2026 · Toyota Innovation Challenge · 24 Hours
2026 · Toyota Innovation Challenge · 24 Hours
Adaptive
Driver
Alert
System
Adaptive
Driver
Alert
System
Role
UX Research & Design
Timeline
24 Hours
Tools
Cursor, Figma, Vercel, Lovable
Type
Hackathon
Scroll
Role
UX Research
& Design
Timeline
24 Hours
Tools
Cursor, Figma,
Vercel, Lovable
Type
Hackathon
Every 13 minutes, someone dies in a distracted driving
accident in the US. Current safety systems bark
warnings at drivers — creating alert fatigue and
destroying trust. What if a car could communicate like a
co-pilot?
Every 13 minutes, someone dies in a distracted driving
accident in the US. Current safety systems bark
warnings at drivers — creating alert fatigue and
destroying trust. What if a car could communicate like a
co-pilot?
Every 13 minutes, someone dies in a distracted driving
accident in the US. Current safety systems bark
warnings at drivers — creating alert fatigue and
destroying trust. What if a car could communicate like a
co-pilot?
40%
40%
of safety alerts ignored due to
"cry wolf" syndrome
of safety alerts ignored due to
"cry wolf" syndrome
8%
8%
of males are colorblind and
miss color-coded warnings
of males are colorblind and
miss color-coded warnings
40%
40%
faster reaction time with
personalized multi-modal alerts
faster reaction time with
personalized multi-modal alerts
Phase I
Discovery
Discovery
We looked at three data streams that feed into every driver alert decision.
We looked at three data streams that feed into every driver alert decision.
Environmental Data — Road conditions, weather, traffic patterns, and surrounding obstacles.
Environmental Data — Road conditions, weather, traffic patterns, and surrounding obstacles.
Vehicle Data — Speed, lane position, proximity sensors, and vehicle dynamics.
Vehicle Data — Speed, lane position, proximity sensors, and vehicle dynamics.
Driver Psychology — Attention level, stress indicators, reaction patterns, and learned preferences.
Driver Psychology — Attention level, stress indicators, reaction patterns, and learned preferences.
The insight that changed our direction: drivers don't ignore warnings because
they're careless. They ignore them because every warning sounds equally urgent.
A lane drift and an imminent collision feel the same to the car.
The insight that changed our direction: drivers don't ignore warnings because
they're careless. They ignore them because every warning sounds equally urgent.
A lane drift and an imminent collision feel the same to the car.
UX Research
Data Analysis
Competitive Audit
Phase II
Define
Define
How might we design an AI-powered alert system that
escalates naturally — like a driving instructor — adapting to
each driver's needs while preventing alert fatigue?
How might we design an AI-powered alert system that
escalates naturally — like a driving instructor — adapting to
each driver's needs while preventing alert fatigue?
How might we design an AI-powered alert system that
escalates naturally — like a driving instructor — adapting to each driver's needs while preventing alert fatigue?
We defined a 3-layer escalation model. The system skips layers if time-to-
collision is under 2 seconds. Intelligent escalation — not progressive nagging.
We defined a 3-layer escalation model. The system skips layers if time-to-
collision is under 2 seconds. Intelligent escalation — not progressive nagging.
Subtle peripheral glow appears on the windshield edge closest to the threat — no focus shift needed. Select a scenario to see where the alert appears.
If driver corrects: Fade out Layer 1 over 1–2s, return to monitoring.
If Layer 1 ignored (2–3s): Escalate to Layer 2.
If Layer 2 ignored + critical risk: Immediate Layer 3 intervention.
Fast escalation: Skip layers if time-to-collision < 2s.
If driver corrects: Fade out Layer 1 over 1–2s, return to monitoring.
If Layer 1 ignored (2–3s): Escalate to Layer 2.
If Layer 2 ignored + critical risk: Immediate Layer 3 intervention.
Fast escalation: Skip layers if time-to-collision < 2s.
If driver corrects: Fade out Layer 1 over 1–2s, return to monitoring.
If Layer 1 ignored (2–3s): Escalate to Layer 2.
If Layer 2 ignored + critical risk: Immediate Layer 3 intervention.
Fast escalation: Skip layers if time-to-collision < 2s.
Phase III
Ideation
Ideation
Three critical UX innovations I pushed for as the UX designer on the team:
Three critical UX innovations I pushed for as the UX designer on the team:
Three critical UX innovations I pushed for as the UX designer on the team:
CarPlay Integration — Most drivers already trust their phone's interface. Leverage that existing
mental model instead of adding another screen to learn.
CarPlay Integration — Most drivers already trust their phone's interface. Leverage that existing
mental model instead of adding another screen to learn.
Gas Pedal Resistance — Inspired by game controllers, subtle resistance physically communicates
"slow down" without removing driver control.
Gas Pedal Resistance — Inspired by game controllers, subtle resistance physically communicates
"slow down" without removing driver control.
Directional Seat Vibration — Your body knows left from right instinctively. The seat tells you which
way to correct — no eyes off the road required.
Directional Seat Vibration — Your body knows left from right instinctively. The seat tells you which
way to correct — no eyes off the road required.
Figure 1.0 — System in Motion
Phase IV
Learning
Learning
What we'd validate next: Does personalization improve or complicate the
experience? What's the optimal escalation timing for different driver profiles? How
do we prevent false positives from eroding trust?
What we'd validate next: Does personalization improve or complicate the
experience? What's the optimal escalation timing for different driver profiles? How
do we prevent false positives from eroding trust?
What judges taught us: technical solutions need emotional anchoring. Innovation
means balancing AI capability with human agency. Accessibility can't be an
afterthought.
What judges taught us: technical solutions need emotional anchoring. Innovation
means balancing AI capability with human agency. Accessibility can't be an
afterthought.
My growth: learned to advocate for physical UX (haptics) in a screen-dominated
industry. Discovered the power of multi-sensory design — when you remove the
visual channel, you have to get creative.
"The best safety system is one the driver never has to
consciously think about."
"The best safety system is one the driver never has to
consciously think about."
UX Research
Interaction Design
Multi-modal Design
Accessibility
What we'd validate next: Does personalization improve or complicate the
experience? What's the optimal escalation timing for different driver profiles? How
do we prevent false positives from eroding trust?
Next Project
IPNO Event
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Strategic Product Designer
San Antonio, TX
Strategic Product Designer
San Antonio, TX
Strategic Product Designer
San Antonio, TX