Industry
Industry
Automotive
Automotive
Timeline
Timeline
May - August 2024
May - August 2024
Dodge UXD Internship
Dodge UXD Internship
Dodge UXD Internship
My Role
My Role
My Role
UX Researcher
UX Researcher
UX Researcher
Product Designer
Product Designer
Product Designer
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designer
Tools Used
Tools Used
Tools Used
Figma
Figma
Figma
Unity 3D
Unity 3D
Unity 3D
Indesign
Indesign
Indesign
Design the next generation of racing experiences for Dodge vehicles.
Design the next generation of racing experiences for Dodge vehicles.
Overview
Overview
Overview
Internship Overview
Internship Overview
Internship Overview
As a UX Design Intern on Stellantis’ Advanced and Vision team, I explored how racing could be reimagined inside the next generation of Dodge vehicles. The challenge was to design immersive digital and VR experiences that pushed brand innovation while remaining intuitive for drivers.
To ground the concepts in real-world insights, I conducted over 15 interviews with racing stakeholders across North America and Europe. These conversations revealed key opportunities around cognitive load, control clarity, and the future expectations of performance driving.
Collaborating with engineering and industrial design, I helped define the scope of future racing experiences and aligned prototypes with Dodge’s innovation goals. My work focused on building interactive in-car and VR prototypes in Unity, testing how digital touchpoints could reduce complexity without sacrificing performance.
As a UX Design Intern on Stellantis’ Advanced and Vision team, I explored how racing could be reimagined inside the next generation of Dodge vehicles. The challenge was to design immersive digital and VR experiences that pushed brand innovation while remaining intuitive for drivers.
To ground the concepts in real-world insights, I conducted over 15 interviews with racing stakeholders across North America and Europe. These conversations revealed key opportunities around cognitive load, control clarity, and the future expectations of performance driving.
Collaborating with engineering and industrial design, I helped define the scope of future racing experiences and aligned prototypes with Dodge’s innovation goals. My work focused on building interactive in-car and VR prototypes in Unity, testing how digital touchpoints could reduce complexity without sacrificing performance.
As a UX Design Intern on Stellantis’ Advanced and Vision team, I explored how racing could be reimagined inside the next generation of Dodge vehicles. The challenge was to design immersive digital and VR experiences that pushed brand innovation while remaining intuitive for drivers.
To ground the concepts in real-world insights, I conducted over 15 interviews with racing stakeholders across North America and Europe. These conversations revealed key opportunities around cognitive load, control clarity, and the future expectations of performance driving.
Collaborating with engineering and industrial design, I helped define the scope of future racing experiences and aligned prototypes with Dodge’s innovation goals. My work focused on building interactive in-car and VR prototypes in Unity, testing how digital touchpoints could reduce complexity without sacrificing performance.
Internship Outcome
Internship Outcome
Internship Outcome
The internship resulted in validated design concepts that demonstrated how immersive in-car and VR interactions could enhance the racing experience in future Dodge vehicles. Early prototypes showed a 40% reduction in perceived cognitive load during testing, proving the potential of simplified yet powerful digital controls. Beyond the prototypes, the project helped Stellantis’ Advanced and Vision team define a clearer scope for future racing experiences and align cross-functional teams on innovation goals.
The internship resulted in validated design concepts that demonstrated how immersive in-car and VR interactions could enhance the racing experience in future Dodge vehicles. Early prototypes showed a 40% reduction in perceived cognitive load during testing, proving the potential of simplified yet powerful digital controls. Beyond the prototypes, the project helped Stellantis’ Advanced and Vision team define a clearer scope for future racing experiences and align cross-functional teams on innovation goals.
The internship resulted in validated design concepts that demonstrated how immersive in-car and VR interactions could enhance the racing experience in future Dodge vehicles. Early prototypes showed a 40% reduction in perceived cognitive load during testing, proving the potential of simplified yet powerful digital controls. Beyond the prototypes, the project helped Stellantis’ Advanced and Vision team define a clearer scope for future racing experiences and align cross-functional teams on innovation goals.
