Design for Awareness
A conceptual investigation into how design can raise awareness among EV users and encourage them to regulate their charging habits.
Note!
This solution is conceptual and was designed as a part of a course assignment in Masters programme in Human-Computer Interaction at Uppsala University. If you have any queries or wish to discuss about this solution please contact me through any of the social channels listed at the bottom of this page.
Summary
Overview
The electricity grid in Uppsala and many other cities is old and, as a result, was designed for a different electricity situation than the one we now face. Right now, demand for electricity is increasing faster than the main grid's capacity can expand. Other reasons for the lack of grid capacity in Uppsala, among other places, include continued urbanization and increased electricity use for a fossil-free transportation sector and industry.
The goal of this project is to assist electric vehicle (EV) drivers in understanding the constraints of a city's electric grid, its current stress level, and how they can reduce this stress by changing their behaviors, specifically regarding EV charging but also in general.
Project Duration
January 2022 - March 2022
Status
Team
- Daniel Peña López
- Josef Jönsson
- Karthik V Meenaakshisundaram
- Lauren Van Loo
- Sofia Strömqvist
Roles
- Visual Design
- User Research
- Prototyping
- User Testing
Tools
- Adobe Photoshop (Design)
- Adobe Illustrator (3D Design)
- Figma (Design & Prototyping)
Attention!
This page is currently under construction and will be updated with project information soon. Please read the project report linked below for a more in-depth understanding of this project.
This report proposes a new system that would be used by EV users in their everyday routines. The system has the aim at raising awareness about the constraints on Uppsala electricity grid, giving people information they need to optimize their charging for a greener Uppsala. The system would be mainly used on the home and working charging environment. It encompasses a color-system to indicate the status of the grid, an illuminating power cord that shows when V2G is activated, as well as two screens providing the users with information about the positive change that is possible when uniting towards a common goal. With the climate debate emphasizing on reducing consumption of resources, the system gives EV owners an active role within the electrical ecosystem, giving them the opportunity to alleviate grid constraints when needed.