Small SUVs are the most popular vehicle segment on the market. Buyers can range anywhere from 25 to 54 years old, though younger consumers for this segment are rising. In my interface, you will see designs that appeal to consistency and Jakob’s law. You will also see a journey of how a user realizes they have low tire pressure and the steps they take to resolve the issue. My inspiration for my car segment and designs was the 2023 Maserati Grecale.
How do we allow users to monitor tire pressure in their vehicle?
Tires are the most serviced vehicle part across all car segments. Though it is standard to notify drivers through the Tire Pressure Monitoring System of low tire pressure, this is often ignored until tires are critically low. Users are also generally unaware of what to do when a tire is low. I wanted to address how a user could solve a low tire before it becomes flat and how the system interface would assist with the problem before the user would have to rely on road-side assistance or towing.
The lowest psi that a tire can have and still be drivable is 20 psi. It is not recommended to drive on a tire this low, however, the tire can last for up to 50 miles if it is not leaking and be driven safely. This is the issue I targeted within my interface.
My solution to this issue given the market of small SUV users was self-driven action. If users are able to resolve the issue on their own, without the use of road side assistance, I found this to be the most optimal choice. In vehicle settings, the tire pressure screen is the default setting, in which they can immediately see how long they can drive on the tire and the closest repair shop to their current location. Users are able to quickly select the route presented and call ahead to the shop if necessary.
I also provided a standard vehicle manufacturer number for additional help.
3D car models offer an intuitive and eye catching way for users to interact with their vehicle settings. I provided an isometric view of the side of the vehicle that allows the user to see which tire is low and which ones are in good condition. This is indicated by the tire in the 3D model being highlighted with a hazard symbol. The user can manually rotate the car through touch and see the other side of the car’s tire pressures while still having an indication of which one is bad.
In my interface, the user first sees the tire pressure alert within the instrument cluster. On their homepage, within the notifications in the status bar, there is a message saying to check the vehicle settings. The icon for vehicle settings in the app selector has a pop-up alert over the car with the tire pressure symbol as well. By clicking the icon, the user will be taken to the tire pressure screen automatically, which is the default screen under vehicle settings.
