Honda Motor Co. Internship
An infotainment system designed to simplify the morning parking experience for college students who commute, reducing frustration and saving time.
OVERVIEW
Commuting college students often begin their day stressed from heavy traffic
83% of college students nationwide who do not live in institution-owned housing are considered commuters. Research indicates that commuter students are generally less satisfied with their overall college experience. During my internship at Honda, I designed an infotainment system to help these students start their day with confidence by easing the burden of finding parking each morning.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM SPACE
Higher education institutions are increasing their enrollment capacity every year, but new parking garages are not being added on campus. This creates a growing gap between the number of students who need parking and the availability of spaces, leading to longer search times, increased stress, and a negative start to the day for commuter students. According to students at San Jose State University:
“Most universities fail to solve the growing parking issue for students, visitors, and faculty. Students have to outsource parking spots, which forces them to walk to campus during unsafe hours and poor weather conditions.”
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
Making Mornings Smoother for Commuter Students
During my internship at Acura, I observed how a thoughtfully designed infotainment system can influence driver behavior and reduce cognitive load. Building on these insights, I designed Parking Pro, an infotainment solution designed to ease one of the most stressful aspects of a commuter student’s day—finding parking. The system allows drivers to efficiently search for available spots in their area while remaining focused on the road, minimizing distractions and supporting a smoother, more confident morning routine.
ROLE
TIMELINE
TEAM
PROCESS
Primary research, UX UI Ideation for Search Features, Interview Recruiting & Coordination
August 2022, 2 weeks
Solo intern project
UX Research, User Interviews, Persona Generation, UX & Visual Design
Introducing Parking Pro
An application that integrates directly with the driver’s infotainment screen, allowing them to input their daily schedule and view available parking structures near their destinations. By providing this information upfront, the app eliminates the extra time and stress spent searching for parking, streamlining the morning routine for students.
Home Screen
Drivers’ in-vehicle journey with Parking Pro begins on their infotainment home screen, where they can:
Access Parking Pro directly from the widget panel
View synced daily schedule and upcoming destinations
Receive smart parking recommendations based on their schedule
To better empathize with students’ commuting experiences, I conducted research focused on the additional time and effort required to find parking. By asking targeted questions, I was able to uncover the frustrations and negative emotions that arise as students navigate stressful morning routines, helping me connect with their perspective and design solutions that address these pain points.
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“Getting from my house to class takes me an hour and a half which is a very long commute considering I live only 25 minutes from campus.”
- Santa Clara University Student
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“As a student who often has studio classes on Monday, I have to carry a lot of equipment…I try to find good parking but I end up having to carry my work bags a few blocks to campus every week. This is a big source of frustration and makes Mondays feel harder than they already are.”
- San Jose State Student
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“It feels like the university admits more students than it has capacity for but does not work to provide for arrangements. If I am paying a parking fee and cannot find parking I feel angry in the mornings.”
- UC Riverside Student
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“Even when it is not rush hour, it usually takes me 15 min just for parking, and during rush hour I am often circling the lots hoping that the next garage I enter has at least one spot. I also pay for outside parking monthly outside of the semester parking fee.”
- San Jose State Student
QUALITATIVE & QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Search - Phase 1
Drivers can click on the parking pro icon and start their search
In this example, the driver’s end goal is San Jose State
View frequented destinations
Search - Phase 2
After selecting the final destination, Parking Pro allows the driver to edit the provided filters
Edit filters such as walking distance and price range
Search - Phase 3
The driver is shown their closest search results
Option to sort by specific filters
Quick view of the parking spaces and open stations
Reviewing openings
Before reserving a spot, the driver can see parking and charging openings, allowing students to feel prepared
Reserving and payment
Upon selecting North Garage, the payment process is automatically synced in-vehicle
Allows for easy bookings
Add time according to schedule
Overview of directions
Parking Pro shows the driver their reservation status so they can get updates in case there are any changes
Simple interface allows for less distraction while on the road
THE APPROACH