wheelbase was expanded or collapsed. We achieved this by integrating expanding and collapsing animations and providing clear indications of the current state. Additionally, we included notifications for shifting between states to ensure a safe and seamless driving experience.


Indicator for wheelbase expansion



During this phase, one of our main focus points was to incorporate an indicator on the dashboard that would notify the driver if the wheelbase was expanded or collapsed. We achieved this by integrating expanding and collapsing animations and providing clear indications of the current state. Additionally, we included notifications for shifting between states to ensure a safe and seamless driving experience.


Indicator for wheelbase expansion



During this phase, one of our main focus points was to incorporate an indicator on the dashboard that would notify the driver if the wheelbase was expanded or collapsed. We achieved this by integrating expanding and collapsing animations and providing clear indications of the current state. Additionally, we included notifications for shifting between states to ensure a safe and seamless driving experience.


Seamless mobile-to-HMI transition



The second focus point was to create a seamless transition between the mobile app and HMI screen. We wanted to ensure that the user journey from finding a CT to navigating to their destination was as smooth and effortless as possible. We worked on integrating features such as Spotify, mobile calls, and navigation, as well as creating animations for a more immersive experience.


Seamless mobile-to-HMI transition



The second focus point was to create a seamless transition between the mobile app and HMI screen. We wanted to ensure that the user journey from finding a CT to navigating to their destination was as smooth and effortless as possible. We worked on integrating features such as Spotify, mobile calls, and navigation, as well as creating animations for a more immersive experience.


Seamless mobile-to-HMI transition



The second focus point was to create a seamless transition between the mobile app and HMI screen. We wanted to ensure that the user journey from finding a CT to navigating to their destination was as smooth and effortless as possible. We worked on integrating features such as Spotify, mobile calls, and navigation, as well as creating animations for a more immersive experience.


Finalized concept

To achieve these focus points, we worked on refining the UI concepts for both the HMI screen and mobile app. We incorporated the SDL branding into our designs and created a consistent visual language across all touchpoints. We ensured that the design was easy to use and visually appealing, creating an immersive and unique experience for potential CT users.

Finalized concept

To achieve these focus points, we worked on refining the UI concepts for both the HMI screen and mobile app. We incorporated the SDL branding into our designs and created a consistent visual language across all touchpoints. We ensured that the design was easy to use and visually appealing, creating an immersive and unique experience for potential CT users.

Finalized concept

To achieve these focus points, we worked on refining the UI concepts for both the HMI screen and mobile app. We incorporated the SDL branding into our designs and created a consistent visual language across all touchpoints. We ensured that the design was easy to use and visually appealing, creating an immersive and unique experience for potential CT users.




Results


Overall, the project was a success, and we were able to showcase the unique capabilities of the CT-1 and Bosch cloud services. We gained valuable insights into designing for a new type of vehicle and creating a seamless connection between mobile and HMI interfaces. Additionally, working with the Bosch team taught us the importance of collaboration between different disciplines and the value of persistence in solving complex problems.

Conclusion

  • Collaboration between different disciplines is crucial in solving complex problems and achieving project goals. In this case, working with the Bosch team was essential to creating a seamless connection between the mobile app, HMI screen, and vehicle itself.


  • Designing for a new type of vehicle, such as the CT-1, requires extensive research and testing to ensure a safe and user-friendly experience. Our use of different models, both physical and digital, allowed us to overcome obstacles and create a comprehensive and functional POC.


  • Creating a seamless transition between mobile and HMI interfaces is essential to creating an immersive and compelling experience for potential users. By incorporating features such as Spotify, mobile calls, and navigation, as well as creating animations for a more immersive experience, we were able to create a unique and engaging experience for potential CT-1 users.