OVERVIEW
Scout Motors, revived by Volkswagen Group, is building rugged, all-electric SUVs and trucks for outdoor adventures. Our team was tasked with designing the central display — a system that had to balance tactile controls for off-road safety with modern touch interfaces for everyday driving.
CHALLENGE
How might we build a central display that is intuitive, reliable in off-road conditions, and community-driven — enabling both driver and passenger to share the interface and collaborate seamlessly?
TIMELINE
RESESRCH
We began by benchmarking off-road vehicles and analyzing brand forums, where drivers shared what they valued (e.g., rugged tactile buttons) and what frustrated them (e.g., touchscreen over-reliance). These insights revealed clear gaps and opportunities for Scout’s design.
We also studied Chinese automotive interfaces, known for a strong focus on shared displays. Their approach to driver–passenger collaboration offered valuable inspiration for share screen.
OPPOTRTUNITIES
DESIGN GOALS
WIREFRAME BRAINSTOBRMING
Exploring Layout Concepts for Shared Interaction
We explored multiple wireframe directions to visualize and test different ideas for balancing control, usability, and collaboration.
Introduced dual sidebars so driver and passenger could make independent adjustments. The right sidebar supported multitasking for passenger use without disrupting the driver.
Wireframe
Explored user preference between adjustable vs. fixed dual-screen layouts, testing how much flexibility truly improved collaboration.
Wireframe
Allowed users to preset up to four screen layouts for one-tap access to frequently used apps, reducing repetitive operations.
Pushed the limit by enabling up to three simultaneous screens, maximizing information display and multitasking freedom.
Wireframe
USABILITY TESTING & CLIENT ALIGNMENT
Before testing, we met with the client to ensure our design explorations aligned with Scout’s brand and business goals. We then conducted usability sessions to evaluate which concepts best balanced safety, usability, and collaboration.
RESULT
Based on the evaluation result, we came up with these three designs with a higher voting for ease of use, less learning burden, and safety, and the next step is moving them to the usability testing.
WIREFRAME REFINE
By combining the strengths of each approach and addressing pain points, we moved forward with a refined version. Key updates include:
Improvement: We refined the layout to a 50/50 split, giving both apps equal visibility and reducing cognitive load. A central swap button was added so drivers could quickly switch screens, supporting safer multitasking.
Improvement: Originally, closing the split-screen always removed the right panel. Testing showed drivers wanted choice, so we added a close button on each panel. This gave users more control, reduced distraction, and supported smoother driver–passenger collaboration.
A/B TESTING
Split-Screen Button Placement
There was internal debate around the placement of the split-screen button—left side for consistency vs. bottom-center for functional clarity. A/B testing showed strong user preference for the bottom-center placement, citing better visibility and more intuitive access during driving.
FINAL DESIGN DECISION
Split-Screen Activation for Safe Access
The split-screen activation button is placed at the bottom center within the driver’s natural reach zone, ensuring high visibility and minimizing distraction for safer operation during driving.
Design Decision 2: Screen Swapping & App Customization
A central toggle lets users swap screen positions, while side buttons on each panel enable independent app selection. This design supports flexible multitasking, allowing both driver and passenger to adjust content without interfering with one another.
Consistent and Clear Exit Interaction
The same button used to enter split-screen also exits it, ensuring a predictable interaction flow. Dedicated close buttons on each panel give users clear control over which screen to close, maintaining focus and reducing cognitive load.
IMPACT
Improved Driver-Passenger Collaboration
By implementing the community UX concept, the final design enables seamless interaction between both driver and passenger, promoting a shared in-car experience without compromising safety or clarity.
Enhanced Usability in Real-World Conditions:
The integration of tactile buttons for critical functions ensures reliable operation in off-road and high-motion environments, addressing the limitations of touchscreen-only interfaces.
User-Centered Interaction Model
Iterative testing led to refinements in icon clarity, multitasking flows, and app management—resulting in a more intuitive, flexible, and personalized experience for diverse user needs.
RETROSPECTIVE
It was a valuable experience collaborating with our client Matt and the Scout Motors team on the design of the HMI dashboard interface. Sincere thanks to our dedicated team members, our instructor Tim, and everyone at Scout Motors for their support and collaboration throughout the project.
01. Understanding Stakeholder Priorities
Given the limited availability of participants with off-road or truck-driving experience, some usability testing feedback lacked direct relevance to the target context. This challenged us to apply critical thinking when analyzing responses—extracting actionable insights while filtering out less contextually relevant input.
02. Balancing Innovation with User Mental Models
Pushing for innovation in HMI design occasionally created friction with users’ existing mental models. This experience underscored the importance of balancing usability with forward-thinking ideas—respecting user expectations while carefully introducing new interaction patterns.
