Vehicle maintenance experience for Mazda: Enhancing user experience on the MyMazda app by aligning various touchpoints.

EMPOWERED MAZDA OWNERS WITH DECISION-MAKING
ELEVATED BRAND PERCEPTION AND LOYALTY
STREAMLINED SERVICE BOOKING AND PAYMENTS
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Project Overview
For a senior design course project, we focused on experience design to solve a business problem. Our goal was to improve Mazda's vehicle maintenance product by enhancing existing touchpoints to better the overall experience for Mazda owners. My role involved creating a unified design system in Figma and improving the app's user experience.
Team:
PAIGE HEATHERINGTON
TYLER BARLOW
SINA OMIDALLAH
CHINMAYEE KUSNUR
My Role:
UI DESIGN (DESIGN SYSTEMS)
UX DESIGN
VIDEO POST PRODUCTION
Tools:
FIGMA
Problem
50% of car dealership gross profits are from maintenance and repair services. However, according to Cox Automative maintenance and repair study 65% of vehicle owners do not get their vehicle serviced at a dealership due to a poor experience caused by:
PERCEIVED UNFAIR PRICING
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
TIME COST & UNCERTAINTY
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Area of Intervention
After speaking with many vehicle owners, we found that most preferred alternatives like Jiffy Lube, Midas, or independent mechanics over dealerships. They viewed dealerships as more expensive and time-consuming, which led to a lack of trust in their services. To address these concerns and improve the perception of dealership services, we focused on increasing transparency and reducing uncertainty. Our goal was to enhance the Mazda owner's experience throughout the entire service process, from the moment they arrive to the completion of their service. Centered Image
Framing the Problem
In 2021, Mazda launched MyMazda, a mobile app enabling users to lock/unlock the car, adjust heating, and control fundamental vehicle features. Despite its functionality, the app had some limitations as users were redirected multiple times to various third-party sites for tasks such as booking service appointments, making payments, and getting service. Recognizing this opportunity for improvement, we aimed to integrate all touchpoints directly within the app. Our objective was to enhance transparency by providing users with clear information about the time and cost of the service, all within the seamless experience of the MyMazda app. Centered Image
Solution
Bringing Awareness to Maintenance Needs
We wanted Mazda owners to know all of the service details of their cars through this app. Hence, we created a service section in one of the apps where they get complete information about upcoming services and maintenance required for specific car parts. This allows us to increase the transparency of their repair services, communicate both the “what” and “why” of service and remove booking friction, thereby increasing the number of owners who follow through with the appointment.
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Keeping the Owner Informed During the Service
One of the main reasons vehicle owners didn't go to dealerships was the lack of trust. By giving step-by-step details of the service, we can establish a trustworthy connection between the owner and service team, accommodate busy schedules by providing live updates and provide price transparency to mitigate owner frustration and anxiety.
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Allowing the Owner to Make Informed Decisions
Every time before the service begins, the mechanic performs an inspection to check if any additional services are required. Instead of asking the vehicle owner through third-party applications, they can send a video of the issue and ask via the app. By giving the control to the owner to make decisions for their vehicle, we can provide transparency through updating vehicle status throughout service and additional evidence through video and facilitate more informed decision making.
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Keeping the Owner Within One Touchpoint
By bringing the payment touchpoint inside the app, we can remove any kind of payment friction to provide a thoughtful end-of-service experience and strengthen the brand perception with a better experience.
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Providing a Detailed Service History
A service history folder is essential for any vehicle owner, especially when selling the car, and we decided to digitalize it and integrate it into the MyMazda App. The service history tab includes the service summary, service videos, inspection reports and the receipt. Additionally, it acts as a touchpoint for a new owner to onboard the MyMazda application.
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What Did I Learn?
1. Importance of Design Research: Throughout the project, I gained valuable experience in conducting in-depth design research, exploring user preferences, pain points, and behaviors. This research helped me uncover key insights that shaped our design decisions, ensuring the MyMazda app met the specific needs and expectations of Mazda owners.
2. Collaboration: Working with the team taught me the value of combining different perspectives and expertise to create well-rounded, innovative solutions. By focusing on adding value to the business, brand, and design, I made sure our design choices aligned with the goal of improving the user experience and building customer trust in dealership services.
3. Experience Design Foundation: This project was a hands-on application of experience design principles. By focusing on transparency, user-friendliness, and seamless touchpoint integration, I learned the core elements of experience design and how it can improve user engagement and satisfaction in digital products like the MyMazda app.