Background
There’s only one car whose iconic design and sporting identity has remained truly consistent since its introduction in the ‘60s, only one whose recognition as among the best sports cars in the world has gone unmatched for over 50 years - the Porsche 911.
Its design language has officially pervaded every car in the Porsche lineup. The 911’s DNA is a formula that’s intoxicating, one that the car world respects and envies.
In addition, over 70% of all Porsche vehicles ever built are still on the road today.
Porsche Classic makes sure it stays that way.
Porsche Connect includes intelligent services and apps aimed at making the connection between driver and vehicle an even closer one.
The Why and Context
Is there a way to incorporate the benefits of a modern vehicle digital display, such as afforded by modern day Porsche Connect objectives within a classic Porsche 911?.
And doing this while respecting the strong brand, its design principles, centering the product on the actual user, balancing the design between the analog nature of the classic Porsche and the modern day digital amenities, while creating a compelling product enhancing the ownership and driving experience?
The answer is yes!
Following a UX strategy it’s possible to learn, conceptualize, prototype, test, evaluate and arrive at a product design with the key attributes in aesthetics, functionality, capabilities, UI and target market.
The Process
The design study focused on conceptualizing the possibility of a modern vehicle digital display within 4 generations of classic Porsche 911 vehicles (spanning from 1965 to 1998).
The project was carried out by 3 members during a 3 week design stint.
My main role was in driving the research and ideation process, created personas, organized and conducted user interviews and testing with members of the Porsche Club of America, and collaborated on the UX, UI, and product technology research and design solutions.
The project’s initial goal was to design a heads-up display (HUD) for classic Porsche 911 vehicles. Extensive and comprehensive research in the Porsche design aesthetic, branding, and enthusiast customer base, led us to pivot the solution towards a multifunction display (MFD) gauge instead.
After conducting internal design studios the HUD and MFD solutions were presented to the users with rapid prototypes, in an actual classic Porsche 911.
The result from the user interviews and prototype interaction validated the MFD was the solution, and thus we had to pivot our approach and conduct additional vehicle lineage design features and technology research.
Additional feature analysis took place to ideate and prototype the UI, and establish a functionality MVP, which followed a series of usability tests, and arrived at a voice activated UI system.
This project proved to be very challenging and rewarding. Through our entire process it was necessary to always respect the brand aesthetic, be clearly empathetic of the enthusiast fan base of owners, and find a digital solution that respects and enhances the analog experience of a classic Porsche 911 while providing a modern day digital interface.
After conducting internal design studios the HUD and MFD solutions were presented to the users with rapid prototypes, in an actual classic Porsche 911.
The result from the user interviews and prototype interaction validated the MFD was the solution, and thus we had to pivot our approach and conduct additional vehicle lineage design features and technology research.
Additional feature analysis took place to ideate and prototype the UI, and establish a functionality MVP, which followed a series of usability tests, and arrived at a voice activated UI system.
This project proved to be very challenging and rewarding. Through our entire process it was necessary to always respect the brand aesthetic, be clearly empathetic of the enthusiast fan base of owners, and find a digital solution that respects and enhances the analog experience of a classic Porsche 911 while providing a modern day digital interface.
