TEAM
Xinran Chen I Xuanwu Jin
MY ROLE
UX design, Interaction design,
Visual design, Design system
TIMELINE
6 weeks (Mar. 2025 – April. 2025)
INSTRUCTOR
Jim Rampton (General Motors lead
product designer)
2025
CADILLAC
All-ELECTRIC LYRIQ
01
Project Context
User Persona
Competitive Analysis
UWB Feature Brief
Mood Board
02
Driver Display
Center Display
UWB Features
Style Guide
03
Usability Test
Iteration
PROJECT CONTEXT
This project was a collaboration with General Motors as part of the SI 594 (Automotive UX Design) course. GM challenged us to explore how future (2030+) Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology can empower the automotive industry.
WHAT IS ULTRA-WIDEBAND (UWB)?
Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a short-range wireless communication technology known for its high precision, capable of centimeter-level accuracy in positioning.
So, it opening up new possibilities in the automotive industry.
1
USER PERSONA OF CADILLAC LYRIQ
All-Electric
Luxury
SUV
Upper-Middle-Class
/
Refined Experience
Family & Business Use
/
Multi-scenario
Tech-Savvy
/
Seamless Tech
Urban Commuters
/
Clean Information Display
Ages 35–50, Status-conscious
/
Signals Taste & Success
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Analyzed core HMI interactions—navigation, entertainment, HVAC, vehicle controls, and driving info—across the 2025 Cadillac Lyriq, 2025 BMW iX, and XPeng G9 to evaluate UX differences, identify strengths and gaps, and inform design strategy.
UWB FEATURE BRIEF
UWB
+
Future Technologies
We Anticipating the widespread adoption of dynamic wireless charging roads would reshape EV charging method, where vehicles can charge while driving.
In this new application scenario, UWB helps keep the car in the optimal zone while driving on a charging road, thereby maximizing charging efficiency.
UWB
+
Future Technologies
We explored the evolving needs of high-end users, who increasingly prioritize personalized and seamless in-vehicle experiences.
We envision that UWB technology could enable smarter, more personalized HVAC systems by detecting passengers’ body shapes and postures.
MOOD BOARD
DRIVER DISPLAY
Resting
2
The digital speedometer offers intuitive readability and a contemporary aesthetic, while the lightly mechanical gauge design adds a subtle nod to classic luxury—creating a harmonious balance between innovation and tradition.
Resting
Upon vehicle start, the speedometer shifts to the center to enhance visual balance during driving.
Time, temperature, and other basic info are shift from the greeting area to a fixed top section.
CENTER DISPLAY
RESTING
Visual consistency in the resting screen of the center and driver displays enhances a home-like luxury experience.
HOME
Based on research into the target users and the brand’s tone, the home screen avoids dense widget-based layouts and enhances driving safety by minimizing visual distractions.
NAVIGATION
A dark-themed map design was implemented to reduce screen glare.
MEDIA
VEHICLE CONTROL
CAMERA
UWB FEATURE
FUTURE TECHNOLOGY – WIRELESS ROAD CHARGING
UWB helps make wireless road charging more efficient by keeping the car in the right zone while driving on a charging road.
Charging screen
Simple support user orientation
Recommend charging roads along user's route. Visualized vehicle info to make key information easily accessible at a glance, enhancing driving safety.
Users can view charging road information, pricing details, and clearly visualizing battery gain and range increase.
Seamlessly switch to navigation and route to the charging road.
Meanwhile, the driver display switches to charging road mode, providing real-time guidance to keep the vehicle aligned with the optimal charging area.
REFINED EXPERIENCE – CUSTOMIZABLE HVAC
Individuals experience temperature differently due to various factors, such as age, muscle mass, etc.
Leveraging UWB and thermal sensors, the system precisely detects passenger posture and temperature to provide personalized, real-time climate control.
The Customizable HVAC offers Auto and Manual modes
Current
perceived
temperature
Automatically
adjusts airflow and
temperature
Passenger
manual control
Essential HVAC
controls
STYLE GUIDE
The visual language combines delicately milled metallic details with a rhythmically composed layout, achieving a refined balance between timeless elegance and modern tech aesthetics.
3
USABILITY TEST
This evaluation was conducted after the completion of the mid-fidelity prototype. It aims to assess whether the in-vehicle interface allows user to complete key tasks efficiently and intuitively, while reflecting Cadillac’s brand values of elegance, precision, and innovation.
Success metrics:
·
No safety concern.
·
In-vehicle tasks can be completed smoothly, without confusion or hesitation.
·
The system flow makes logical sense to drivers.
·
The experience feels seamless, refined, and delightful to use.
·
The new visual design aligns with Cadillac’s brand tone.
ITERATION
GAUGE
Inconsistencies in the visual language, including non-uniform gauge styles, inconsistencies in typography in font style and letter spacing.
The gauge style was unified with sharp-angled edges, and all numeric letter spacing was standardized to 5% for consistency.
NAVIGATION BAR
HVAC is a high-frequency function, but was placed too deep in the hierarchy.
The HVAC system was elevated in the hierarchy to shorten the interaction path.
TOP BAR
Users found the paths to vehicle settings and charging too long.
Added quick entry to settings and charging.
Color brightness was adjusted to reduce glare.
CHARGING ROAD ONBOARDING
Usability testing revealed that as a new feature, the charging road was unfamiliar to users, highlighting the need for onboarding/guidance.
CHARGING ROAD SEARCHING
Road and vehicle information were disconnected, leading to poor readability and potential safety concerns.
Distilled Key information and visualized the battery gain and range increase for quicker comprehension.
HOME
The swipe-up to open Home from any screen lacks a clear user scenario.
Removed the interaction, and retain a more direct and minimal approach.
NAVIGATION
Usability testing, further competitive analysis and interviews revealed that drivers frequently check trip information during the trip, making the top-right placement not optimal for visibility.
Adjusted layout and color to visually highlight key information, reduce distractions, and clarify hierarchy.
HVAC | MANUAL
Missing key information: wind speed.
A wind speed slider was added, and the information was reorganized for better clarity.
VEHICLE CONTROL
The toggle logic was unclear:
·
Lights should not be globally controlled, as they cannot be turned on simultaneously.
·
The selection highlight conflicted with the toggle switch, causing interaction confusion.
Unified into a tap pattern, paired with preview text for clarity.
MEDIA
The placement of the source switch was unintuitive.
A more intuitive icon and placement.
THEME
