General motors: brb mode
Role: Product Designer
Deliverables: User Flows, High-Fidelity Mockups, Prototypes
The Team: 1 Product Managers, 1 Product Owner, 6 Engineers, 1 Engineering Architect, 1 Content Strategist, 1 UI Designer, 1 User Researcher, Legal Representative
My Responsibilities: I was responsible for creating the user experience, coordinating the collaboration with the partners, and delivering the final product to engineering teams
Please note that some of the images presented in this project are visual interpretations and may not exactly reflect the final version of the company's products or services. No confidential information has been disclosed.
Problem
The team was tasked with creating the best experience for users that have to leave their vehicles for a long period of time but want to maintain an appropriate cabin temperature for occupants, pets and temperature sensitive cargo.
While a driver is away, the center screen of the vehicle will show a message that the temperature is being kept at the designated temperature. The intent of this “peek in” screen is to reassure passersby that occupants are in a comfortable temperature.
Approach
I led the design and user experience for a large-scale project that spanned multiple model years and all General Motors brands (GMC, Buick, Chevy, Cadillac, and Hummer). The project involved over-the-air installations across various display sizes, requiring extensive collaboration with cross-functional teams, including the product manager, product owner, engineering, legal, localization, and content strategy teams. My role encompassed owning the entire experience, ensuring consistency and quality throughout the process.
Collaboration & Research:
The project began with discussions around requirements, limitations, legal guidelines, and engineering feasibility. These conversations were collaborative, involving key stakeholders to align on objectives and constraints.
Next, I developed user flows in wireframe format (black and white with placeholder copy) using Axure, the company’s preferred tool. These wireframes served as the foundation for early conversations, enabling rapid iterations based on team feedback.
I conducted multiple usability tests on the designs, user flows, UI, and content. Working closely with a user researcher, I developed test questions, while the researcher handled the script, recruitment, and conducted the tests in the usability lab. I observed the tests remotely and used the feedback to iterate the design until we were confident in the final product.
Final Deliverables & Engineering Collaboration:
My final deliverables included high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and user flows for all use cases. Additionally, I provided final copy, UI assets, and localization tags to the engineering team for translation. Throughout the build phase, I worked closely with engineering to fine-tune the UI, ensuring it displayed correctly across different vehicle screens.
Learned
This project was one of the largest I’ve managed, requiring coordination with numerous stakeholders. I learned the importance of keeping the team aligned, balancing iterative feedback with timeline management to ensure we stayed on track without derailing progress.
