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OVERVIEW
Brief
As a UX Researcher and UX Designer, I contributed to a project in the automotive industry focused on enhancing how users share vehicles through connected infotainment systems. Specifically, we designed user flows across two key touchpoints—the in-car infotainment system and a companion mobile app—to enable Primary Users to invite Guest Users (e.g., friends or family) to temporarily access their vehicle with their own personalised profiles.
The Challenge
When I joined the project, there was already a working concept and a cross-brand design system in place. My task was to:
Validate the existing prototype through user research,
Identify pain points and opportunities for improvement,
Translate research insights into design iterations, and
Design new user flows for additional features that aligned with both user and business needs.
The complexity of this project lay in the cross-brand nature of the solution, requiring a design that was scalable, consistent, and adaptable across different vehicle brands.
The Approach
To refine, validate, and expand the guest registration experience, I applied a combination of:
Design Thinking
Iterative Design
Human-Centered Design
All of this was done while working within the Agile Methodology alongside a cross-functional team.
My Role
In collaboration with fellow UX Designers and the Product Owner, I led efforts in:
Desk Research
User Testing
Information Architecture
Wireframes & Prototyping
Interface Design
Cross-brand Stakeholder Communication
A key part of my role was weekly alignment with representatives from multiple automotive brands (the end clients) to ensure we delivered a shared solution that respected each brand’s identity while meeting a unified set of user and business requirements.
Project Period
March 2023 - August 2023
Tools Used
Figma, Miro, Confluence, Jira, Microsoft Teams
UX RESEARCH
The Purpose
The research aimed to validate the process of registering a Guest User to a Primary User’s vehicle. We examined whether:
The user experience met expectations from both the Primary and Guest User perspectives,
The feature added tangible value to users and in which use cases.
Overview of some wireframes from the Primary User flow
Methodology
I conducted Remote Usability Testing with five participants whose profiles aligned with our target user personas.
The testing materials included:
A structured interview guideline
An interactive Figma prototype covering both touchpoints: the in-car infotainment system and mobile phone
I moderated each session and guided participants through realistic task scenarios. The testing was conducted in German.
Analysis & Reporting
After conducting the sessions, I carried out an in-depth analysis of the results. I synthesized the findings into a concise research report which included:
Key usability insights
Identified friction points
Actionable UX recommendations
The report was distributed across internal design teams and shared with and presented to all involved vehicle brands. These findings directly influenced the next stages of design and development.
Actionable Insights & Iteration
Key Positive Insights:
All participants clearly understood the concept and successfully completed both user flows.
The process was described as “easy” and “simple” by most.
Participants identified high value in the car sharing use case, especially in scenarios involving rental vehicles.
Pain Points Identified:
The process involved too many steps (e.g., multiple screens for agreement, PIN, and profile setup), which users found excessive.
There was confusion around the security method provided, specifically regarding its purpose and origin.
Users found the guest invitation method too limited.
After I shared these insights, we ran a co-creation workshop with the various brands. Together, we:
Reviewed and prioritized user needs, technical constraints, and business requirements.
Focused design efforts on the highest-value use case, as identified by participants.
Defined opportunities for new features and expanded capabilities.
These collective efforts led to meaningful updates to the design and the ideation of a new flow.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Following the research, I helped map both the current and ideal user journeys. This exercise clarified where users experienced friction and guided us in reducing unnecessary steps while lowering cognitive load across both touchpoints.
EXPANDING THE CONCEPT
Wireframes & Prototyping
As a direct outcome of the brand workshop and ongoing collaboration, I created a new user flow for a feature that allowed permission upgrades for Guest Users.
I designed wireframes for this flow using a modular, brand-agnostic approach, ensuring consistency while allowing each vehicle brand to apply its own visual identity.
Visual Design
The upgraded flow and components were crafted to be scalable across different infotainment platforms, balancing consistency and brand flexibility. This ensured smooth integration across multiple brand ecosystems without compromising usability.
PROJECT RETROSPECTIVE
This project highlighted several key lessons:
The importance of testing and designing for both ends of a shared interaction (Primary and Guest users)
The need to design for trust and transparency in permission-based systems
The challenge—and necessity—of making complex, technical processes feel intuitive in high-tech automotive environments
Get in touch at vassilia.ch@gmail.com
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