SMILE per mile (BYTON)
Strategic Project Highlights (An overview)
Problem Space
Today's families live a connected and seamless digital life, but the moment they enter their car, that experience breaks. They are forced to use clunky, siloed infotainment systems that don't know their preferences, turning their daily commute into a source of frustration.
The stress doesn't start there. The process of buying and learning a new vehicle involves hours wasted at a dealership, creating a frustrating first impression.
The core problem is that cars are still being designed as tools for styled transportation, not as integrated and extended living space. Families need their vehicle to be a smart, intuitive partner that understands their lifestyle, respects their time, and transforms a stressful drive into an opportunity for connection and enjoyment.
A Safety Focus Solution
Our solution was to fundamentally redefine the relationship between a person and their car. We designed the Byton M-Byte as the world's first true 'Smart Device on Wheels,' transforming it from a simple mode of transport into a third living space. By creating a 'Digital Lounge' interior and an intelligent platform that integrated the user's digital life, our solution made time in the car time well spent. This entire experience was grounded in a core principle: user-centric innovation must be built on a foundation of safety, earning customer trust by making technology feel completely intuitive and invisible.
Impact "Time is the safety currency"
We operated on the principle that a safe experience is the non-negotiable foundation of trust. The 48-inch Digital Lounge screen required a safety framework that went beyond existing standards.
I led the research and design teams to define and validate a new set of measurable safety metrics to govern the entire in-car experience. This data-driven framework directly shaped the design requirements for our three key areas: the Physical Interaction System, our Content Strategy, and the core UX Architecture
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Key Safety & Ergonomic Metrics established:
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All frequently-used primary controls must be within a 0.25-second hand-reach zone for the driver.
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All critical driving information must be placed within the primary "Eyes on the Road" view zone, 0.25-seconds eyes movement between the information to the controls.
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Press reaction:
Our approach was validated by the press. As The Verge noted (commenting on the screen's lack of distraction): "...After spending a couple of minutes in the car, I can understand how [you can] literally look past it..."
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And?
Moving friends and family on wheels is a powerful opportunity to create human connection, intuitively and safely enabling a digital experiences to be shared and enjoyed—bringing "SMILE per Mile" to life. But what truly enables these enjoyable moments is theTRUST: the fundamental confidence that lets users feel relaxed while remaining aware of their surroundings, and letting them the ability to naturally take over the control at anytime.
Most importantly, this work at a startup like Byton reinforced my core belief: A small, talented team with the right quality and knowledge can create impactful SAFETY design - it earns your TRUST.
