Course Designer for SCCA as User Experience Designer

Designing an autocross course (in a parking lot or airstrip) is an exercise in real world User Experience design. I've been living the product development cycle in my role as Solo Chair and Course Designer for seven years. The Product is the driving course.

  • Every three weeks in the summer I design, test, and get feedback on new track designs
  • I take feedback and incorporate that into new future designs and iterate on similar designs
  • Users expect a fun course to drive, and the club requires safety rules be adhered to
  • The #1 reason people come to an autocross is to have a fun driving experience, and if the course is not fun, they may not give it a second chance.

 

P1190773 autocross

 

MSA 2022 07 0910 CKC toprint

Digital Design UI/UX   Car Club Event Course Design

 

User Personas

 

Defined for the product, such as New User, Power User, Traveller, Busy Parent, etc.

  

 

Driver Experience Levels

 

Novice, Intermediate, Expert

 

Every driver expects to drive on a course that is fun, challenging, makes them think or choose their driving line.

 

I have to accomodate a range of skill levels to ensure everyone has an enjoyable time driving the course.

 
     

 

Interface Idiom

 

Including computer/desktop, mobile phone, tablet, TV, etc

  

 

Vehicle Types

 

Including Stock (unmodified car), Moderately Modified, Very Modified, Full Race Car, and Go-Karts

 

Different vehicles have different strengths with regard to acceleration or braking, but all cars must be able to complete the course safely
     

 

User Testing

 

Focus groups, mockup testing, interviews.

 

Assumptions are validated or dispelled, and designs are created or updated based upon user feedback from the small groups.

  

 

Course Testing

 

The course is driven by the designer and a Safety Steward to 1) ensure speeds are acceptable, corners are safe, and no obstructions might be hit if a car goes off-course, and 2) make sure that it is fun for the drivers.

 

Adjustments are made for safety and fun-factor of the course, until it is finalized.
     

 

Incorporating User Feedback

 

Users will give feedback via app store ratings, messages to customer service, or AB tests performed can inform the team which variant is working better.

 

Changes are then made to the application based upon that user feedback in future build cycles or future app releases.

  

 

Incorporating User Feedback

 

Drivers will compliment or complain to me, to the Club President, or others, that they enjoyed the course or not. That feedback is put into the course map document for that day and used to inform changes for the a future event.

 

Veteran/Expert drivers may comment on the course before they drive it and suggest improvements, often used immediately. Their feedback and guidance is added to my document of course design notes to refer to often.