EV interface
An adoptive EV interface for
I led the HMI design for Avatr - creating a new interface for EVs. The “Stand by me” offers users scenario-based, customized, and intelligent features, transforming the car into an emotional companion.
Client
Avatr
My role
UX designer
Contribution
User research / Product strategy / Product design / 3D-rendering / Motion / Film production
Timeline
12 weeks (May. - July 2022)
A car that can adapt to different scenarios
A car that adjusts according to your preferences
A car that can showcase my personality
A car that can continually accompany me
Problem
There are 149 EV brands in China in 2022. As a newly established company, Avatr aims to become a strong market competitor by creating a high-end vehicle focused on the driving experience. Avatr has a top-tier technical team but lacks the ability to translate it into a cohesive design language.
Recognizing the gap between technology and users, we use design to bridge the connection between advanced technology and real user scenarios.
Research
Through interviews with the German car design team, the technical team, the new generation of EV users, and by test-driving competitor EVs, we identified the following issues.
Painpoints
The vehicle should meet individual needs
Users hope their car can meet their basic needs and, more importantly, fulfill their needs in specific scenarios.
Balance advanced technology with low learning costs
Even though users love technology, they want it to be as user-friendly as possible.
The driving experience focuses on the driver
Users primarily drive themselves and hope to make driving easier and more comfortable, while also providing some convenient features for the front passenger.
Solution
The HMI provides users with a scenario-based experience. It simplifies advanced technology, making it easy to understand and interact with, so users feel the car is intuitive to control and effectively meets their needs at the right time.
Features
Provide specified design for the needs of different scenarios
Solo & Duo mode based on user needs
Break away from hierarchical system structures for feature recommendations
Personalize the owner’s car in the virtual garage
Get emotionally-driven data visualization annually
Easily switch between scenarios with a single click.
We provide five default high-frequency usage scenarios, which users can adjust or customize based on their needs or create new scenarios.
Daily driving
Sport driving
Camping
Zen Space
Solo & Duo mode based on user needs
The target users typically travel with 1-2 people. We designed an adjustable dock bar, ensuring the driver’s experience is prioritized while also accommodating the needs of the front passenger.
Give the switching feature a try
System-level feature recommendations
To make advanced technology easier to use, we designed a system-level recommendation card that appears when the vehicle detects specific features are available.
Personalize the owner’s car in the virtual garage
Users want their cars to feel unique. To address this, we introduced a virtual garage where they can customize their cars and share their designs with the community.
The customized car will also appear in other interfaces, such as ADAS and navigation.
Get emotionally-driven data visualization annually
At the end of the year, users will receive a report that presents all the collected data in an emotionally engaging way, helping them recall valuable memories they’ve shared with their vehicles.
Project Video
Education
Carnegie Mellon University
MDes Design for Interactions 2025
Tongji University
B.E. Industrial Design 2021
Experience
AgWise
Founding UX Designer (Part-time) 2024
ARK Design, Volkswagen Group
UX Designer II 2021-2023
IDEO
UX Design Freelancer 2021
Product Design Intern 2020-2021
AQKA
Research Intern 2020
Award
Red Dot Design Award
Concept Design Award 2020, 2025
Core 77 Design Awards
Student Winner | App & Platforms Award
Dyson Design Award
Globe Top 20
A’ Design Award
Silver Award
Indigo Design Award
Gold Winner
NY Product Design Awards
Silver Winner | Interactive Design
Muse Creative Award
Silver Winner
@Albert Zhang 2025