Android Auto Redesign

My role

Foundational designer for the Android Auto redesign — defined the interaction model, grew and led the UX team, and art directed the reveal at CES and Google I/O.

Scope

Redesigned the entire in-car system experience and updated both Google and third-party apps. Ensured compatibility with existing hardware while optimizing for new, larger displays. Integrated the latest Material Design language, refreshed the Assistant experience, and delivered all of it under the strict safety standards required for driving.

The problems

Minimal space

The previous version of Android Auto was optimized for smaller screens. Multi-tasking was minimal and the team only introduced additional features for some landscape displays, while ignoring portrait displays

No home

The lack of a home screen (or resting state) meant that a user always had to choose an app to be in and sacrifice functionality from another ongoing activity.

Not smart

While the Assistant is great for starting a playlist or sending texts, it is not very useful beyond that. It lacked proactiveness and limited functionality.

Not Googley

Android Auto is a Google product, but the previous visual design did not align with other products from Google, creating a branding disconnect.

“Limiting time looking at the screen, that's the whole purpose of Android Auto. Making sure I can do things simply and without a lot of time looking at the screen.”

— Android Auto user

GOAL

Deliver a scalable, multitasking UI that adapts to any screen, puts the best of Assistant forward, and makes every user journey easier.

Iterations

  • Original

    Lacked a dedicated home screen and limited multi-tasking capbilities.

  • New home screen

    Explored a new dashboard layout with robust functionality.

  • Simplified

    We simplified the dashboard and added gestures.

  • Final

    The final design incorporated the latest Material design language and improved app switiching.

Improved multi-tasking

  1. Maps closer to the driver by default, with an option to change the layout in settings.

  2. Modernized style for media card, matching the system media card seen on Pixels. Plus contextual cards like suggestions, last message, and more.

  3. A new app hot-seat in the system rail for quicker access to your favorite apps.

  4. Notification center bell replaced with a badge counter for better transparecny.

Scalable design

Assistant forward

  • Contextual

    Example use case: get recommended locations and then an option to share your ETA.

  • Recommendations

    Get Assistant suggested media based on your listening habits and media services.

  • Messages

    Quick options plus your most recent message is pinned on your dashboard.

  • Smart

    Get smart quick replies based on the context of your messages.

The impact

Improved multi-tasking

65% of driving time is in the dashboard, -11.5% app switches, -38% app launcher use

Voice forward CUJs

+ 6% Messaging, +3.5% Media minutes, +2% Assistant DAU, +7.7% Assistant WAU/WAD

Improved customer satisfaction

Redesign resulted in the highest jump in CSAT score ever for Android Auto!

What People Are Saying

“I use it all the time, love how you can split the screen with music and navigation.”

— Android Auto user

“Love the interface. Makes all the difference on trips.”

— Android Auto user

“It's very intuitive and works exactly how I imagined.”

— Android Auto user regarding Assistant

“I absolutely 100% fell in love with the new dashboard.”

— Android Auto user

All real quotes from CSAT surveys

Android Auto

Other projects

Whole cabin experience

Going beyond the center display to expand our platform capabilities and put the ecosystem in every screen in the car.

Entertainment

Expanding the category of applications in the car to provide unique parked state experiences for drivers and passengers.