Reducing the number of features while creating a rich user experience

Abstract

The continuous evolution of the automotive industry constantly pushes the limits of what is achievable through vehicle design, aiming to enhance the driving experience. However, integrating an excessive number of features can lead to distractions, increased cognitive workload, reduced situational awareness, and decreased usability, ultimately compromising safety. Therefore, this thesis has investigated how a rich user experience could be created while reducing the number of features, where the cluster, steering wheel, display and the centre stack were the four investigated focus areas of the interface. Furthermore, the project concentrated on urban driving contexts, aiming to identify factors that positively affected the user experience and what key features contributed to it. Data about the users (the drivers) and the usage situation (driving in urban contexts) were collected using various methods to generate insights about the driving situation from different perspectives. The collected data was then carefully analysed and resulted in a list of identified factors that could be seen affecting the user experience of driving, and a compilation of features required to fulfil these factors and, in that way, contribute to a good user experience. The insights from the user studies were then used to create various prototypes of the four focus areas. The prototypes were then evaluated by the users to identify the best-performing ones based on set requirements and design guidelines. The prototypes of the four focus areas were then further developed and assembled, resulting in a final concept exemplifying how a good user experience could be received with a reduced number of features. The final concept focused on preventing overstimulation and distraction caused by the interface, as well as providing good usability where redundancy of features was avoided, since these were the general identified factors contributing to good user experience in urban contexts, in particular. The evaluation of the final concept revealed that a “less is more” approach to car design, focusing on essential features, can create a rich experience and address safety and usability concerns efficiently, which supports a shift towards more simple and user-centred designs in the car manufacturing industry.