UX/UI Design
UX Research
Remote Control for Trucks
Three different concepts for heavy vehicles
This project was completed under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). To protect confidential information, I’ve omitted specific product visuals, proprietary details and client identifiers. Any wireframes shown are early-stage sketches that do not reflect final design decisions. The focus of this case study is to showcase my process and user-centered approach.
Company
Confidential (Automotive Industry) - Alten Sweden assignment
Year
2024
Product
Wireless remote controls for heavy vehicles
Role
UX Designer
Duration
Four months
Task
Deliver three concepts of remote controls, aligning UI and product design.
Tools
User Interviews, Personas, Empathy Map, Value Matrix, User Flows, Figma
Target Users
Truck drivers
Results
The first AI assistant for farmers and SEK 70 million invested in the app.
Problem
A major truck manufacturer aimed to unify and modernize its fragmented set of vehicle remote controls. At the time, trucks had three separate remotes for functions like air suspension, heating and door locks. Our team was tasked with exploring and presenting three distinct design concepts for a new wireless remote control—combining these functions into a single, intuitive and durable product.
Responsibilities
As the UX Designer, I worked closely with the lead designer and product (industrial) designer to shape the concepts. I also mentored a Junior UX designer, guiding her through user research, interface proposals and prototyping in Figma. My contributions included:
Co-facilitating user research and benchmarking analysis.
Synthesizing insights from driver interviews.
Supporting feature prioritization via effort x impact mapping.
Designing interaction flows and UI components for the remote interface.
Ensuring ergonomic and accessibility guidelines (e.g., glove use, one-hand operation) were respected.
Research Process
To better understand how truck drivers interact with remote controls and what improvements would be most valuable, we conducted in-depth interviews with four drivers from different backgrounds. Our goal was to uncover daily behaviors, pain points, expectations and contextual challenges related to vehicle interaction while working outside the cabin. We explored topics such as:
Daily routines and inspection tasks.
Frequency and context of remote control use.
Pain points with current controls (size, weight, glove usability, visibility).
Desired functions for safety, comfort and task efficiency.
Reactions to the idea of screen-based interfaces and smartphone integration.
Other Research Activities
Personas
Based on the behavioral patterns and goals of different types of drivers.
User flows
Mapped to highlight key tasks and interaction scenarios (e.g., adjusting air suspension, performing inspections, checking system status).
Empathy map
To better understand the thoughts, feelings, and needs of drivers during key moments.
Impact x Effort Matrix
To prioritize feature ideas and define scope for the three proposed concepts.
Design Challenges
Balancing feature richness with interface simplicity on a small screen.
Designing a layout that supports quick, gloved interaction.
Ensuring durability and readability in harsh outdoor conditions (sunlight, cold, dirt).
Early Exploration
While I cannot show the final designs due to confidentiality agreements, I can share a few early-stage wireframes and sketches from the ideation phase. These low-fidelity visuals were part of our initial exploration and were used to:
Map out core interactions and screen flows.
Explore layout possibilities for frequently used features.
Validate interface concepts that could be operated in harsh environments (e.g., with gloves, in sunlight or under time pressure).
These drafts reflect how we started shaping the experience around real-world constraints, user priorities and device ergonomics—before narrowing down into three final concept directions.
Solution
Due to NDA constraints, the detailed concept visuals and interaction flows cannot be shared. However, I can describe our design strategy and the principles that guided the development of the three proposed solutions.
Each concept was built around a shared goal: to create a simple, rugged and intuitive remote control that supports truck drivers in outdoor environments—where gloves, limited visibility and time pressure are everyday factors.
We explored variations in:
Information density and layout
Balancing clarity with functionality across different screen sizes.
Interaction modes
Comparing screen-based navigation vs. physical-button-first interfaces.
Prioritized features
Such as air suspension, axle adjustment, lighting, and pre-trip status checks.
Navigation structure
Ensuring one-handed operability, quick access to daily-use functions, and visibility under direct sunlight.
Each solution was shaped by insights from real drivers, technical feasibility input, and a value-effort matrix that guided what could realistically be implemented in future development phases.
Lessons Learned
Designing for hybrid physical-digital products requires close coordination between industrial and digital design teams. Small UI changes can have hardware implications.
I learned how to map essential vehicle functions into a compact, easy-to-use interface—prioritizing daily tasks while considering edge cases and emergencies.
This project deepened my understanding of designing for rugged environments, user safety, and behavior-driven feature prioritization.
Mentoring a junior team member throughout the project helped me grow as a communicator and team collaborator.
Impacts
Although the project was exploratory and delivered as concept proposals, our work provided the client with a solid foundation for future development. By combining research-based insights, clear user flows, and prioritized features, we helped align technical, industrial, and design teams around shared user needs. Key outcomes included:
Three validated concept directions based on real user feedback and feasibility mapping.
A structured feature roadmap with prioritization based on value and implementation effort.
Deepened understanding of drivers’ pain points, daily routines and expectations for remote control use.
A research and design framework the client could build on in future iterations.
Personally, this project challenged me to design for rugged environments and safety-critical workflows, while balancing physical constraints and interface clarity. I also had the opportunity to mentor a junior designer, which helped me grow as a communicator and foster collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.
