Introduction

In an era where the electric vehicle market is gaining increasing prominence, user experience has become the key differentiator for brands. At HYCAN Automobile, we recognize that going beyond functional design is fundamental to achieving superior customer satisfaction and building a loyal customer base.

I had the privilege of joining the company at its inception, witnessing and driving the entire design process from user research to product delivery. Reflecting on this journey, I have not only witnessed HYCAN Automobile’s growth from ground zero but also felt honored to be part of the rapid industry development, where my professional growth has been closely intertwined with the company’s achievements.

Achievements

As a Senior Interaction Designer in our department, I have consistently adhered to a user-centric design philosophy. Through innovative design practices, we have created an outstanding electric vehicle experience that showcases cutting-edge technology infused with warmth.

From pre-sale information acquisition and driving experience to post-sale comprehensive care, we have ingrained our design philosophy across the entire value chain, striking a balance between commercial value and product experience.

[Pre-Sale] Enhancing the Online Car-Buying Experience

HYCAN Website Redesigned: Handling V09 Delivery with Enhanced User Experience

At the critical moment of delivering our first all-electric MPV, the V09, it was essential to provide potential customers with comprehensive information about the product, brand, and services. Addressing issues such as confusing navigation, unclear information display, and lackluster visual design on the website, we executed a thorough redesign. This update aimed to enhance user access efficiency and meet the demand for elevated brand image.

We completely restructured the homepage layout to present product information more intuitively and simply, while also adding more captivating brand stories. With the new homepage design, users can easily gain a comprehensive understanding of HYCAN's full range of services from pre-sale to after-sale, thereby obtaining a deeper brand impression.

Comparison of old and new homepages

During the overall design optimization, we paid special attention to the shortcomings of the old navigation bar's information organization. To address this, we redesigned the navigation bar, streamlining and logically distributing the information to ensure that users can quickly and intuitively find detailed information about each model, configuration options, and purchasing methods. This significantly improved the navigation efficiency for users.

Comparison of old and new navigation bars

In this project, we introduced the Framer design tool to create high-fidelity prototypes. This ensured that the original design intent could be accurately conveyed and allowed the development team to precisely reproduce the design. Not only did this enable us to gather real user feedback during the design phase, but it also provided developers with clear references, ensuring high-quality transition from design to implementation.

High-fidelity design demo by Framer

App and Website Order Process Redesign: Aiming for User-Center, Enhanced Car-Buying Experience

As the market evolves and our product line expands, our order process has adapted to meet the demands of various models and configurations. However, our previous focus on establishing business logic, coupled with extensive collaboration across departments—such as business, product, design, and development teams—left some gaps in the user experience.

Our objective this time was to enhance the online car-buying experience on both the app and the website, achieving the dual goals of streamlined ordering and exceptional user experience while maintaining business process integrity.

By gathering feedback from business teams and frontline sales personnel, we conducted thorough internal discussions and subsequently designed an entirely new purchase flow for the app and website. In this new process, users could swiftly browse and select personalized configurations with simple swipes, creating a smoother and more cohesive buying experience.

Unfortunately, due to project time constraints and practical engineering interface limitations, this innovative design could not be fully implemented. We had to revert to the original interaction scheme, where users could not switch views through swipes but were limited to clicking tabs, affecting the fluidity of the experience. Nevertheless, we continued to focus on optimization by adding left and right swipe gestures, enabling more natural and seamless page transitions for users.

Comparison of paginated and single-page solutions

In addition, we enhanced the information presentation capabilities of the design, including features like product model comparison, information layout optimization, and the integration of configuration preview information. These improvements aim to provide users with a clearer and more defined selection path, thereby increasing their sense of certainty and confidence.

Optimized order interface samples

After the optimization went live, we continued to collect and listen to feedback from business teams and frontline sales personnel. The positive feedback we received affirmed that our efforts provided a powerful tool for the company's sales processes.

[Car Using Experience] A Tech-Infused Vehicle Control Experience

Vehicle Connectivity and Desktop Widgets: Continuous Innovation and Enhanced Experience

After multiple rounds of user feedback and internal reviews, our design team utilized the double diamond model to iteratively upgrade the vehicle control assistant three times, aligning it more closely with the actual operating habits of car owners. Additionally, we unified the operation interfaces across different models, simplifying the development process while enhancing brand image and maintaining a consistent user experience.

Continuously iterated vehicle control interfaces, from left to right, designed in the years 2020, 2021, and 2023

When car owners scan a QR code with their phones to activate the vehicle after taking delivery, the newly designed vehicle control panel introduces animation elements and Haptic Engine vibration feedback. This makes the vehicle activation process intuitive and interactive. Once activation is complete, the animation seamlessly transitions to the vehicle control interface. The clear and intuitive interface design ensures that users can immediately understand the current status of their vehicle and remotely control it.

