Harley Davidson HMI Re-design
Redesigning a traditional bike HMI for new riders
Team
Lenora Fernandes, Mrinalini Vodela, Addison Teichman, Francisca Gamboa, Natalia de la Rosa, Ruth Moran, Diana Lopez, Sunny Yang, Jade Stephens
N
MPH
67
ODO
007560
mi
Debris - Labrinth
NO GRAPHICS HERE
X 1000 RPM
N
67
mph
U
NO GRAPHICS HERE
ODO
000000
mi
Temperature
72
°F
Oil Pressure
52
PSI
Tire Pressure
32
PSI
Engine Temperature
195
°F
ODO
000000
mi
Temperature
72
°F
Oil Pressure
52
PSI
Tire Pressure
32
PSI
Engine Temperature
195
°F
0.7 mi
Exit 339-359
5 AM
8 AM
12 PM
3 PM
9 PM
Ride Smoothness
t
Excess information
Problem
Current Bike Features
Current HMI features on the Sportster S were assessed to determine how to improve and adapt them on the Fat Boy.
Cognitive Overload
Distracting
Too cluttered
Goal
Redesigning the fat boy HMI
Using the Harley Davidson Sportster S HMI as reference, our goal was to create an new digital HMI for a classic bike: The Fat Boy
Disjointed
Inconsistent
Ideation
Initial HMI Moodboard
Ideation
Initial Onboarding IA
Ideation
Kicking into gear
An initial onboarding IA that visualizes how users navigate new features
A moodboard for the new HMI design
We have our bike and it’s future rider- now it’s time to let the creativity flow! After brainstorming a list of features that both support Jeanette’s goal of building confidence as a beginner rider and strengthen the Harley community, our team split into groups to create:
Our initial IA illustrates how users interact with and navigate through our new HMI features focused on beginners and building community.
This stripped-down, stroke based design approach uses weight to indicate importance and only displays necessary information- ensuring rider focus and reinforcing beginner accessibility and confidence.
From there we created three core aesthetics for design exploration.
Koulen
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Digital-7
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Triumvirate CG ExtraComp
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Pragmatica
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Adjectives: modern, minimalistic, exciting, daring
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Shifto
Neon Style
Neon style was developed with styles such as punk, riot grrrl, retro in mind. Used bright colors to communicate Jeanette’s free spirit that yearns for excitement.
Color Palette
Typography
Team members got hands on with bikes, viewed current Harley Davidson HMI design, and interviewed various bikers during a trip to the local Harley dealership.
Research
Field Work
Research
Design Opportunities
Research
Our Persona
Research
Who we are designing for
Men and women
Ages: 40-57
Biking experience: Less than 1-42+ years
Ride styles: Long distance, cruising, solo, group or friends
With knowledge of the Fat Boy and current user wants and priorities, we got specific on who we were going to design for by researching beginner and female bikers as well as what members of gen Z think about biking as a whole.
Research
Understanding The Motorcycle HMI
Our analysis found some unique factors that had to be considered throughout the design process.
Small Workspace
Prioritize when information is displayed and how it is organized
Environmental Factors
Sun glare, extreme weather conditions, or road vibration
Excess buttons
Difficult to memorize, can cause confusion mid-ride
Information overload
Irrelevant information may distract or overwhelm riders
Clutch and throttle
Balancing clutch and throttle engagement causing the bike to stall, jerky starts, and dexterity issues
Countersteer and Balance
Learning and trusting lean angles, balancing while steering and dealing with road hazards
Switching Gears
Finding the right gear, avoiding rough or unintended gear shifts, and matching TCS settings to conditions
Turn signal management
Forgetting to cancel or use turn signals endangering the rider and other drivers on the road
Features beginners often struggle with:
Tend to overthink
60% report feeling anxious during first rides
lack of trust and focus
Demographics
Jeanette Garcia
Age: 24
Location: Austin, Texas
Recently completed MSF safety course, excited for her first motorcycle purchase, comfortable with tech but not mechanically confident.
Core Need
A motorcycle experience that builds confidence in biking skills.
“I’m not looking to be protected while riding, I want to feel confident enough to enjoy it.”
Jeanette Garcia
Age: 24
Location: Austin, Texas
Motorcycle journey: Recently completed MSF safety course, excited for her first motorcycle purchase, comfortable with tech but not mechanically confident.
Core Need
A motorcycle experience that builds confidence in biking skills.
“I’m not looking to be protected while riding, I want to feel confident enough to enjoy it.”
Combining research findings about beginner female bikers and what members of gen-z think about biking as a whole helped us shape Jeanette, her needs, and outlook on biking
Beginner
Female bikers
Gen Z
Prioritize comfort + aesthetics
Rides lower and lighter models
60% take safety courses
Finances, safety concerns, and the idea that bikes are “old” are deterrents for members of Gen Z to try biking
We Learned
Values: comfort, sound, smoothness
Frequently used: Ride mode, Bluetooth
High Priority: Speed, RPMs, cruise control
They want: Minimal info to create clarity, improved safety, blind spot detectors
Generational gap: Younger riders are more
comfortable with digital dashboards