I’m Michael.

I blend psychology and design to create intuitive products people love.

“Simple can be harder than complex: you have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.”

— Steve Jobs

I led the framework design of Rivian’s in-vehicle Center Display making it easy to learn and simple to use
while driving.

Below are select projects I led on the Vehicle User Experience (VUX) Team from 2019 to 2024.

Quick Controls | Responsive Framework

Designing easy ways to interact with vehicle closures and settings through the Center Display.

One Touch Garage

Simple one-touch garage access via Steering Wheel controls and the Driver Display.

Future Vision Proof of Concepts

Collection of Interactive Prototypes and Proof of Concepts

App Launcher

Enabling quick access to apps and a framework for custom ordering.

Recognition

  • “We thought we'd be more upset with the near total lack of physical controls, but it didn't end up being an issue thanks to an intuitive user interface.”


    Scott Evans | MotorTrend
    September 21, 2023

    2022 Rivian R1T Launch Edition Yearlong Review

  • “The interface of the R1S’s 15.6-inch center touchscreen is snappy and easy to use, and I don’t encounter any glitches or other software issues that have plagued Rivians in the past — chalk that up to Rivian releasing consistent updates about once a month.”


    Daniel Golson | The Verge
    April 22, 2023

    Rivian R1S Review: King of the Mountain

  • “The user interface of the rectangular 15.6-inch touchscreen is the best of any all-screen infotainment center I’ve seen yet... The touchscreen interface is a weakness for many car companies, and it’s astonishing that they don't look at systems like this for valuable lessons.”


    Matt Jancer | Wired Magazine
    August 30, 2022

    Review: Rivian R1T and R1S

  • "I also really felt like when I was driving with the vehicle, interacting with the screens, changing all those settings, it really felt like an extension of the things I’m using in my everyday life.
That real mentality of how I use my device kind of now translates to the car itself."


    Lexy Savvides | CNET
    June 6, 2024

    Exclusive Look Inside Rivian's EV Test Lab (New R1S) | Jun 6, 2024

  • “Broadly speaking, the overall layout and functionality are refreshingly intuitive and, for lack of a better term, Apple-like…

    Rivian’s UX team clearly paid intense attention to the little things, and that shines through all over the R1S’s interface. 

    …the Rivian OS doesn’t come off cluttered. It’s pretty easy to find whatever you need, and I got the lay of the land in fairly short order.”

    Tim Levin | InsideEVs
    October 2, 2024

    Rivian Infotainment Review: I Didn't Miss Apple CarPlay

  • “The award for best UX design team went to Rivian. This category was for the team that understands what it is to create an intuitive and user-friendly with a coherent and memorable aesthetic that strengthens the connection between the car and the customer. The judges were impressed by Rivian’s intuitive and aesthetically pleasing UX — a measure of the value the brand places on this new element of car design.”

    Car Design News: Best User Experience Design Team | 2022

Some things I’m pretty good at

  • Proof of concept through production

  • Prototypes that fill in the gaps and reveal the details.

  • Agency and In-House Experience

  • Design system and framework fundamentals that scale.

  • Experience with processes that work.

  • Full-stack with an emphasis in frameworks and IxD.