Activate vehicle animation

When designing the vehicle control interface, we focused not only on the visual presentation but also on the pleasurable sensation provided by haptic feedback. For instance, when executing remote control commands, we added vibration feedback signals to boost user confidence in their actions. In the air conditioning interface, we optimized the previous stepper controllers, which required multiple steps, by transitioning to quick sliding sliders. These sliders include automatic snapping and haptic feedback, improving adjustment speed while maintaining the precision feel of control.

Improvements to the air conditioning temperature adjustment panel

Back in June 2020, during WWDC20, Apple unveiled brand-new Widget design guidelines. As an interaction designer, my keen design intuition had me extraordinarily excited: we could leverage Widgets to offer car owners a more convenient and personalized vehicle connectivity and control experience, right from the home screen without needing to go through the app.

Subsequently, I independently conducted design and technical research and designed the first version of the interactive solution.

Widget first version design interaction diagram and some user feedback screenshots, as shown in the community article

This design proposal received approval from the product committee and garnered recognition and support from senior management. They praised the practicality of the solution and the timely introduction of new technologies. Once this Widget functionality was launched, it provided users with a new quick interaction channel, further enhancing their experience. It also established our company’s image as an innovator and technology leader within the industry.

SPA Remote Parking: Integration of Digital Twin Technology

The SPA (Smart Parking Assist) feature allows users to easily control their vehicle's movement forward or backward using a mobile app, which is particularly useful in compact parking spaces. During the initial development phase, our team invested substantial time researching how to make this feature intuitive and easy to understand. The goal was to ensure that users could effortlessly grasp and control the vehicle's movement posture, thereby reducing the risk of colliding with obstacles and enhancing confidence and convenience in its use.

In this design exploration, we drew inspiration from the concepts of digital twin technology and remote control car models. We decided to present a bird's-eye view of the vehicle combined with radar, lane lines, and the vehicle's movement direction on the user interface. Additionally, we designed an interaction interface that closely resembles a remote control, setting the final design tone for the SPA smart parking series.

SPA remote interaction design

[After-Sales] Providing Reliable and Thoughtful Service for Users

Worry-Free Travel: Upgrading the One-Click Rescue Experience

At HYCAN, we believe that post-sales service is not just about resolving technical issues but also about offering thoughtful care and timely, efficient support when users need it the most. When users experience vehicle malfunctions or emergencies, they often feel anxious and helpless. Thus, our service must not only strive for efficiency and ease of use but also be imbued with emotional intelligence to meet users' psychological needs during roadside assistance.

One-Click Rescue is more than just a simple rescue button; it is a comprehensive service process designed to immediately alleviate user anxiety and provide clear, real-time guidance.

To achieve this goal, our interaction design adheres to principles of being intuitive, explicit, efficient, and human-centered. On the user interface, we ensure that users can submit a rescue request swiftly with just four simple taps, without the need for cumbersome inputs.

Design Interface and part of the process display

However, I did not stop at merely completing the design. To further address the psychological needs of users in emergency situations and reduce their anxiety and uncertainty while waiting for assistance, I thought of leveraging the "Live Activities" feature in iOS. Consequently, we included a feature to display real-time rescue order updates on Dynamic Island. This significantly increased the certainty of the rescue order information. Even if users exit the HYCAN app, they can continue to receive the latest updates on the rescue status, greatly enhancing their sense of security and trust.

Dynamic Island design

The creative design for Dynamic Island was not initially specified in the product requirement documents. However, by once again thinking from the user's perspective, the addition of this feature embodies our commitment to providing reliable and thoughtful services. This design received unanimous approval and support from the business, product managers, and client development teams, leading to its successful implementation. This made HYCAN's user service experience more humane. Through such innovative designs, we not only improved customer satisfaction but also further solidified our brand image.

Summary

Since I first joined HYCAN, I have been dedicated to closely integrating corporate culture, business scenarios, and design ethos. Our design objectives have consistently emphasized a unified experience, a strong sense of brand identity, and the continuous pursuit of a unique delight; while our design principles have been rooted in a human-centered approach, emphasizing flexibility and natural fluidity.

Throughout various business scenarios—whether pre-sale car buying, in-car experiences, or post-sale services—the interaction designs I have spearheaded have strictly adhered to our foundational design principles. While preserving the original passion and intent of the design, I have continuously strived to achieve the optimal balance between commercial value and user needs.

Through these design practices, I have come to deeply understand the importance of constant adaptation and innovation in my work. I also recognize the need to find the golden intersection between business objectives and user satisfaction. These valuable experiences have enabled me to better play the role of a designer and guardian of user experience within the team, while also helping HYCAN build a strong user reputation and brand image.