#UX #MobileApps #Web #Desktop

As a part of different agile teams at TomTom, a major global player in the field of satellite navigation and mapping technologies, I was responsible for the user experience of several mobile apps for both Android and iOS. I also helped in the development of applications for desktop and web, and in-car dashboard navigation systems for our automotive customers.

Experimental features

I lead the design of a mobile navigation app that served as an experimental platform to develop new ideas and to highlight the capabilities of TomTom’s APIs for developers. Together with a junior designer, we made an analysis of competitors’ features and defined key differentiators we wanted to tackle. We developed several concepts (one of which has been patented) that would later be incorporated as part of the mainstream product offering.

Tomtom Speed Cameras

One of the Android apps I worked on gives warnings to drivers about upcoming speed cameras along their route so that they can adjust their velocity. Its design posed the unique UX challenge of being ever present while at the same time unobtrusive. I was responsible for the interaction design of all new features, such as the introduction of safety alerts when approaching traffic jams too fast.

Nissan in-car map updates

Updating the maps of your car’s built-in navigation system can be a hassle due to the big amounts of data involved. I was in charge of the design of both a desktop and mobile app that allowed Nissan owners to manage all their maps and download updates.

TomTom MyDrive

As part of the scrum team of MyDrive (a companion app for your TomTom sat-nav device that allows users to carry out certain tasks before they step into their car), my responsibilities included the conceptualization, design, and prototyping of all new features for both iOS and Android. I also facilitated strategy workshops to help the team create a clearer future vision of the product.

In-car navigation

Manipulating a touch-screen navigation system requires a certain amount of finger precision that can be very dangerous while you drive, as it distracts you from the road ahead. Modern in-car navigation tries to solve this problem by allowing you to interact with it with a rotating joystick, providing tactile feedback and lowering the cognitive load. I was tasked with refining the joystick interaction for TomTom’s UI so that it could be implemented in Borgward’s latest car models.

Design workshops

I organized and participated in a number of workshops and design sprints, a great way to get projects started or moving forward when dealing with multidisciplinary teams. We used them to define the scope of projects, discuss and agree on product strategies, and to come up with ideas for product features.