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02 — SafeDrive Focus

An interface that reads your cognitive load.

A conceptual HMI redesign for premium in-vehicle systems (Mercedes-Benz GLC context) that adaptively balances information richness against driver focus.

HMIUX ResearchAutomotiveUsability Evaluation
My role
User research, problem definition, interaction logic & testing
Team
4 designers
Context
Mercedes-Benz GLC
Methods
Interviews · Gamified dual-task test
SafeDrive Focus in Mercedes-Benz GLC cockpit
Large in-car panel trend
Portfolio slide · the hidden distraction of large in-car screens
Problem & opportunity

The hidden danger of big screens.

As in-car panels grow larger, so do Non-Driving-Related Tasks (NDRT) — and with them, visual, cognitive and manual distraction.

The design challenge was twofold: reduce driver cognitive load through dynamic HMI reconstruction, while preserving the brand's premium feel. Safety and luxury, not safety or luxury.

Pain points to strategy map
From 4 active drivers' pain points to two operating modes, both serving one goal: safety.
Research & strategy

From pain points to two modes.

Interviews with 4 active drivers surfaced three recurring pains — and they said it better than we could:

  • Disconnect — “I have to click extra times for music, while the home screen shows radio stations I never listen to.”
  • Overload — “Features are buried too deep; I don't dare look away to explore them while driving.”
  • Uncertainty — “I tap the screen but get no response, forcing me to look down to confirm.”

These mapped to two complementary strategies — a rich, anticipatory Standard Mode and a stripped-back, protective Focus Mode — that the system can switch between.

Standard Mode

A zero-layer experience.

When load is low, the car anticipates rather than waits:

  • Identity-driven — Face ID pre-loads a “Commute Home” profile.
  • Context-aware, zero-click — the map auto-expands and prompts family contacts.
  • Task-adaptive layout — panels resize so media and navigation coexist without obstruction.
Standard Mode interface
Standard Mode — anticipating needs through data for a near zero-layer interaction.
Focus Mode interface
Focus Mode — proactively filtering distractions through context-aware interventions.
Focus Mode

The interface that gets out of the way.

Under high load, the system intervenes before risk occurs:

  • Context-aware trigger — auto-activates on heavy rain, tunnels or gaze deviation.
  • Smart notification filtering — low-priority alerts are held; urgent ones route to voice.
  • Ambient visual feedback — screen pop-ups become ambient light cues, moving load off the screen.
Validation

Context shapes usability.

Using a gamified dual-task test (HMI operation + a continuous attention game to simulate driving load, N=10 per condition), the same interface scored very differently by context:

NPS 83.5 → 86.5
Under high load, Focus Mode (86.5) far outscored the rich Standard Mode (54.5). At low load, Standard Mode felt thoughtful (83.5) — adaptive switching is the point.

The takeaway: rich UI felt thoughtful when relaxed but became noise under stress — adaptive switching is what serves safety-critical interaction.

Usability test results
Gamified dual-task results — usability scores by cognitive-load condition for each mode.
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