Product Design
Project Status
The redesigned Drive Mode app launched in 2023 as part of a broader evolution of Rivian’s infotainment experience. While the interface has continued to evolve with new themes, this project laid the groundwork for key UX and structural improvements still in use today.
The Team
The In-Vehicle Design Team sits within Rivian Digital Studio, the organization responsible for shaping digital experiences across Rivian’s vehicle interfaces and mobile platforms. For this project, we collaborated cross-functionally to redesign the Drive Mode experience, focusing on information architecture, interaction clarity, and visual consistency.
Britt - UI/UX Designer
Paul - HMI Designer
Lan - UX Researcher
Julia - Project Manager
Teammates
Timeline
My Role
Led UI design from wireframes to final visuals
Contributed to UX structure and user flow
Partnered with research to test and iterate designs
Backgrounds
When I joined the team, the Drive Mode app existed in a minimal viable form—functional, but lacking critical elements for an optimal in-vehicle experience. Key real-time driving data such as tire pressure, pitch and roll, trip stats, and battery temperature were entirely absent, limiting drivers’ ability to make informed decisions. Additionally, the interface suffered from unintuitive information architecture and suboptimal control placement, which risked driver distraction and decreased operational efficiency.
This project began by investigating two broader design challenges:
1. How might we integrate real-time driving data into the Drive Mode experience in a way that enhances driver awareness without adding cognitive load?
2. What interaction and architectural enhancements could improve the usability and safety of the Drive Mode app?
Improve Safety Through Better Interaction Design
Ensure critical controls are positioned and grouped to reduce driver distraction and support safe in-motion adjustments.
Establish Clear Information Architecture
Organize drive mode settings in a way that’s intuitive, easy to navigate, and flexible for future expansion.
Enhance Driver Awareness with Real-time Data
Integrate contextual driving data—like tire pressure, battery temperature, and pitch/roll—to support informed decision-making.
Competitor Analysis
As part of our early discovery process, we conducted secondary research to understand how other EV manufacturers design their drive mode interfaces. We analyzed systems from Tesla, Lucid, Porsche, and Ford, focusing on three key areas: control placement and accessibility, the presentation of real-time driving data, and the clarity of their visual hierarchy. Our research revealed opportunities to improve safety by optimizing layout for in-motion use, and to differentiate Rivian’s interface by integrating terrain-aware data like pitch and roll—features rarely seen in competitors’ offerings.
User Interviews
To better understand real-world pain points, we interviewed three Rivian owners about their experience using Drive Mode in daily driving scenarios. A common frustration was the placement of certain settings—especially suspension height and traction controls—on the far side of the screen, making them difficult to access while driving.
Key User Insights
1. Control Reachability: Key settings are hard to access safely while driving.
2. System Transparency: Users don’t fully understand what each drive mode changes.
3. Information Architecture: Settings are not grouped in a way that matches user mental models.
4. Data Visibility: Real-time data isn’t expected, but becomes valuable when introduced.
Persona
Alex Carter
Boulder, Colorado
Age: 38
Vehicle: Rivian R1S
Driving Style: Mix of city commute and weekend off-road trips
Demographics
Pain points
My Role
Quickly adjust drive settings based on terrain or conditions
Understand what each drive mode changes
Monitor real-time vehicle data during trips
Defining the UX Problem
1. How might we make drive mode settings easier to access while driving, especially the frequently used controls?
2. How might we help users better understand what each drive mode changes in real-time?
3. How might we organize drive mode settings in a way that aligns with how users think and navigate?
4. How might we surface real-time vehicle data in a way that’s helpful without overwhelming the driver?
Flow 01: Adjust Drive Mode Settings
Launch on home screen → Drive Mode app →
Choose drive mode → Adjust ride height / regen with one tap
Flow 02: View Real-time Driving Data
Drive Mode screen → "Vehicle Insights" tab / collapsible panel →
View live pitch/roll, battery temp, tire pressure
Transferring from User Journey to Sitemap
To create a more intuitive and task-oriented experience, we restructured the Drive Mode interface around how drivers think and act—grouping controls by purpose rather than by system category. This new sitemap prioritizes accessibility and clarity, making it easier for users to find the right mode, adjust key settings, and view relevant driving data at a glance.
Visualize Early Design Direction
Early wireframes explored layout structure, information hierarchy, and interaction flows to ensure key controls and data were accessible, clear, and safe to use while driving.
Style Explorations
I explored a wide range of visual directions for control layouts, button styles, and grouping logic to find a solution that felt intuitive, functional, and aligned with different driving contexts.
Exploring Visual Directions
I experimented with different visual and motion concepts to define how Drive Mode should look and feel across contexts.
Final Visual & Motion System
A cohesive design system that combines visual clarity and expressive motion to strengthen user trust and focus during driving.
Widget Style Explorations
We experimented with various widget styles to balance clarity, personalization potential, and visual consistency—keeping future customization and Rivian’s evolving visual language in mind.
Testing in Real World
Tested the UI under real lighting and screen conditions to evaluate color contrast and readability.
Findings:
🎨 Colored backgrounds conflicted with accent colors
👓 Reduced text readability
🌗 Caused theme inconsistency
Refined Visual System
We refined the widget visuals with a neutral background and accent colors only for key data points. The final design adopts a hybrid line-based style—clean yet expressive enough to help users interpret data at a glance. It maintains clarity, scales well across layouts, and adapts seamlessly to multiple data types.
We learned from user research that many drivers wanted more control over their driving experience. So in the next phase, we will explore what customization could look like for Drive Mode.
What I've Learned
Designing for Physical Context
Learned to design with real-world constraints like reach zones and driving posture in mind to ensure safe and accessible interaction.
Visual Communication vs. Readability
Explored bold visuals but realized clarity must come first—especially under challenging lighting and driving conditions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Worked closely with UX, HMI, and research to align design decisions across disciplines and iterate effectively.
©2025 KRISTY TIAN