Driver Information Center

PROJECT

Role

Visual Designer

Duration

Objective

2019-2021

case study

Develop Driver Information Center designs that align with the unique identities of the Honda and Acura brands, featuring both Tour and Sport modes for each. This three-year project was a collaboration between General Motors and Honda, requiring a close partnership with a team of Japanese counterparts to ensure cohesion and precision.

The partnership between Honda and GM was focused on jointly developing a series of affordable EVs using GM's Ultium battery technology. By sharing resources such as vehicle platforms, manufacturing, and purchasing, the companies aimed to cut costs. This collaboration would allow them to integrate their best technologies, advance existing innovations, lower the cost of electrification, and enhance connectivity. Ultimately, the partnership would accelerate the electrification of both companies' fleets, helping to lessen the environmental impact.

Using GM software as a base I was tasked with creating the visual content for digital instrument clusters for two electric vehicles: 2024 Honda Prologue and 2024 Acura ZDX.

Overview

2024 Honda Prologue

Here is a short introduction to the cluster

2024 Acura ZDX

program manager

design manager

1 visual designer

software dev team

The Honda team was based in Japan, so all collaboration took place through phone calls and weekly Microsoft Teams meetings. There was also a 3-day in-person workshop held on-site, with the Honda team flying in from Japan for the event.

Responsibilities:

  • Conducting weekly reviews with GM and Honda teams

  • Developing proofs of concept, demos, and prototypes to communicate ideas and expectations

  • Designing graphics and layouts, and iterating as needed working closely with my counterparts at Honda

  • Adapting GM system specifications and practices and the style guide provided by Honda to the unique designs

  • Collaborating with designers from Honda team to ensure alignment with design systems

  • Creating, reviewing, and refining prototypes to align the final implementation with the design vision and expectations

  • Coordinate with localization teams to ensure designs are adaptable to different markets

  • Ensuring that the content complies with all global markets

  • Collecting technical documentation from engineers and feature owners to ensure designs meet hardware and program specifications

  • Understanding complex technical details of the system in order to interpret the requirements accurately

  • Integrating GM telltale configuration to meet Honda requirements

  • Managing deliverables and timing

  • Sketch, Illustrator, Photoshop,

  • images, videos, documentation

Deliverables

Team

program manager

design manager

1 visual designer

1 engineer consultant

Honda

GM

+

  • style guide

  • fonts

  • requirements

  • wireframes

  • documentation

  • functionality

  • design files

  • software development

  • software integration

Workload

The designs were based on 6 templates (wireframes) providing core elements of the cluster: gauges, cards, telltales, notifications, etc, that would display various vehicle and safety information.

  • multiple gauge configurations (clean, single, dual)

  • 2 modes (tour, sport)

  • 5 base layouts - clean, single gauge, dual gauge, navigation, charging

  • 40+ individual card layouts

  • brand specific variants

  • multiple layouts for notifications and alerts (text only, text + button)

  • 40+ individual card layouts (per brand)

Driver Information Center

  • vehicle information, safety and visibility requirements in each layout

©

Anna Maria Wagner 2024