1. Overview
This project focused on rapidly prototyping a redesigned infotainment experience for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The goal was to rethink how drivers interact with core vehicle systems — from navigation and media to AI-driven maintenance and traffic sensing — and build a cohesive, modern interface that feels intelligent, intuitive, and distinctly Jeep.
The outcome was a fully clickable prototype that reimagines the digital cockpit experience, designed with a focus on clarity, flow, and adaptive system behavior.
2. Context / Problem
Many current in-car systems have grown increasingly complex, with fragmented controls and dense menus that pull attention away from the driving experience. For a vehicle as performance- and adventure-oriented as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the interface should enhance connection — not cause friction.
The challenge was to design a new infotainment layout that reduces cognitive load, improves situational awareness, and seamlessly integrates AI-driven contextual support for the driver — all within a two-week rapid prototyping window.
3. Research & Insights
I began by analyzing existing Jeep and competitor infotainment systems, identifying opportunities for clarity and hierarchy. Key user pain points included hidden system states (e.g., maintenance alerts), inconsistent visual rhythm, and too many nested touch points for essential actions.
In exploring user expectations, several themes stood out:
- Drivers want simplified layouts that surface critical data — not more screens.
- AI features should be visible but not intrusive, offering confidence rather than control.
- Environmental feedback (weather, traffic, vehicle health) should adapt proactively to context.
These findings informed a design direction rooted in adaptive intelligence — a system that anticipates needs, communicates clearly, and supports decision-making in motion.
4. Ideation
My process began with low-fidelity sketches that mapped out driver flows between navigation, music, and diagnostics. From there, I explored ways to centralize data — merging vehicle health, route awareness, and personal comfort into a unified experience.
Early ideation emphasized reducing visual clutter and highlighting key system feedback (such as AI sensing upcoming traffic or adjusting temperature for weather shifts). Storyboards illustrated how the interface could react naturally to changing driving contexts.
5. Design & Prototyping
Using Figma, I developed a high-fidelity prototype of the new infotainment ecosystem. The interface uses clear modular zones: navigation and media remain primary, while contextual AI modules slide in dynamically to support the driver when needed.
Design Rationale
- Color: A refined dark interface with subtle gradients and Jeep-inspired earth tones communicates strength and precision.
- Hierarchy: Core interactions are centralized within the driver’s immediate field of view, reducing reach and distraction.
- Typography: Clean sans-serif fonts improve legibility, with bold contrasts for glanceable readability.
- Motion: Micro-interactions and animations simulate system responsiveness, giving feedback through motion rather than clutter.
Every element was designed to balance rugged brand identity with futuristic precision — reflecting Jeep’s shift toward connected intelligence.
6. Testing & Iteration
I conducted informal usability tests with peers familiar with automotive systems, focusing on clarity, discoverability, and perceived intelligence of AI feedback.
Feedback revealed that users appreciated the visual restraint and contextual responsiveness but suggested clearer labels for diagnostic indicators and more prominent feedback when AI adjustments occurred.
Based on this, I refined menu transitions, improved alert timing visuals, and added icon-based reinforcement for predictive features like “traffic ahead” or “maintenance due.”
7. Outcome / Impact
The final prototype delivers a calm yet capable driving interface — one that integrates environmental awareness, personal comfort, and system intelligence into a cohesive experience. The redesign demonstrates how AI-driven adaptation can feel supportive rather than overwhelming.
This project strengthened my ability to execute rapid end-to-end UX flows while maintaining brand integrity and interface clarity under tight constraints. It also deepened my understanding of how motion, hierarchy, and adaptive design can coexist in a system built for focus and trust.
8. Reflection
Working solo under a two-week sprint taught me to prioritize momentum and clarity over perfection. I learned to balance technical realism with design storytelling — creating an experience that feels both functional and aspirational.
If revisited, I’d expand the prototype to include voice-based AI interactions and deeper personalization features, continuing to explore how vehicles can become intuitive collaborators rather than digital control panels.