Role:

UI Designer, UX Researcher

MercedesMe App

I identified a need to improve the utilization and reception of Mercedes Me app functionalities among users, prompting me to add a new feature to the existing product. This decision was driven by the necessity to understand users' needs and preferences better regarding device interaction within the app.

By exploring new feature ideas, I aimed to increase user involvement and interaction. To ensure these enhancements were effective, I validated initial concepts by gathering feedback from target users. This process allowed me to refine the design and functionality, ensuring the new features met user expectations and improved the overall user experience.

Tools:

Figma and FigJam

Timeline:

75 Hours

Research

Understand current utilization patterns:

  1. Investigate how Mercedes Me users interact with vehicle gauge features within the app.

  2. Determine the frequency of use for vehicle gauge features.

  3. Identify specific functionalities accessed by users within the app.

Identify user needs and desires:

  1. Explore user desires and preferences for vehicle gauge features on the app.

  2. Identify functionalities users wish existed but are currently unavailable.

  3. Focus on specific user needs and wants for future app enhancements.

Assess user satisfaction and pain points

  1. Identify aspects of the app that users appreciate, especially regarding vehicle gauge features.

  2. Determine features that users find lacking or frustrating.

  3. Focus on user feedback related to vehicle gauge functionalities.

Envision improved functionality:

  1. Gather insights on user visions for enhanced vehicle gauges.

  2. Identify desired improvements in functionality.

  3. Explore user preferences for improved usability.

  4. Understand overall user experience expectations for vehicle gauge features.

Benchmark against competitors

  1. Conduct a thorough analysis of competitor platforms.

  2. Understand how competitors incorporate vehicle gauge functionalities.

  3. Identify gaps or areas for improvement in competitor offerings.

  4. Gather inspiration for potential enhancements to the app.

Competitive Research

I have researched top platforms like Tesla, Toyota, and BMW to uncover valuable insights.

I observed common themes:

  • Connectivity is a major issue

  • Locating key buttons is often complicated

  • User interface lacks intuitive design, leading to frustration and decreased efficiency for users

  • Making main functions easily discoverable will improve the overall UX

User Interviews

Through user interviews, I discovered that the toggling features are highly intuitive, making it easy for users to understand and interact with them. The use of clear labels, contrasting colors, and well-defined boundaries ensures users can effortlessly distinguish between different states or options.

By organizing these clusters, we streamlined the analysis process, enabling clearer organization and understanding of data. This clarity empowered us to make informed decisions and effectively address challenges throughout the design journey.

Personas

Based on the insights gained, I developed two user personas to delve deeper into their unique stories and collaborate on creating exceptional experiences together.

Feature Set

Based on my research, I identified and prioritized key features to be added to the app, ranked from most critical to least. Each feature was evaluated for its impact on user experience and functionality. This approach ensures a seamless and user-friendly interface that addresses core user needs while enhancing overall usability and appeal.

User Flows

I have chosen to use three different flows choose frequency of diagnostic checks, select referred method of receiving alerts and set thresholds for alert triggers

Low Fidelity Wireframes

When adding a new feature to the Mercedes Me app, we started with a low-fidelity wireframe outlining the basic structure and user flow.

This sketch provided stakeholders with an early understanding of the user experience. The wireframe's simplicity facilitated discussions on functionality and interaction, proving essential for initial user testing and feedback.

This foundational stage set the stage for crafting a seamless, engaging journey for every Mercedes Me user.

Testing and Iteration

Objectives:

  • Assess usability of the car connecting app's vehicle health diagnostics and feature toggling functionalities.

  • Identify usability issues or pain points.

  • Establish baseline metrics to measure usability success.

  • Gather participant feedback to inform iterative improvements.

Methodology:

  • Participants: Recruit 5 car owners who regularly use car connectivity apps.

  • Testing Environment: Controlled setting mimicking typical driving conditions with various compatible car models.

Tasks for Participants:

  1. Access and interpret the vehicle health diagnostics section.

  2. Respond to a simulated vehicle health alert and follow recommended actions.

  3. Toggle different vehicle settings using the app.

Procedure:

  1. Brief participants on the testing purpose and tasks.

  2. Instruct participants to think aloud while completing tasks for insights into their thought process.

  3. Record participants' interactions and verbal feedback.

Post-Task Questions:

  • What did you find most helpful in the vehicle health diagnostics feature?

  • What challenges did you encounter while responding to the vehicle health alert?

  • How intuitive was toggling vehicle settings using the app?

Success Measurement:

  • Task Success Rate: Percentage of participants completing tasks without significant errors.

  • Task Completion Time: Average time taken to complete tasks.

  • Error Rate: Frequency of critical errors.

  • User Satisfaction: Participants' ratings on a Likert scale.

  • Retention Rate: Percentage of participants who intend to continue using the app.

Feedback Recieved

Incorporate Inspirations: Make it visually engaging and user-friendly.

Toggle Tab: Create a separate tab for toggles to streamline navigation and ensure all icons are perfectly aligned on the second page.

Mileage-Based Reminders: Set maintenance reminders based on mileage. Receive alerts as deadlines approach, ensuring timely service.

Smart Alerts: Get specific alerts for issues like oil levels instead of general mileage notifications. Expect "service soon" alerts close to scheduled services, with yellow for warnings and red for critical issues.

User-Friendly Interface: Smoother navigation to ensure a more seamless hourney through the app.

Changes made

Color palette and UI Component Library

The color palette and UI Component Library, derived from Mercedes' component assets, establish a unified visual identity and standardized interface elements. This ensures consistent design across all digital products, fostering a cohesive user experience.

High Fidelity Wire Frames

Creating a high-fidelity wireframe for the MercedesMe app integrates visual design elements to provide stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of the user experience, fostering discussions on branding and facilitating user testing to refine and prioritize usability.

Prototype

I created a UI design prototype for the MercedesMe app to provide an interactive preview of the interface. This approach allowed me to effectively showcase concepts and give stakeholders a tangible glimpse of the final aesthetics, functionality, and user experience. By doing so, I am able to gather valuable feedback early in the process, refine our designs, and ensure alignment with user expectations, ultimately enhancing the overall usability and appeal of the app.

*Best if viewed on Desktop

Working Prototype

I created a UI design prototype for the MercedesMe app to vividly showcase the concepts and innovations. This dynamic visual representation offers a tangible preview of the final look, functionality, and user experience. By doing so, I foster was able to gather valuable feedback, and make informed decisions, ensuring the product aligns with user expectations and business goals seamlessly.

Reflection

How has this project contributed to my growth as a UX designer?

  1. Provided hands-on experience in implementing and refining features within an automotive app.

  2. Added enhanced diagnostics and maintenance alerts, deepening my understanding of user needs and preferences in automotive technology.

  3. Through user research, prototyping, and testing, I learned to design user-friendly features that enhance overall user experience.

  4. Equipped me with practical skills and knowledge for future projects.

What were the main challenges and unexpected findings I encountered during the project?

  1. Identifying exactly what users wanted from a car connecting app due to their diverse needs and preferences.

  2. Difficulty in finding participants who regularly used these apps, making it hard to gather diverse insights.

  3. Unexpectedly, users preferred a streamlined interface with fewer screens.

  4. Addressed this by broadening my recruitment strategy and designing a more efficient app flow with minimal screens and actions, ensuring a smoother user experience.

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