Background

After relocating from Seattle to the Bay Area in 2007, I joined Dash Navigation, a five-year-old startup on a mission to reinvent in-car navigation. The company was developing the world’s first internet-connected, two-way GPS device, blending real-time traffic data with user-generated insights. It was a bold vision and I was excited to help bring it to life. The product went on to win the Best Car Tech Award at CES 2007 and was named one of TIME Magazine’s Top Innovations of 2008.

Category

Consumer Electronics · Automotive Tech · Connected Devices

Role

Senior Visual Design Architect · Lead UX/UI Designer

• Led visual design and established UI standards for the world’s first internet-connected GPS
• Directed UX/UI strategy to ensure intuitive, driver-friendly interactions
• Built interactive prototypes to validate user flows and support faster, more informed decision-making
• Collaborated closely with engineers and product teams to align design with hardware constraints and user needs

Tool

Adobe Flash · ActionScript · Photoshop · IllustratorAdobe · Terminal Command Line · Linux

The Problem

Designing for an in-car GPS system came with unique challenges...

• Limited screen real estate
• Hardware constraints
• and the need for intuitive, distraction-free interactions

The Approach

Our team focused on validating user interactions, improving the UI, and establishing visual design standards that balanced clarity with elegance.

I helped the team validating the Haptic Menu System, which provided tactile feedback and simplified navigation through layered options. This was especially important for drivers who needed to interact with the device safely while on the road.

The Prototype

I introduced interactive prototyping to the team, something Dash had never done before. Using Flash and ActionScript, I created working prototypes and animations that simulated real device behavior. This allowed us to test ideas early, iterate faster, and reduce reliance on hardware during the concept phase, saving both time and cost.

The prototypes I built mimicked real-world usage scenarios, from turn-by-turn navigation to live traffic updates. These simulations helped stakeholders visualize the product experience and gave engineers a clear blueprint for implementation.

Hi-Fi Interactive Prototype - Heptic Touch Button by Ton Hanchai

Mid-Fi Interactive Prototype - Code Name RiverRock by Ton Hanchai

A Meaningful Iteration

One key breakthrough came when we simplified the visual hierarchy of the interface. By reducing clutter and focusing on essential information, we made the UI more readable at a glance, critical for safe in-car use. This change was directly informed by user testing and feedback from early beta drivers.

Measurable Impact

• Won Best Car Tech Award at CES 2007
• Named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Gadgets of 2008
• Reduced hardware prototyping time by introducing interactive simulations
• Improved user comprehension and interaction speed through simplified UI

Final Result

The Dash GPS device (Dash Express) launched online in March 2008, offering real-time traffic, internet connectivity, and a sleek, user-friendly interface. It was a pioneer in connected car technology and laid the groundwork for future innovations in smart navigation.

In June 2009, the company was acquired by Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of BlackBerry.