Press Release
MG Next Generation Companion App by Star and Saic Oimt Receives the Golden A' Design Award in Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design
Star and Saic Oimt of Star recognized for interface, interaction and user experience design by the international grand jury of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 24, 2024 /DesignNewswire/ MG Next Generation Companion App by Star and Saic Oimt of Star, designed for SAIC Overseas Intelligent Mobility Technology Co., Ltd., has been granted the Golden A' Design Award in the Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The recognition forms part of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Golden A' Design Award Means
The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.
More About MG Next Generation Companion App
MG Next Generation is a companion application for car owners, made for mobile phones and smart watches. The application brings several regional applications together into one global product. Features can be adjusted by location and by vehicle model, so each owner receives a personalized set of tools. A three-dimensional car model is shown inside a virtual garage, and hexagon widgets follow the brand identity. A guest mode allows people without a car to explore the main features before making a decision.
About Star
Star is a global technology consulting firm that seamlessly integrates strategy, design and engineering as an end-to-end partner on its clients’ digital journeys.
Award Record
This recognition makes Star and Saic Oimt of Star a winner of 2 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2020 - 2021 and the 2023 - 2024 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design Award
The A' Interface Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good user interface designs by the best UI/UX designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interface designers, interaction designers, user experience designers and digital product designers from all countries. Typical entries include websites, mobile applications, software interfaces, game interfaces, wearable interfaces and virtual reality interfaces. The awarded interface designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/interface
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/159578
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/159578
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!159578
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/300669
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- MG Next Generation Companion App
- Function
- Companion App
- Category
- Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Software
- Colors
- Lavender, Black, Gainsboro, Dark Slate Gray and Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- SAIC Overseas Intelligent Mobility Technology Co., Ltd.
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Star and Saic Oimt
- Country
- Germany
- Brand
- Star
- Recognition
- Golden A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2023 - 2024
- Design ID
- #159578
Credits
- Team
- Viacheslav Shkolnyi, Anastasiia Gryshchenko, Kate Hutenieva, Nikolay Apostol, Maryna Ionova, Ivan Shvarov, Bao Yidan, Tang Shenghao, Wu Donghai, Lu Min, Xu Jie, Ruan Bo
- Image Credits
- Star
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The MG app is a mobile and watch companion for car owners. Our main objective was to create a more holistic mobile experience by integrating existing apps from various markets into a unified global application. The new app aims to boost the adoption of companion devices, allowing users to customize features based on their location and specific vehicle model, delivering a personalized experience.
- Inspiration
- To address the scattered UX complexity present across multiple MG apps, our team developed a unified app using a modular approach. This design empowers users to customize features according to their location and specific vehicle model, delivering a personalized experience. The reimagined structure now incorporates all pre-existing functionalities, guaranteeing clarity, predictability, simplicity, scalability, and substantial value for both users and the business.
- Research
- Our team thoroughly analyzed vehicle-related apps, identifying market trends, strengths, areas for improvement, and potential innovations. We employed card sorting exercises to grasp user navigation preferences, collaborating with the client team to prioritize features aligning with business goals. Utilizing insights from these exercises, we crafted an interactive prototype showcasing 8 core use cases. Testing this prototype with car owners worldwide uncovered usability issues and app pain points. Leveraging these insights, we refined and improved the app's design to meet user expectations, ensuring a seamless and satisfying experience.
- Challenge
- We've segmented users into two distinct groups: car owners and non-owners. Each group has unique informational needs and preferred functionalities. For car owners, access is provided to a customizable My MG screen, offering swift vehicle control along with personalized features and essential data. Non-owners utilize a guest mode to preview key features and gather information about MG cars. This mode enables potential buyers to explore the advantages of informed decision-making. One of the significant challenges faced by the client was managing separate regional apps, leading to maintenance issues and limited scalability.
- Realization and Technology
- We aimed to mimic real car experience digitally using a 3D model, giving users a real sense of their vehicle on their screens. We placed the car in a virtual garage inspired by futuristic and sci-fi concepts. We adopted a clear black and white palette, with hints of metallic and vibrant orange for contrast. Elevating surfaces and visual effects added tangible materiality to the interface, intensified by fluid animations and interactions that emulate real-world functionality. Hexagon widgets, echoing MG's logo, maintain coherence and reinforce the brand's identity.
- Operation and Interaction
- Incorporating real-life patterns and metaphors makes the design clear and intuitive. We based the placement of frequently used functions on user research and ergonomic principles, ensuring easy accessibility. Feedback from validation sessions led to refinements for more clear controls. Careful attention was given to the first-time experience to assist users in binding the car and exploring features. Furthermore, we introduced a guest mode, enabling potential buyers to explore the app's advantages for more informed decision-making. Finally, the watch app offers essential features precisely when users need them.
- Project Duration and Location
- up to 6 month, China
- Keywords
- mobile, apple watch, 3D, car, automotive, companion app, design system, EV