Research
Research
Research
User Research
User Research
User Research
To better understand how drivers and racing enthusiasts interact with high-performance vehicles, I conducted over 15 stakeholder interviews across North America and Europe. Participants included track racers, competitive racers, and performance driving enthusiasts. These conversations revealed that cognitive overload is common during high-intensity driving, making clarity of information delivery critical. They also highlighted the importance of control interfaces that balance advanced customization with simplicity to avoid distraction. Finally, many participants saw immersive technologies such as VR as valuable for training and testing, but emphasized that these experiences needed to feel intuitive and natural. These insights became the foundation for prioritizing designs that reduced mental load, clarified controls, and created interactions capable of seamlessly extending from physical to digital racing environments.
To better understand how drivers and racing enthusiasts interact with high-performance vehicles, I conducted over 15 stakeholder interviews across North America and Europe. Participants included track racers, competitive racers, and performance driving enthusiasts. These conversations revealed that cognitive overload is common during high-intensity driving, making clarity of information delivery critical. They also highlighted the importance of control interfaces that balance advanced customization with simplicity to avoid distraction. Finally, many participants saw immersive technologies such as VR as valuable for training and testing, but emphasized that these experiences needed to feel intuitive and natural. These insights became the foundation for prioritizing designs that reduced mental load, clarified controls, and created interactions capable of seamlessly extending from physical to digital racing environments.
To better understand how drivers and racing enthusiasts interact with high-performance vehicles, I conducted over 15 stakeholder interviews across North America and Europe. Participants included track racers, competitive racers, and performance driving enthusiasts. These conversations revealed that cognitive overload is common during high-intensity driving, making clarity of information delivery critical. They also highlighted the importance of control interfaces that balance advanced customization with simplicity to avoid distraction. Finally, many participants saw immersive technologies such as VR as valuable for training and testing, but emphasized that these experiences needed to feel intuitive and natural. These insights became the foundation for prioritizing designs that reduced mental load, clarified controls, and created interactions capable of seamlessly extending from physical to digital racing environments.
On Site Research
On Site Research
On Site Research
As part of my research, I had the opportunity to visit a live racing track to experience firsthand what it feels like to be inside the car while it is in motion. Observing the environment in real time allowed me to understand the intensity and sensory overload drivers experience which were the constant vibration of the vehicle, the noise of the engine and track, and the split-second decisions required at high speeds. Being in the car offered a perspective that interviews alone could not capture. I was able to see how drivers interacted with controls under pressure, how quickly their attention shifted between displays, and how the physical demands of racing influenced their ability to process information. This immersive experience helped me translate abstract user pain points into concrete design considerations, ensuring that the digital interactions we created were grounded in the real-world context of racing.
As part of my research, I had the opportunity to visit a live racing track to experience firsthand what it feels like to be inside the car while it is in motion. Observing the environment in real time allowed me to understand the intensity and sensory overload drivers experience which were the constant vibration of the vehicle, the noise of the engine and track, and the split-second decisions required at high speeds. Being in the car offered a perspective that interviews alone could not capture. I was able to see how drivers interacted with controls under pressure, how quickly their attention shifted between displays, and how the physical demands of racing influenced their ability to process information. This immersive experience helped me translate abstract user pain points into concrete design considerations, ensuring that the digital interactions we created were grounded in the real-world context of racing.
As part of my research, I had the opportunity to visit a live racing track to experience firsthand what it feels like to be inside the car while it is in motion. Observing the environment in real time allowed me to understand the intensity and sensory overload drivers experience which were the constant vibration of the vehicle, the noise of the engine and track, and the split-second decisions required at high speeds. Being in the car offered a perspective that interviews alone could not capture. I was able to see how drivers interacted with controls under pressure, how quickly their attention shifted between displays, and how the physical demands of racing influenced their ability to process information. This immersive experience helped me translate abstract user pain points into concrete design considerations, ensuring that the digital interactions we created were grounded in the real-world context of racing.
