How might we create an exceptional Ambient Lighting User Interface that enhances the user experience and reflects the luxurious nature of the Cadillac brand?

Overview

The primary challenge of this project was to design an Ambient Lighting experience that fulfilled the luxury expectations of Cadillac customers while being scalable across six vehicle programs with varying hardware capabilities. The user interface prioritizes a multi-function control experience, complemented by an intuitive touch interface. This dual experience is integrated into both the expansive front user interface and the rear center console, requiring designers to think both big and small to create a cohesive and sophisticated solution.

Process

1. Inspiration: Building the Foundation
   We began by diving into user research, market trends, industry competitive benchmarking, and analyzing the vehicle program goals and hardware requirements. This gave us a clear understanding of user expectations for luxury experiences and the technical constraints we needed to navigate. Partnering with experts outside the design community is critical to build a rich understanding of the context the experience will be used as well as the business goals we must achieve.
   Tools: UserTesting.com, Miro

2. Define: Setting the Direction
   With research insights in hand, I defined user goals, identified key behaviors, and created detailed user stories. These stories became the foundation for ensuring that every design decision aligned with Cadillac’s brand values and customer needs.
   Tools: Miro, FigJam

3. Ideation: Exploring the Possibilities
   I led a functional team through brainstorming exercises to produce a wide range of ideas where we aimed to balance innovation with scalability. We explored lighting configurations, touch interactions, and control mechanisms that could elevate the user experience while remaining consistent across varying vehicle models. For these programs, it was critical we considered the 2 methods of interaction (touch and multi-function controller) as well as varying screen shapes and sizes.
   Tools: FigJam, Figma, Axure, Idea Generation Methods (i.e. Crazy Eights, Affinity Diagramming, Mind Mapping)

4. Synthesis: Refining the Concepts
   We combined the strongest ideas into cohesive designs and further iterated to ensure a seamless, luxurious experience that worked for both the expansive front displays and the compact rear center consoles.
   Tools: FigJam, Figma, Idea Refinement Methods (i.e. Dot Voting, Storyboarding)

5. Prototyping: Rapidly Bringing Ideas to Life
   Using fast prototyping methods, I created interactive mockups to test how the Ambient Lighting controls would look and feel in real-world contexts. These prototypes were critical for exploring the dual-interface experience across different screen sizes and user scenarios.
   Tools: Figma, Axure, Sketch

6. Testing: Learning from Users
   I partnered with our internal User Research team to conduct usability tests with prototypes to gather feedback on interaction failures and usability flaws. Users tested lighting configurations, touch gestures, and multi-function controls, helping us pinpoint what resonated with them and what needed refinement.
   Tools: UserTesting.com, Figma, Axure

7. Iteration: Refining the Design
   Based on testing insights, I worked with the team to iterate and polish the design, ensuring it felt both intuitive and luxurious. This phase involved fine-tuning the balance between functionality and aesthetics.
   Tools: Figma, Axure

8. Handoff: Delivering to Development
   Once finalized, the designs were handed off to the software team with detailed specifications and assets. I ensured clear communication to maintain the integrity of the design through the development phase.
   Tools: Jira, Figma, Teams, Slack

9. Implementation Support: Bridging Design and Development
   I provided implementation support, collaborating with developers to address challenges and refine the experience during the build process. This ensured the final product met both user and business expectations.
   Tools: Jira, Figma, Teams, Slack

10. Execution: Impacting Millions
    The Ambient Lighting experience was successfully launched across six Cadillac vehicle programs, delivering a cohesive, sophisticated solution that delighted customers and elevated the brand’s luxury appeal.