ROLE
Product Design Intern
DESCRIPTION
I led the design of key features in the Tesla Energy app for product owners, improving functionality and user engagement while collaborating with teams to ensure alignment with user needs and technical feasibility.
PROJECTS
Mobile App Features, Design Proposals
TIMELINE
May 2024 - August 2024 (14 weeks)
TOOLS
Figma
TEAM
Tesla Energy Mobile App
MY IMPACT
Ownership & Collaborations
During my internship, I contributed to 5+ projects, including feature delivery and team collaborations.
Owned and delivered two key features, enhancing the experience for millions of users on the Tesla mobile app.
Developed and proposed several designs for the app redesign, which were presented to VPs.
Outlined and documented user surveys and interviews to generate and refine user insights.
Designed and refined visual elements for the Tesla support page to enhance user experience and brand identity.
Illustrative Demo of the Tesla Energy App
Breakdown tech jargon for non-technical users
Tesla products are complex, with details like kW vs. kWh and the Powerwall-Solar Roof system. By clearly explaining these features, we build trust and enhance value. My design work targets the non-technical user, not just tech-savvy users. During my internship, I’ve worked with electrical engineers to simplify technical concepts for users.
Navigating Ambiguity with Stakeholders
Innovation often brings ambiguity. During my internship, I worked on features lacking clear frameworks or definitions. To navigate this, I collaborated with stakeholders and product engineers to piece together what I knew, resulting in clearer design directions.
Scaling for Future Growth and Features
Some features I worked on faced constraints in terms of technical feasibility. However, stakeholders were eager to ship the feature quickly. To balance the need for timely delivery with future updates, I ensured the feature was built using frameworks that allow for easy scaling and future enhancements once the technical capabilities are in place.
INTERNSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Visiting installations and
meeting customers
During my internship, I volunteered at a Tesla shop, assisted over 100 customers with demo drives, and sold 4 cars.
My internship wouldn’t have been the same without the relationships I built here. Special thanks to my manager Alex Guichet, my mentor Eddy Ghann, and everyone on my team Iris Leung, Harrison Munden, Ian Zelbo, Nathan Thomas, Hao Wu, Dasun Wang, Anda Achimescu, and Aryan Mahindra.
Much of my work during this internship is under NDA. For more details on my experience, feel free to contact me at jackievu.work@gmail.com.
Next Step
Most of the designs I handed off to the engineering team are scheduled for delivery from the end of this year through early next year. I’m thrilled to see my designs come to life within the Tesla ecosystem. This internship has also provided me with valuable learnings and takeaways.
My key takeaways
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: I learned to effectively translate complex user needs into designs by collaborating closely with engineering and product teams, ensuring seamless integration within the Tesla ecosystem.
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Designing for Impact: This internship has taught me to design user-centered experiences that drive positive behavior and engagement.
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Embracing Adaptability: Working on various projects, from onboarding tutorials to simplifying technical content, highlighted the need to be adaptable and open to new ideas, allowing me to grow and refine my design approach continuously.