Story board tools and methods for user-knowledge-based automotive human-machine interface design

Abstract

Conceptual design is a creative activity in the early phase of the design process, during which designers usually stimulate their inspiration with related tools and methods. Therefore, methods of conceptual innovation are important issues of concern in the area of design research. This study is oriented towards automotive human-machine interface (HMI) design objects and user knowledge, and explores the tools and methods for supplementing conceptual innovation. By combining theoretical and empirical analysis, this research obtains user knowledge related to automotive HMI, and constructs and presents a new storyboard framework using the axes of vision, scenario, and process to contribute to automotive HMI design innovation. The work presented in this paper examines the case of interactive design for an electric automobile navigation interface, and addresses two key problems in the design process: (1) the framework of navigation functions; and (2) the conceptual design of human-machine navigation interfaces. This research further constructs a navigation interface design storyboard based on user knowledge, thereby aiding designers in the creation of a design interface that integrates software with hardware. The effectiveness and feasibility of the method are preliminarily validated.