Brief 3 - Instrument Cluster - Benchmarking/Pre-existing product research

Ford

Tesla

Land Rover

Whereas traditional, dial-based instrument clusters all tended to look more or less the same, the introduction of digital, or virtual instrument clusters gave an opportunity to manufacturers to be more individual. They could now better express their brand, and include real-time, dynamic and personalised features that would've been impossible on physical dials. Whereas most automakers chose the skeuomorphic route of emulating the appearance of the physical dials they were replacing, others, such as Tesla, completely ignored their origins to create a much more simple and usable aesthetic which complemented, not hindered, the newly enabled features. 

Brief 3 - Instrument Cluster - Opportunities

There are two unique opportunities provided by the vehicle being electric and autonomous. The more simple nature of electric vehicles (i.e. the lack of a transmission, meaning no gears, or the non-existence of engine revolutions) means that much less information is initially required on the instrument cluster. Most of what exists on traditional clusters is no longer required. This frees up a lot of space to simplify and be more adventurous with the visual elements. 

Elements of autonomy in the vehicle would also allow for more creative freedom - if the user isn't actually operating the vehicle, then the danger of distractions or flair is no longer relevant. This allows for the exploration of abstract or decorative concepts. 

Brief 3 - Instrument Cluster

Design a range of conceptual, digital instrument clusters for a brandless electric vehicle. Challenge what an instrument cluster can be, remember the autonomous future of vehicles, and utilise colour to evoke various psychological responses. 

Experimenting with instrument cluster designs will help assess and develop my ability and knowledge of automotive UI design, a field I intend to enter after graduating.  

A contemporary virtual instrument cluster in Ford vehicles

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Design Boards

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Styleguide

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Final Mockups

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Other Pages and Style Alignment

Desktop variants to explore the adaptability of the UI style

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Theme lock and minor revisions

Cloud vs No Cloud: various design iterations of the dashboard and other pages have experiments versions which include a Cloud overlaying some graphic elements. This is to provide a feeling of fluidity; that the boundaries of the interface can be broken and explored. 

Of 100 people, 61% voted that the cloud does not improve the overall design. The biggest reason for this was the subsequent concealment of content. In more detailed feedback sessions however, many people liked the idea of the cloud being slowly animated, or providing a realtime incorporation of the current weather. In the end a compromised was reached - the cloud is to be shown almost exclusively on a Dark Mode/Night Mode colour scheme version of the app only, in order to provide a more dynamic, night-time aesthetic. 

The inclusion of a white stroke around the buttons on the Dark Mode variant largely increases the sense of hierarchy and distinction of elements on the page, but falls off-theme with the rest of the UI. 

True black (right) and true white have been transitioned to dark grey and grey white to avoid unnecessary contrast, providing a more comfortable experience for the eyes.

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Design iteration

Various layout and shadow iterations + experimentation with editorial-inspired layouts

Drop shadow iterations - various intensities to create a tighter or 'floatier' visual. Rounded iterations were later included to create a stronger link to clouds, but were disregarded on grounds of aesthetic after multiple feedback sessions.

Initial desktop iterations to assess the design's scalability. Though simple and modernist, these designs were deemed too 'sciency' and flat. If people are trying to sleep, the last thing they want to look at is a graph.

Background blurs can give the appearance of looking through glass, which can have an abstract link to peering out of a window at the sky. Though a relaxing thought, the aesthetic was not compliant with the tone of voice and theme of the app. 

The product's tone of voice must be universally positive - telling people they're not sleeping very well will not help them sleep very well. 

A failed colour concept. Blue used to create calming aesthetic but contrasts too much with surroundings. 

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Initial Design Sprints

Initial designs utilise blue because of its high rate of favourability and its ability to relax and calm users. White-on-white could be used with drop shadows to create an abstract link to clouds - a visual often associated with relaxation and sleep. Large typography and a constant reminder of the user's location within the system increases usability and abides by the Human Interface guidelines of iOS 11. 

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - User personas and target audience

Since stress is one of the main prohibitors of sleep, it made sense to look into which category of person is statistically the most stressed. In the US, that's young adults - and females slightly more than males. 

The interface will use contemporary, flat design to appeal to young people, though a simple layout and overall experience will ensure anyone can use it. The design will not be gendered; it must appeal to as many people as possible. 

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Wireframing

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - The impact of colour

Goals:

Reducing work and study related stress
Using colour to our advantage
Promoting mindfulness 
Promoting rest and sleep 

Interior designers have long used colour to create feelings of coziness or spaciousness. Thought it varies from person to person and people respond differently to different colour stimuli. Blue is the top choice/favourite colour for 35% of Americans, followed by green (16%), purple (10%) and red (9%). 

"A preference for blue and green may be due to a preference for certain habitats that were beneficial in the ancestral environment as explained in the evolutionary aesthetics article."

There is evidence that color preference may depend on ambient temperature. People who are cold prefer warm colours like red and yellow while people who are hot prefer cool colours like blue and green. Some research has concluded that women and men respectively prefer "warm" and "cool" colours.

A few studies have shown that cultural background has a strong influence on color preference. These studies have shown that people from the same region regardless of race will have the same color preferences. Also, one region may have different preferences than another region (i.e., a different country or a different area of the same country), regardless of race.

Conclusion 

If a colour is to be used, blue should be the one. It is the most common favourite colour, is often regarded as being cool and calming, and studies have shown that people with blue bedrooms get the most sleep. 

It is worth noting that emitted blue light has been found to suppresses the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. Blue light filters are now being integrated into device operating systems to help. Whilst important, every display always emits blue light, so the inclusion of additional blue in any of my potential designs wouldn't exacerbate this. 

Brief 2 - RSA Competition - Visual research

A light colour theme and a liberal amount of space is used well in this interface to create a calming and relaxing appearance

Using dark grey instead of black can create a less intense appearance. True black should be used for OLED displays, however, to take advantage of their pixel-off screen technology.

Large typography, visible drop shadows and an overwhelming use of white space are all major contemporary trends in UI design  

Conclusion

Using colour and space to the advantage of the UI is essential. It can be used to help create a more relaxed, breathable aesthetic and a more positive user experience. A use of shadow and abstract material is a contemporary UI trend that allows for more exciting visuals and animation, and if used well, a more natural and flowing experience. 

Brief 2 - RSA Competition Brief

RSA Philips Brief 2017: Sleep Matters 

Design a product, service or system to improve health and wellbeing by encouraging and/or enabling better sleep.

People often lack enough sleep, or struggle to get to sleep, for the following reasons:

Anxiety or stress, particularly about work or study

The modern propensity for working late 

Technology that allows people to work from anywhere at any time

Getting caught up in thoughts about past events 

Excessive worrying about future events 

A feeling of responsibility 

A feeling of being overstimulated 

Poor sleep patterns 

Eating late 

My brief:

Create an interface that helps people focus, relax and forget about the world. Don't occupy it with statistics or numbers; it's good to help people inform themselves, but a preoccupation with improvement isn't helpful. 

Brief 1 - BFR UI - Design boards

Brief 1 - BFR UI - Device mockups