ROLE
Student consultant + UX researcher + UXUI designer
TOOLS
Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, existing Toyota design system
COLLABORATORS
Senior software engineers
TIMELINE
09/2023 - 04/2024
OVERVIEW
Toyota is revolutionizing the trailer hitching process by creating a trailer hitch guidance system that empowers users to effortlessly align their vehicles with trailers for seamless connections with the power of autonomous driving.
Here is how the application will be integrated seamlessly into the existing trailer hitching process:
Pick up Trailer
Open Toyota app
Vehicle Autonomously Reverses
Hitch Trailer Following Guidance
By utilizing the smartphone as a remote control, drivers can manipulate the trailer's position with precision and accuracy, eliminating the frustration and difficulty associated with hitching trailers. This cutting-edge technology provides step-by-step visual instructions and real-time feedback, ensuring that the trailer is aligned correctly for a secure and hassle-free hitching experience. With the app's user-friendly interface and advanced guidance features, the trailer hitching process becomes efficient, convenient, and stress-free, enhancing the overall towing experience for users.
The feature, when finished, should resemble the remote park system that is depicted here:
NDA
Please note that the wireframes and prototypes made for this project are protected by an NDA. If you would like to know more, please contact me.
PROJECT SUMMARY
OBJECTIVES
KEY GOALS
The project aims to design intuitive interfaces for both the Multimedia Screen within vehicles and a smartphone application, enabling users to remotely control the hitching process with precision.
USER NEEDS
Address the needs of drivers towing trailers, offering a convenient and stress-free hitching solution.
STAKEHOLDERS
Toyota's engineering, design, and marketing teams, along with potential users, are key stakeholders.
CONSTRAINTS
Budget, regulatory requirements, and technical compatibility may impact design decisions and timelines.
INTEGRATE A TRAILER HITCHING GUIDANCE FEATURE INTO THE TOYOTA APP
CREATE AN UI CONTROL FOR THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE REVERSAL
PROVIDE STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS AND REAL-TIME FEEDBACK FOR ACCURATE HITCHING
ENSURE GLOBAL USABILITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS.
PROBLEM STATEMENTS
USER PROBLEM STATEMENT
How can a trailer hitching application be designed to simplify the process for drivers, addressing frustrations and challenges while providing clear guidance and remote control capabilities?
BUSINESS PROBLEM STATEMENT
How can Toyota leverage the development of a trailer hitching application to enhance its brand reputation, meet the demand for innovative automotive solutions, and improve customer satisfaction and competitiveness in the automotive market?
WHITE PAPER RESEARCH
Because most people had different trailers, the hitching process could look slightly different for each individual user.
One of the most complex elements of trailer hitching is deciding how much weight the user's vehicle can tow, how much weight can be placed on the hitch tongue, and how much weight can be placed on the trailer.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
To better understand the needs and expectations of the trailer hitching system we are creating for Toyota, we decided to perform a comparative analysis of the other kinds of trailer hitching systems that exist on the market. By analyzing the similarities and differences between each company’s system, we can gather insights into specific patterns and trends that help us with our design decisions.
Below are the 6 key features we determined through our research and client consultations:
01 EASE OF INSTALLATION
How easily can users install the system? (Ex. any instruction manual, guidance system, user-friendly interface, etc)
02 WEIGHT CAPABILITIES
What is the maximum weight the vehicle can tow?
03 SAFETY FEATURES
What are features to ensure user safety while hitching a trailer?
04 CAMERA FEATURES
Are there any particular camera features? (Ex. 360 view camera, multi-angle camera, etc.)
05 COMPATIBILITY WITH DIFFERENT MODELS
Is the system compatible with various automobile vehicle models and/or accessories?
06 UNIQUE FEATURES
Are there any unique technological features that make the specific system stand out?
PRO USER INTERVIEWS
The user interview with proficient trailer hitchers began by brainstorming interview questions after initial white paper research, which was then narrowed down to around a dozen questions, sorted into the following categories:
DEMOGRAPHIC
If you're comfortable sharing, could you please provide your age?
What do you do for a living?
What car do you drive?
PROCESS
How did you learn to hitch trailers?
Can you recall the most recent instance when you hitched a trailer and elaborate on the reasons behind it? Please walk us through your experience.
Where did you acquire the trailer and the necessary mechanical parts?
