Overview
During my four years at BimmerTech, I played a pivotal role in the development and launch of MMI Prime, an IoT retrofit solution that brought CarPlay and Android Auto to older BMW models.
Unlike BMW’s OEM solutions, MMI Prime provided a seamless smartphone integration experience, allowing users to enjoy:
✅ Media playback
✅ Navigation apps
✅ Hands-free communication
This product addressed a growing market demand for premium aftermarket tech, enabling BMW owners to modernize their vehicles without costly factory upgrades.
Challenge
Older BMW models lacked native support for CarPlay and Android Auto, limiting user access to modern smartphone applications. To overcome this, we had to address key challenges:
???? Seamless Integration – Ensuring compatibility across multiple BMW models with varying infotainment systems.
???? Intuitive UI Design – Creating a user-friendly interface that felt native to BMW’s OEM ecosystem.
???? Premium Experience – Aligning the product’s design, packaging, and branding with BimmerTech’s high-end image.
???? Hardware & Software Synergy – Managing both physical product design and digital UI development for a unified experience.
My Role & Contributions
As a Product Designer, I worked across hardware, software, branding, and UX/UI to shape MMI Prime into a premium, user-friendly product. My responsibilities included:
✅ Hardware Design & Aesthetic Consistency
- Designed the MMI Prime housing, ensuring a sleek and durable finish.
- Selected materials, colors, and finishes that aligned with BMW’s premium design language.
- Collaborated with manufacturers to finalize production specifications.
✅ UX/UI Design for MMI Prime’s Management App
- Created wireframes, interactive prototypes, and UI components for the app.
- Designed a minimalistic interface that made it easy to adjust settings and manage connectivity.
- Conducted usability testing to refine navigation and interaction design.
✅ Branding & Packaging Design
- Designed high-end packaging, reinforcing a luxury aftermarket experience.
- Directed product photography and marketing visuals for the product launch.
✅ Cross-Team Collaboration
- Weekly meetings with developers, manufacturers, and stakeholders to align design, engineering, and marketing efforts.
- Provided UX insights and feedback loops to optimize both the physical product and software experience.
Design Process
The MMI Prime project followed an iterative design and development cycle, ensuring seamless execution from concept to market launch.
1. User Research & Market Analysis
???? Identified pain points of BMW owners through customer feedback & market research.
???? Defined product requirements based on technical constraints & user needs.
2. Hardware & UI/UX Design
???? Developed multiple hardware prototypes to test ergonomics, materials, and aesthetics.
???? Designed a user-friendly digital interface, ensuring clear visual hierarchy & smooth navigation.
3. Manufacturing Coordination & Testing
???? Worked with production teams to finalize high-quality materials and finishes.
???? Conducted extensive compatibility testing across various BMW models.
4. Product Branding & Launch Strategy
???? Designed premium packaging & marketing assets for a strong market presence.
???? Created high-quality product images & videos for promotional campaigns.
Key Design Features & Solutions
???? Seamless CarPlay & Android Auto Integration
Enabled older BMW models to access smartphone apps for music, navigation, and calls.
???? Intuitive UI for Easy Setup & Control
Designed a clean, simple interface for managing MMI Prime settings, ensuring a smooth user experience.
???? Premium BMW-Inspired Aesthetics
Maintained a cohesive design language with BMW’s signature tones and luxury feel.
???? USB Media Playback & Versatile Connectivity
Allowed users to play music and videos directly from USB storage, enhancing entertainment options.
Impact & Results
This project transformed the driving experience for thousands of BMW owners worldwide:
✅ Improved Driving Experience – Enabled seamless smartphone integration, modernizing older BMW models.
✅ Increased Customer Engagement – MMI Prime became one of BimmerTech’s best-selling products.
✅ OEM-Like Performance – Delivered an integration experience on par with factory-installed solutions.
✅ Foundation for Future Innovations – Insights from MMI Prime’s success influenced next-gen product development.
Final Thoughts
MMI Prime was a game-changer in the aftermarket automotive tech industry, proving that even older vehicles could be retrofitted with cutting-edge smart technology.
This project showcased my ability to work across multiple disciplines—hardware, UX/UI, branding, and product design—while maintaining a user-centered approach.
From concept to final product, I ensured that MMI Prime delivered both in function and form, making modern connectivity accessible to BMW owners worldwide. ????
Screenshots & Wireframes
