Polestar.
Polestar.
Polestar.
Redesigning Polestar 4 infotainment system
Redesigning Polestar 4 infotainment system
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Modern automotive displays often prioritize sleek design over driver safety, forcing drivers to navigate deep touchscreen menus for primary functions.
Modern automotive displays often prioritize sleek design over driver safety, forcing drivers to navigate deep touchscreen menus for primary functions.
Through a 8-week cognitive UX project, I performed a cognitively research-backed redesign of the Polestar 4’s infotainment system. Our team developed a solution that reduces visual distraction, aligns with mental models and is easy to use.
Through a 8-week cognitive UX project, I performed a cognitively research-backed redesign of the Polestar 4’s infotainment system. Our team developed a solution that reduces visual distraction, aligns with mental models and is easy to use.
Role
UX/UI Designer
Timeline
8 weeks
Project
Cognitive Design, 7.5 Credits
RESEARCH
To map usability problems and driver distraction factors in the current Polestar interface, we executed a research framework consisting of:
To map usability problems and driver distraction factors in the current Polestar interface, we executed a research framework consisting of:
Vehicle Inspection: Conducted hands-on evaluations of the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 at a car-dealership.
Dealership Observation & Vehicle Inspection: Conducted hands-on evaluations of the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 to analyze hardware layouts and digital screens.
User Interviews: Semi-structured interviews revealed a strong user preference for physical climate controls and high reliance on voice commands over screen taps while driving.
User Interviews: Semi-structured interviews revealed a strong user preference for physical climate controls and high reliance on voice commands over screen taps while driving.
Cognitive Measurements: Evaluated visual crowding, Hick's Law, Fitt's law, and measured visual field angles against ISO standards.
Cognitive Measurements: Evaluated visual crowding, Hick's Law, Fitt's law, and measured visual field angles against ISO standards.
Color Blindness: Tested prototype contrast and color palettes against Protanopia and Deuteranopia conditions to ensure full WCAG accessibility.
Color Blindness: Tested prototype contrast and color palettes against Protanopia and Deuteranopia conditions to ensure full WCAG accessibility.
PROBLEMS
High Cognitive Load & Screen Distraction: Key functions required navigating complex, multi-level digital menus with small touch targets, taking eyes off the road.
High Cognitive Load & Screen Distraction: Key functions required navigating complex, multi-level digital menus with small touch targets, taking eyes off the road.
Clutter: Unnecessary visual clutter and poorly prioritized elements forced non-essential options to compete with high-frequency driving functions.
Clutter: Unnecessary visual clutter and poorly prioritized elements forced non-essential options to compete with high-frequency driving functions.
Contrast & Accessibility Deficits: Some interface elements failed to meet WCAG contrast standards, creating visual friction, especially for drivers with visual impairments.
Contrast & Accessibility Deficits: Some interface elements failed to meet WCAG contrast standards, creating visual friction, especially for drivers with visual impairments.
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Physical Climate Control
Physical Climate Control
Reintroduced physical knobs and tactile buttons
Reintroduced physical knobs and tactile buttons for climate control.
Driver-Centric Modular Grid
Driver-Centric Modular Grid
High-priority functions anchored closest to the driver to minimize reach distance and visual scan time
High-priority functions anchored closest to the driver.
Simplified Navigation
Simplified Navigation
Enlarged touch targets and reduced visual clutter for faster decision-making and pressing
Enlarged touch targets and reduced visual clutter for faster decision-making and pressing
Music
Music
Dropdown for seamless media switching paired with large playlist cards to reduce cognitive load while driving
Dropdown for seamless media switching paired with large playlist cards to reduce cognitive load while driving
USABILITY TESTS
We validated our high-fidelity Figma prototype across 7 task-based usability tests using a cardboard setup with physical buttons and an integrated digital screen.
We validated our high-fidelity Figma prototype across 7 task-based usability tests using a cardboard setup with physical buttons and an integrated digital screen.
Key Findings: Participants effortlessly completed primary tasks via both the physical and digital controls. Feedback from initial testing rounds directly shaped the media source switcher and contact list.
Key Findings: Participants effortlessly completed primary tasks via both the physical and digital controls. Feedback from initial testing rounds directly shaped the media source switcher and contact list.
OUTCOME
ISO Alignment: Touch targets were calibrated between 0.75 and 1.31 visual field degrees comfortably exceeding the minimum ISO requirement (0.38).
ISO Alignment: Touch targets were calibrated between 0.75 and 1.31 visual field degrees comfortably exceeding the minimum ISO requirement (0.38).
Reduced Eyes-Off-Road Time: Moving primary climate controls to tactile physical inputs reduced eyes off road time while driving.
Reduced Eyes-Off-Road Time: Moving primary climate controls to tactile physical inputs reduced eyes off road time while driving.
Minimized Cognitive Load: Reduced visual clutter, increased scanability and prioritized high-frequency functions.
Minimized Cognitive Load: Reduced visual clutter, increased scanability and prioritized high-frequency functions.
Fully Accessible Design: Delivered an inclusive design tested against color blindness, strict WCAG contrast standards, and automotive ISO ergonomics regulations.
Fully Accessible Design: Delivered an inclusive design tested against color blindness, strict WCAG contrast standards, and automotive ISO ergonomics regulations.
