Polestar.
Polestar.
Polestar.
Redesigning Polestar 4 infotainment system
Redesigning Polestar 4 infotainment system
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Modern automotive displays often prioritize sleek minimalism over driver safety, forcing drivers to navigate deep touchscreen menus for primary functions.
Modern automotive displays often prioritize sleek minimalism over driver safety, forcing drivers to navigate deep touchscreen menus for primary functions.
Through a 7-week cognitive UX project, I performed a research-backed redesign of the Polestar 4’s infotainment system. By applying human factors engineering, Gestalt principles, and ISO standards, our team developed a hybrid digital/physical solution that drastically reduces visual distraction, aligns with mental models, and restores control.
Through a 7-week cognitive UX project, I performed a research-backed redesign of the Polestar 4’s infotainment system. By applying human factors engineering, Gestalt principles, and ISO standards, our team developed a hybrid digital/physical solution that drastically reduces visual distraction, aligns with mental models, and restores control.
Role
UX/UI Designer
Timeline
8 weeks
Industry
SaaS
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:
Dealership Observation & Vehicle Inspection: Conducted hands-on evaluations of the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4.
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 & Ergonomic Audits: Evaluated visual crowding, Hick's Law, Fitt's law, and measured visual field angles against ISO standards.
Cognitive & Ergonomic Audits: 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 (such as climate control and air vent positioning) required navigating complex, multi-level digital menus with small touch targets, taking eyes off the road.
High Cognitive Load & Screen Distraction: Key functions (such as climate control and air vent positioning) required navigating complex, multi-level digital menus with small touch targets, taking eyes off the road.
Inconsistent Interface & Weak Mental Models: Unnecessary visual clutter and poorly prioritized elements forced non-essential options to compete with high-frequency driving functions.
Inconsistent Interface & Weak Mental Models: 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-basked usability tests using a cardboard setup with physical buttons and an integrated digital screen.
We validated our high-fidelity Figma prototype across 7 task-basked usability tests using a cardboard setup with physical buttons and an integrated digital screen.
Key Findings: Participants effortlessly completed primary tasks via the physical controls. Feedback from initial testing rounds directly shaped the media source switcher and contact list contrast levels.
Key Findings: Participants effortlessly completed primary tasks via the physical controls. Feedback from initial testing rounds directly shaped the media source switcher and contact list contrast levels.
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 Friction: Adhered strictly to Hick's and Fitt's Laws to streamline interface choices, group related functions, and shorten visual scan times.
Minimized Cognitive Friction: Adhered strictly to Hick's and Fitt's Laws to streamline interface choices, group related functions, and shorten visual scan times.
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.
