Interview

I heard you used to be a graphic designer in the advertisement industry.

Yes, after graduating from art college, I started working as a graphic designer at an advertisement production company. I wanted to work with people that have different values from those with creative backgrounds, so I considered a career change.
I was not familiar with product design or the automotive industry, but I became more interested when I learned that the display UX was one of the key elements in increasing the value of cars. At that time, Nissan started putting more emphasis on GUI, and I saw an opportunity to utilize my graphic design in a field with expanding expressive potential. This is why I chose to work for Nissan.
The UX/UI Department is composed of people from diverse backgrounds, including experienced graphic designers and professionals with expertise in web and car design. Interacting with my team members with diverse experiences and values allows me to discover new perspectives and keeps me inspired.

Please tell me about your experience of working on the UI design of a new car model.

I worked on the new UI design from start to finish, which included developing the design concept, identifying the target persona through surveys, and creating the ideal UI. It was a challenging task for me because I had to incorporate new elements that Nissan nor other car manufacturers tried before. With my limited car knowledge, I was able to take on the challenge not realizing how difficult it would be (laugh).
We worked with the design teams, Vehicle Test Dept., and suppliers to finalize the design, ensuring the legal requirements and sufficient visibility, but it was difficult to reach consensus due to differing opinions and expertise. Surprisingly, my lack of knowledge turned out to be an advantage, as it allowed me to ask even the basic questions and actively communicate with people in other departments. This helped us all work towards the common goal of creating a great car. In the end, we became a cohesive team and achieved the most we could under the circumstances.