DRIVE MOBILE APP

The Nikola Drive app is a key element of the digital ecosystem, strengthening the driver’s connection to the vehicle and streamlining preparation.

ROLE
UX Designer

CONTRIBUTIONS
Mobile UX Design • High-Fidelity Mockups • Prototyping for Development • UI Updates

Overview

The Nikola Drive app enhances the Nikola Tre experience by giving drivers remote control over key functions, such as truck assignment, digital key access, climate control, beacon activation, and pre-trip light checks. I was excited to work on the mobile experience as a challenge to optimize convenience for the drivers and reduce the time it took them to start their mission. Since becoming the sole designer I added features that enhanced the app’s functionality by allowing drivers to locate their truck faster, precondition systems, track charging status, charge schedules, and monitor tire pressure. The app required a UI refresh to align with our updated company branding, so I took the initiative to not only revamp its design but also integrate meaningful UX improvements to enhance the overall user experience.

ORIGINAL DESIGNS

added features

When I began working on the app, our primary goal was to increase uptime by leveraging the convenience of the driver’s mobile connection to the truck. To achieve this, we focused on delivering mission-critical information about the truck’s health and status directly through the app, enabling drivers to monitor key metrics without needing to be physically inside the vehicle. 

Drivers can hit the road more quickly by cutting down the time spent on pre- and post-trip inspections, easily locating their truck assignments with enhanced maps and location features, receiving real-time status updates on their truck’s charging progress or any unexpected interruptions, and monitoring tire pressure—all without ever needing to step into the vehicle.

  • TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)

  • IN USE INDICATION 

  • NO CONNECTION INDICATION

  • DEPARTURE CHARGING SCHEDULE.

  • CHARGING STATUS NOTIFICATIONS

  • STATE OF CHARGE

  • PREPARE FEATURE

  • SINGLE SIGN-ON 

  • MAP ENHANCEMENTS

  • RECENTS LIST

DESIGN REFRESH

The marketing team updated our branding to better align with our future vision. As Nikola has grown, we wanted our brand to reflect our expanded offerings, values, and the customer experience we deliver. The new look is customer-focused, innovative, and designed to stand out, while staying true to the principles that have always guided us. This refresh helps us stay relevant in a changing market and ensures we continue to connect meaningfully with our customers. Recognizing the need for consistency across our ecosystem, I initiated an update to our mobile app to reflect our growth and progress.

ORIGINAL BRAND GUIDELINES

BRANDING UPDATES

Our new color palette draws inspiration from the symbolism of a sunrise, representing a fresh start and the dawn of a bright future. The warm, vibrant hues evoke the optimism and energy that come with new beginnings, while reflecting our commitment to innovation and progress. The inclusion of water tones symbolizes hydrogen, a powerful fuel of the future, emphasizing our dedication to sustainability and forward-thinking solutions. Together, these colors embody hope, renewal, and a vision for a cleaner, more sustainable tomorrow, perfectly aligning with our mission to lead the way into a brighter, more efficient future.

updated elements

Design elements like touch targets, truck controls, and updated fonts are key to improving the user experience and staying true to our brand. By refining these aspects—along with a new color palette, updated icons, and product imagery—we make the app more intuitive and visually aligned with our mission. These updates help create a smoother, more cohesive experience while reinforcing our brand’s identity and values.

  • TOUCH TARGETS

  • TRUCK CONTROL DESIGN

  • FONT UPDATE AND SIMPLIFICATION

  • COLOR PALETTE UPDATE

  • ICONOGRAPHY UPDATE

  • USE OF PRODUCT IMAGERY

  • UNIFIED COMPONENTS

Another key area for improvement was tailoring the digital product to its intended platform—ensuring the app truly capitalized on the unique characteristics of mobile devices. To achieve this, I gathered inspiration from various sources, refreshed my knowledge of best practices, and refined the design through multiple iterations. I incorporated design elements from the truck, marketing materials, and cutting-edge app designs in automotive to create a seamless, cohesive experience that feels both intuitive and innovative.

style guide

I carefully integrated key elements of the new branding while ensuring the app maintained its core identity as an extension of the truck, with a strong emphasis on unity and consistency. It was essential that the app and the truck felt like a cohesive whole, creating a seamless experience for the user. Through numerous design explorations, we developed a comprehensive style guide that simplified the use of fonts, colors, and components, ensuring clarity and consistency across the entire interface. This style guide not only reflects our updated brand but also serves as a critical tool for maintaining a user-friendly, intuitive experience, while preserving the app’s functionality and connection to the truck

I increased the touch target sizes to improve accessibility, ensuring they’re large enough to accommodate the average adult thumb size (1 inch or 72px). I also enhanced the design by making the target edges visible when tapped, providing clear visual feedback. This not only helps users confirm they’re hitting the right target but also allows them to reach and select controls more quickly.

Through user interviews and analytics, we identified the most frequently used controls and redesigned their placement and size to optimize accessibility. By prioritizing usage patterns, we ensured that each control was positioned in the ideal location for easy reach and seamless interaction.

hifi  designs

nikola manifesto

made by and made for those who lead. lead by example. lead by relentless determination.

Nikola manifesto

They don’t follow any script, or take shortcuts to create change.

“I CAN GET ON THE [NIKOLA DRIVE] APP AND PRE-TRIP THE TRUCK AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS UP TO DATE AND RUNNING. IT DEFINITELY MAKES MY DAY A LOT SMOOTHER.”

- WATT EV

“THE NIKOLA APP IS VERY CONVENIENT AS A DRIVER, TO START MY PRE-TRIP AND GET THE CAB CONDITIONED BEFORE I START MY TRIP.”

- 4 GEN