Client: Ford - Interaction Design

Defining key user experiences for Ford's first autonomous vehicle.

Defining key user experiences for Ford's first autonomous vehicle.

In 2017 Ford began planning their first autonomous vehicle, a modified version of a popular van product that could serve both moving people around a city and providing services. We were tasked with defining the key features for this vehicle and how it could develop in the near and far term.

My Role

I led interaction design on this project, designing user journeys, digital interfaces, and animating interactions on vehicle prototypes.

Challenge

We were tasked with creating a vision for Ford's first autonomous vehicle, focused on moving people, goods, and services.

Solution

We visualized 4 distinct user journeys, and vehicle features that would allow people to have intuitive experiences with their first autonomous vehicles.

Existing Vehicle Research

Ford planned to use an existing popular vehicle platform to build the AV capabilities into. We spent the beginning of the project getting comfortable with the form factor and space it would allow.

Initial Sketches & Prototypes

I sketched out a variety of new experiences and interactions that could be unlocked with the ability for the car to drive itself. These experiences included features like a handle to push and pull an AV through a warehouse, entertainment for passengers, and projections for communicating with traffic and pedestrians.

I sketched out a variety of new experiences and interactions that could be unlocked with the ability for the car to drive itself. These experiences included features like a handle to push and pull an AV through a warehouse, entertainment for passengers, and projections for communicating with traffic and pedestrians.

Stakeholder Workshops

Before refining our designs and concepts we spent time with vehicle engineers to get their feedback on feasibility and priority in the planning stages of the vehicle.

Before refining our designs and concepts we spent time with vehicle engineers to get their feedback on feasibility and priority in the planning stages of the vehicle.

Optimising Life

The first user journey we illustrated was for how an AV could be shared by a busy family, running errands and keeping kids safe.

The first user journey we illustrated was for how an AV could be shared by a busy family, running errands and keeping kids safe.

Nimble Commute

This concept highlighted how AV's could work with public transport systems to get commuters to their last-mile destinations. It also highlighted how the AV can manage a "pool" of rides at any given time.

This concept highlighted how AV's could work with public transport systems to get commuters to their last-mile destinations. It also highlighted how the AV can manage a "pool" of rides at any given time.

Orchestrating Systems

This journey walked though the process of a large-scale logistics company using a fleet of vehicles to deliver goods and services into a city with minimal human interaction.

This journey walked though the process of a large-scale logistics company using a fleet of vehicles to deliver goods and services into a city with minimal human interaction.

Bootstrapping Business

Finally, we highlighted how AVs could help support logistics for small businesses, where they would have the ability to customize modules in the vehicle tailored to their business needs, whether it's as a food truck, kiosk, or delivery vehicle.

Finally, we highlighted how AVs could help support logistics for small businesses, where they would have the ability to customize modules in the vehicle tailored to their business needs, whether it's as a food truck, kiosk, or delivery vehicle.

The Handshake

I animated the digital interactions that we decided were essential for vehicles easily interact with humans. We used external signage, projections, and a mobile app to establish the first contact a user has with an AV, to confirm the ride is for that user.

I animated the digital interactions that we decided were essential for vehicles easily interact with humans. We used external signage, projections, and a mobile app to establish the first contact a user has with an AV, to confirm the ride is for that user.

The Sendoff

While exiting an AV, the vehicle used external lights to show that it can detect when objects are near it, as well as direct traffic to make sure passengers are safe leaving the vehicle.

While exiting an AV, the vehicle used external lights to show that it can detect when objects are near it, as well as direct traffic to make sure passengers are safe leaving the vehicle.

Cargo Delivery

If the AV is upfitted for delivering goods, the external communication can help signal the state it is in to traffic, aswell as help the user identify where to pull their package.

External Collaboration

In scenarios such as large warehouses or commercial parking lots, workers can interact with and remote control the vehicle for easy adjustments.

In scenarios such as large warehouses or commercial parking lots, workers can interact with and remote control the vehicle for easy adjustments.

Designed in Chicago -> Detroit

Designed in Chicago -> Detroit

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