How is your experience connecting the trailer to your vehicle in general? You can tell me about the amount of time it takes for you to complete the process, the most complex steps, etc
Follow-up: What makes doing ___ more difficult than the other steps?
Tell me about your experience backing up your car for the hitch to align with the ball joint.
LOGISTICS
How do you typically troubleshoot issues that come up during the trailer hitching process?
How do you know how much weight you can tow?
SAFETY
What safety measures do you take when hitching a trailer?
RECOMMENDATIONS
Can you share a unique or “lesser known” tip about hitching trailers?
Are there any customizable features or shortcuts you wish could be included in the hitching process that would be beneficial for you?
After having completed the interview script, I then devised an image association exercise for participants to freely think outloud as they examine the following images:
I also engaged with beginner users who approached the trailer hitching process with fresh perspectives and willingness to explore. These interviewees, who are unfamiliar with the intricacies of the system, provided initial impressions and intuitive features. As they navigated through the demonstration, the team was able to identify areas where clarity is needed within the trailer hitching process, such as necessary safety checks.
Here are the questions we asked beginners:
How old are you?
What car do you drive?'
What car(s) do your family members drive?
Do you see yourself using a trailer in the future?
If so, what will you be using it for? If not, why not?
Have you seen a close friend or family hitch trailers or use a trailer before?
To jumpstart the think-out-loud portion of the interview, I then showed the following videos to the participant as a beginner's crash course to the trailer hitching process.
After the participants are finished watching the videos, I then asked them to:
01 RECALL EACH STEP
02 AND RANKING THEM BASED ON PERCEIVED DIFFICULTY
FOR EVERY HITCH PACKAGE INSTALLATION
01 RECALL EACH STEP
02 AND RANKING THEM BASED ON PERCEIVED DIFFICULTY
FOR EVERY STEP INVOLVED IN THE TRAILER HITCHING PROCESS
After having completed the aforementioned sets of user interviews with pro and beginner users, I headed to U-Haul to:
ASK THE U-HAUL MANAGER…
What do U-Haul customers find to be the most difficult or confusing about the trailer hitching process?
How much is renting a trailer by the hour?
What do U-Haul customers typically tow with the trailers?
How do customers hitch trailers at U-Haul?
What safety checks do you perform before the customer hits the road?
Do accidents take place when hitching trailers at U-Haul? If so, what are they?
Here is a clip from my UX observation at U-Haul:
I also encountered a few U-Haul customers onsite, and I introduced myself so I can:
OBSERVE THE CUSTOMER UNHITCH THEIR TRAILER
AND ASK THE CUSTOMERS…
How long have you been hitching trailers?
What do you find to be the most difficult or confusing about the trailer hitching process?
What are you towing today?
How was your experience hitching U-Haul trailers?
Here is a clip of me speaking with U-Haul customers:
Each UX research method had a affinity diagram made based on findings, which each correlates roughly to a persona.
PERSONAS
01 PROFICIENT TRAILER HITCHER
02 BEGINNER TRAILER HITCHER
03 THE TRAILER WORKER
UX REQUIREMENTS
JOURNEY MAP
APP FLOW DIAGRAM
WIREFRAMING + MID-FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
This portion of the project is protected by an NDA.
CREATING GUIDANCE VIDEOS ON BLENDER
For the step-by-step guidance process of the application, I took it upon myself to learn how to sculpt, shade, and animate on Blender so that I can create a series of short, concise guidance videos for the user to view and learn from. Here is a snippet video of me sculpting the Toyota SUV's ball mount on Blender:
USER TESTING
To user test our mid-fidelity prototype with Toyota's brand guidelines and instructional videos applied, I drove a few participants to U-Haul and used Figma mirror to project the prototype onto my phone, which the participants then used to guide themselves through the trailer hitching process.
TAKEAWAYS
SEGMENT YOUR USERS
A massive pillar that supported the wonderful deliverables of this project is the fact that I had thought ahead and conducted 3 different UX research cycles with the 3 user segments.
PICK YOUR CLIENT'S BRAIN… A LOT
Gathering weekly feedback from Toyota engineers ensured I never strayed too far from the client's objectives and desired outcome.
HITCH THE TRAILER IN REAL LIFE
Conducting white paper research could not even come close to comparing to hitching trailers in real life.
STUDY YOUR COMPETITORS RELIGIOUSLY
Since so many applications have been completed already in the guidance application space, it was crucial for me to extract their pro's and reject their con's.
