iOS
Reimagining the Experience
Improving Route Clarity
in Apple Maps (CarPlay)
The Observation
While driving with my friend to our usual tea spot, we decided to make a quick stop along the way. I added an additional stop to the navigation route, but as we approached it, she became confused about which road to follow.
I told her:
“Just follow the darker blue route.”
Her response immediately stood out to me:
“I can’t sit here color-matching while driving.”
That moment made me realize how heavily navigation systems rely on subtle color differences to communicate routes — something that can become difficult and distracting while actively driving.
The Problem
Current route guidance relies too much on subtle color differentiation, increasing cognitive load and making quick decision-making harder for drivers.
Solution 1:
For this concept, I removed the secondary route entirely until the user reaches the first stop. Once the stop is completed, the next route automatically appears.
This reduces visual clutter and allows drivers to focus only on the information relevant to their current step.
Solution 2:
In this variation, I changed the colors of the routes.
This improves route distinction and reduces the need for users to carefully compare multiple shades of blue while driving.
Adding a Location Toggle to iOS Control Center
The Observation
My dad uses an older iPhone with poor battery life, so we frequently turn Location Services on and off to save power.
However, enabling or disabling location access requires navigating deep into Settings every single time. Whether ordering food, sharing location, or using maps, the process becomes unnecessarily repetitive.
The Problem
Location Services are frequently used, yet iOS does not provide quick access to this setting from Control Center.
This creates unnecessary friction for users who regularly manage battery usage or privacy preferences.
Why It Matters
This isn’t only about convenience — it’s also about user control, privacy and battery life.
Many users may prefer disabling location access when it’s not needed, rather than leaving it permanently enabled for apps and websites to continuously access their data and drain unnecessary battery life.
Proposed Solution
I explored adding a simple Location toggle directly within Control Center, similar to existing Wi-Fi or Bluetooth controls.
This would:
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Reduce the number of steps required
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Improve accessibility
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Give users faster privacy and battery management controls
Landscape Control Center Inconsistencies
The Observation
The iOS Control Center is designed to maintain a clean and organized layout. However, after customization and extended usage, the layout can become inconsistent or visually unbalanced in landscape mode.
Over time, users may need to repeatedly reorganize or readjust the interface to restore usability and visual consistency.
The Problem
The system lacks adaptive layout behavior for landscape orientation, creating a less predictable and less polished user experience.
Design Opportunity
I explored ways the interface could automatically preserve alignment, spacing, and organizational consistency without requiring repeated manual adjustments from the user. But this issue appears to stem less from the visual design of the interface and more from the system’s inability to reliably preserve user-customized layouts over time, resulting in repeated manual rearrangement.