A Crash Course in Automotive Design

About the Workshop: Every automotive company is moving towards software-defined vehicles, and each of those companies hires its own firms and internal teams to design its own interfaces. User experience (UX) is crucial in automotive software, as drivers and passengers rely on seamless and intuitive interfaces for safety, comfort, and efficiency. Strong UX in automotive software enhances trust in autonomous features, improves accessibility for diverse users, and contributes to customer satisfaction and brand loyalty in a highly competitive market. In this workshop, students will learn how and when to use mockups for Automotive UX designs. Figma would be used to import 3D vehicle assets and realistic cabin mockups, which strengthen a designer’s ability to tell better stories about the in-vehicle designs.

About the Instructor: James Rampton is a Lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Information with over a decade of experience in automotive UX, including a five-year tenure as lead product designer at General Motors. At UMSI, he teaches core UX design classes along with specialized courses in automotive UX and generative AI, bringing real-world expertise into the classroom. His insights have been featured in media such as NPR, where he discussed pedestrian safety and transportation design, and BridgeDetroit, where he spoke about digital trust in public spaces.

What to bring: Figma account required. Laptop recommended but you can also use one of the 20 computers in the room.

Who can come: Open to current Pratt School of Information students and faculty