This project was a collaboration with Sanyo to integrate their car radio with TomTom’s navigation system, resulting in the Mazda NVA-SD8110 EU—a touch-controlled multimedia device that seamlessly combined radio and navigation. Our goal was to preserve the TomTom look-and-feel while ensuring ease of use, minimizing software changes, and enhancing the car stereo’s interface within existing technical constraints.
As UX Lead, I guided a small team of visual designers, developing the information architecture, creating prototypes, and refining the interaction design to deliver a user-friendly experience. The design allowed users to switch between navigation and radio views, retaining essential information from the non-active system. Presenting concepts and solutions at client meetings, I helped Mazda and Sanyo see how small changes could significantly improve usability. Despite limited flexibility in the radio software, we transformed the user experience by creating a touch-based interface that eliminated reliance on hardware buttons and confusing abbreviations.
