CHEVY UX DESIGN QUALITY

In 2024, as a junior designer, I stepped into the role of Chevy Lead in the Design Quality team.

BACKGROUND

In early 2024, the previous lead announced that they would be taking a leave of absence for several months. Due to the critical nature of this role, a need arose to fill the position internally as soon as possible. Although I had been a junior designer for less than a year, my manager was confident that I could rise to the occasion. She recommended me as the right fit for the position and I was assigned to the role and this new team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Design quality leads are responsible for ensuring that design intent is properly implemented in vehicles in time for start of production. As Chevy lead, my responsibilities included:

  • Attending and leading UI/UX design reviews for various Chevy models, primarily the 2026 Corvettes

  • Auditing cluster, center stack, and auxillary screens for form and functionality defects

  • Collecting vehicle software logs, relevant design specifications and links to GM’s vehicle design system, and photo/video evidence

  • Reporting defects as Jira tickets and assigning to appropriate software teams

  • Tracking these defects and their status

  • Acting as a liaison between software engineering and design to resolve defects

  • Onboarding design interns to help support defect reporting

TRANSITIONING TO ENTERPRISE DESIGN

My time in this role came to an end in July 2024 - a group dedicated to designing enterprise products was newly formed and, due to changing business needs, I was brought into that space. I worked with another quality design lead to onboard them onto the work for Chevy while transitioning into a new role myself.

LEARNINGS

I spent a total of 4 months as Chevy design quality lead and learned that in-vehicle design is incredibly complex, more than the average person recognizes or appreciates. There are a number of legal, safety, industry, and quality standards that must be considered and adhered to. In addition to that, ensuring that designs are built and integrated into vehicles as intended is paramount. Creating products like these is so much more than just look and feel.

As designers, we’re also responsible for the customers who drive these cars and rely on our work to understand what their vehicles can do.

When I became lead, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t apprehensive. I was young and still had much to learn. But I’m forever grateful for this opportunity and my manager’s trust in me.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the amazing Chevy experiences my peers have crafted and I had the privilege to review in this role.