Trust the Future
Trust the Future
Towing a trailer is often stressful—especially for those unfamiliar with traditional hitch systems. Our team set out to design a hitch less trailer system for autonomous vehicles, focusing on building user trust through an intuitive onboarding experience.
Towing a trailer is often stressful—especially for those unfamiliar with traditional hitch systems. Our team set out to design a hitch less trailer system for autonomous vehicles, focusing on building user trust through an intuitive onboarding experience.
Role
Reseacher, UI Designer
Role
Reseacher, UI Designer
Project Type:
UX Design
Project Type:
UX Design
RELEASE
2022
RELEASE
2022
Credit
Beatriz Garza, Manuel Galindo
Credit
Beatriz Garza, Manuel Galindo
Situation
Situation
New hitch less trailer technology presents a unique opportunity—and challenge. While it eliminates the need for manual hitching, it also introduces unfamiliar mechanics that can be intimidating to average users.
New hitch less trailer technology presents a unique opportunity—and challenge. While it eliminates the need for manual hitching, it also introduces unfamiliar mechanics that can be intimidating to average users.
Task
Task
Design a system that:
Leverages emerging tech(LiDar, radar, sensors) to function hitch-free
Builds trust and confidence through a seamless user centered onboarding experience.
Design a system that:
Leverages emerging tech(LiDar, radar, sensors) to function hitch-free
Builds trust and confidence through a seamless user centered onboarding experience.
Action
Action
User and Market Research
Interviewed a Home Depot employee and a trailer user to understand current behaviors
Test drove a Tesla to study autonomous driving technology
Analyzed 35+ sources on emerging technologies
Design Strategy
Created 20+ journey maps and 3 protopersonas to represent user types
Used future wheels, concept maps, and assumption reversals to explore system impacts and ideas
Storyboarded user scenarios to visualize onboarding and everyday use
Interface Design
Designed UI inspired by autonomous vehicle brands (e.g., Tesla)
Built onboarding screens with clear visuals and explanations
Mapped sensor placement to ensure operational safety
User and Market Research
Interviewed a Home Depot employee and a trailer user to understand current behaviors
Test drove a Tesla to study autonomous driving technology
Analyzed 35+ sources on emerging technologies
Design Strategy
Created 20+ journey maps and 3 protopersonas to represent user types
Used future wheels, concept maps, and assumption reversals to explore system impacts and ideas
Storyboarded user scenarios to visualize onboarding and everyday use
Interface Design
Designed UI inspired by autonomous vehicle brands (e.g., Tesla)
Built onboarding screens with clear visuals and explanations
Mapped sensor placement to ensure operational safety
Result
Result
Our final deliverable was a user interface prototype that introduces and supports a hitch less trailer system. The design addresses trust-building through familiar visuals, informative onboarding, and customizable safety features. Key insights gained included:
Novice users either seek help or avoid trailers entirely.
Trust is increased through customizable vehicle behavior and enhanced safety.
Our final deliverable was a user interface prototype that introduces and supports a hitch less trailer system. The design addresses trust-building through familiar visuals, informative onboarding, and customizable safety features. Key insights gained included:
Novice users either seek help or avoid trailers entirely.
Trust is increased through customizable vehicle behavior and enhanced safety.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Collaborate with engineering teams to begin prototyping hardware
Select materials and sensors for real-world implementation
Conduct usability and safety testing in real environments
Explore partnerships and business models for future production
Collaborate with engineering teams to begin prototyping hardware
Select materials and sensors for real-world implementation
Conduct usability and safety testing in real environments
Explore partnerships and business models for future production