The Volvo Cars LåsAPP project was conceived to meet the growing demand for a mobile solution enabling vehicle locking, unlocking, and key sharing with family and friends, particularly for older cars without fully integrated systems. By leveraging Volvo's retrofit technology, the app bridges the gap between traditional and modern vehicles, allowing users to send commands such as locking and unlocking.
This project aimed to design a user-centric prototype that tackled key challenges such as balancing privacy concerns with functionality, creating intuitive workflows for vehicle sharing, and streamlining the process to meet user expectations. Following a Design Thinking approach, we conducted interviews, analyzed user behaviors, and developed a Figma-based prototype iteratively to address these needs.
Client: Volvo Cars
Project time: 1 month, 2023
Tools: Figma, Visio, Miro
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Understanding the Importance of Research:
Research proved to be the backbone of this project, teaching me that designing without proper insights often leads to flawed solutions. By engaging with potential users and conducting comprehensive interviews, I learned to uncover real pain points and priorities. This approach ensured that the app addressed actual user needs instead of being based on assumptions.
Visualization of Interfaces and Information Architecture:
Developing clear visual representations of interfaces and structuring information logically was a critical learning experience. Through techniques such as wireframing and flowcharting, I was able to streamline the design process and provide clarity to both the team and stakeholders. This step highlighted how a well-organized structure prevents confusion and enhances usability.
Transforming User Needs into Design Solutions:
By understanding user perspectives, I developed the ability to translate those needs into actionable design features. Whether it was simplifying navigation or adding intuitive sharing methods, I focused on empathetic design to ensure that the app aligned with user expectations and behaviors. This skill reinforced the importance of tailoring solutions to end-user preferences.
Collaboration and Iterative Improvement:
Working closely with my team emphasized the value of collaborative problem-solving and continuous iteration. Open critique sessions allowed us to refine our designs based on constructive feedback, and the iterative approach helped us address flaws early. This collaboration fostered creativity and strengthened the final product.
The primary objective of the LåsAPP project was to create a solution that addressed the evolving needs of vehicle owners and borrowers. With the rise of shared mobility and the increased adoption of digital solutions, users required a system that was both secure and easy to use, while still maintaining the trust and privacy necessary for sharing vehicles. Our challenge was to balance these aspects and design an app that could cater to a wide demographic, including those less familiar with advanced digital tools. This required a deep understanding of user behavior, preferences, and pain points to ensure the app met their expectations seamlessly.
Accessibility:
Developing a seamless, app-based process for managing vehicle access without physical keys.
Privacy: Design features that respect the privacy preferences of both vehicle owners and borrowers.
Usability: Develop an intuitive interface that caters to diverse user groups.
The project began with a research phase, which included twelve semi-structured interviews targeting car owners and borrowers. The interviews explored user expectations for digital car keys and car-sharing functionality. The team also analyzed existing solutions, such as Kia Connect and Hyundai Motor Group, to understand industry standards and gaps.
An affinity diagram was used to organize insights from the interviews, identifying recurring themes such as security concerns, usability, and the importance of privacy. This structured approach ensured that user needs were clearly defined and prioritized.
Ideation and Early Design Methods
Building on the insights from the research phase, the team developed design requirements and limitations. Initial sketches were created using braindrawing techniques, allowing team members to explore multiple concepts. These sketches focused on key functionalities like sharing options, temporary lending, and navigation.
To further refine the design, a flowchart was created to map out the user journey. This flowchart provided a visual representation of the app’s structure and highlighted areas that required simplification or enhancement.
Prototyping
Low-fidelity wireframes were developed based on the flowchart and sketches, providing a tangible starting point for testing. These wireframes were subjected to design critique sessions within the team and with external testers. Feedback focused on functionality, navigation clarity, and the overall user experience.
After iterating on the wireframes, the team transitioned to high-fidelity prototypes using Figma. These prototypes incorporated Volvo’s graphic design principles, ensuring a professional and branded appearance.
Iterations
The iterative process was integral to the project’s success. User testing sessions were conducted to evaluate the prototype’s usability. Test participants were given specific tasks, such as sharing a digital key or navigating the history feature, to identify pain points and areas for improvement.
Feedback led to several design refinements, including the introduction of a sidebar menu for improved navigation and adjustments to the history view for better clarity. The iterative approach ensured that the final prototype was intuitive and aligned with user expectations.
The app prominently featured car-sharing functionalities and a digital key on its homepage and sidebar menu to ensure accessibility. The digital key was designed to mimic the functionality and intuitive layout of a physical car key, incorporating essential functions such as lock, unlock, and trunk access. Additional features, such as a favorites list and integration with the user’s contact book, streamlined the sharing process. These design choices emphasized ease of use and provided convenient access for sharing vehicles among trusted contacts.
Geolocation services allowed car owners to view the last parked location, addressing situational tracking needs while respecting borrowers' privacy. The app also provided historical data, such as borrowing durations and the last parked location, enabling users to review past activity while maintaining robust privacy controls. Additionally, users could manage active and past shares within the app, including viewing the status of ongoing shares, revoking access if necessary, and reviewing details of completed shares to ensure transparency and control over their vehicle's usage.
Sharing options included SMS with activation codes and QR code scanning, replicating the familiar physical key handover process. These methods ensured both convenience and flexibility, catering to different user preferences. Security was a critical consideration, with mandatory Face ID or PIN verification required for actions such as unlocking and sharing keys. This approach balanced robust safeguards with a seamless user experience.
Borrowers could access vehicles without creating accounts, minimizing friction and improving usability. This feature reflected the team’s focus on optimizing the experience for occasional users while maintaining security and simplicity in the app’s design. Borrowers also had control over whether to approve or deny location sharing, ensuring a balance between functionality and privacy. This capability gave borrowers a sense of autonomy while respecting the car owner's needs.
This project provided valuable insights into the complexities and possibilities of designing a digital solution for retrofitted vehicle sharing. The lessons learned were directly tied to the challenges encountered and solutions developed throughout the process.
Prototyping as a Discovery Tool:
Prototyping became an invaluable method for uncovering design inefficiencies and validating concepts early. By visualizing workflows and interfaces, I could anticipate challenges and resolve them before they became larger issues, ultimately saving time and resources.
The Importance of Iterative Feedback:
Iteration was a key aspect of the design process. Through regular testing and feedback sessions, I learned how to identify blind spots and refine the design based on user input. This cycle of improvement ensured the app evolved into a user-friendly and effective solution.
The Importance of User-Centered Design:
Understanding and incorporating user needs led to a more intuitive and practical app. This process reinforced that designing based on real insights, rather than assumptions, leads to solutions that users find valuable.
Managing Scope and Prioritization:
Setting clear boundaries (e.g., excluding unused features like remote car start) kept the project focused and prevented scope creep.
The management of available hours is a breakdown of what is possible to do and what is not. This ensured that critical functionalities received the attention they deserved.
This project explored the concept of a digital lock-sharing app for VolvoCars, designed to investigate how car-sharing technology could work in practice. The app successfully balanced usability, security, and privacy while adhering to Volvo’s design principles, providing a foundation for understanding both the possibilities and limitations of such technology.
The prototype showcases key functionalities, including digital key sharing, geolocation services, and borrower-friendly options, all integrated into a cohesive user experience. Through iterative design and user-centered processes, the team created a functional concept that addresses practical needs and highlights future potential.
As this is a conceptual prototype, it is not intended as a finished product but as a tool to inspire further exploration and refinement. If you would like to explore the prototype and see how it could work for you, please visit the following link:
? If you are interested in reading more about the project in its entirety and our design process, the full project report is attached below.