User Personas + Customer Journey
User Personas + Customer Journey
User Personas + Customer Journey
I developed three personas to guide the design: a new racer focused on learning and confidence-building, a hobby racer seeking balance between performance and enjoyment, and a serious racer driven by competition and real-time data needs. Alongside these personas, I mapped customer journeys for each to capture how they interact with the vehicle and digital touchpoints before, during, and after a race. This process helped frame design decisions and ensured the concepts addressed a range of user expectations and real-world contexts.
I developed three personas to guide the design: a new racer focused on learning and confidence-building, a hobby racer seeking balance between performance and enjoyment, and a serious racer driven by competition and real-time data needs. Alongside these personas, I mapped customer journeys for each to capture how they interact with the vehicle and digital touchpoints before, during, and after a race. This process helped frame design decisions and ensured the concepts addressed a range of user expectations and real-world contexts.
I developed three personas to guide the design: a new racer focused on learning and confidence-building, a hobby racer seeking balance between performance and enjoyment, and a serious racer driven by competition and real-time data needs. Alongside these personas, I mapped customer journeys for each to capture how they interact with the vehicle and digital touchpoints before, during, and after a race. This process helped frame design decisions and ensured the concepts addressed a range of user expectations and real-world contexts.
How might we make the first time racing experience more welcoming?
How might we make the first time racing experience more welcoming?
Design Direction
Design Direction
Design Direction
In Vehicle Simulator
In Vehicle Simulator
In Vehicle Simulator
I designed Dodge practice mode, an in-vehicle simulator that collects track data to help racers improve their skills. The feature was created to make practice more accessible and less intimidating, giving drivers a safe space to learn, experiment, and build confidence before entering real race conditions.
I designed Dodge practice mode, an in-vehicle simulator that collects track data to help racers improve their skills. The feature was created to make practice more accessible and less intimidating, giving drivers a safe space to learn, experiment, and build confidence before entering real race conditions.
I designed Dodge practice mode, an in-vehicle simulator that collects track data to help racers improve their skills. The feature was created to make practice more accessible and less intimidating, giving drivers a safe space to learn, experiment, and build confidence before entering real race conditions.
Dodge App as Car Cluster
Dodge App as Car Cluster
Dodge App as Car Cluster
I also created a companion app that drivers can use before entering the vehicle to review their stats, set up their car, and personalize preferences. Once inside, the app transitions into a digital cluster, giving drivers a seamless way to access information and stay connected throughout their racing experience.
I also created a companion app that drivers can use before entering the vehicle to review their stats, set up their car, and personalize preferences. Once inside, the app transitions into a digital cluster, giving drivers a seamless way to access information and stay connected throughout their racing experience.
I also created a companion app that drivers can use before entering the vehicle to review their stats, set up their car, and personalize preferences. Once inside, the app transitions into a digital cluster, giving drivers a seamless way to access information and stay connected throughout their racing experience.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
This internship was an incredibly valuable experience where I had the opportunity to design for the future of performance driving and immerse myself in the fast-paced world of automotive innovation. I enjoyed working closely with engineers, industrial designers, and racing stakeholders. The work culminated in a final presentation to the entire Product Design Office, where I showcased prototypes, user research, and design outcomes. The concepts were well received and helped inform future explorations of Dodge vehicles.
This internship was an incredibly valuable experience where I had the opportunity to design for the future of performance driving and immerse myself in the fast-paced world of automotive innovation. I enjoyed working closely with engineers, industrial designers, and racing stakeholders. The work culminated in a final presentation to the entire Product Design Office, where I showcased prototypes, user research, and design outcomes. The concepts were well received and helped inform future explorations of Dodge vehicles.