Bosch eBike Systems
Bosch eBike Systems
2019 • IoT • TANGIBLE INTERACTION
2019 • IoT • TANGIBLE INTERACTION
Bosch eBike Systems develops modular drive units, batteries, and onboard computers for electric bicycles, creating connected riding experiences for different types of riders. In 2019, I joined Bosch’s Customer Experience Design team in Stuttgart, focusing on interaction design across physical controls, embedded displays, and connected software.
Bosch eBike Systems develops modular drive units, batteries, and onboard computers for electric bicycles, creating connected riding experiences for different types of riders. In 2019, I joined Bosch’s Customer Experience Design team in Stuttgart, focusing on interaction design across physical controls, embedded displays, and connected software.
As rider needs evolved, a single display solution was no longer sufficient. Different riders valued different trade-offs between information density, cost, durability, and rider attention. Through internal research, user studies, and close collaboration with the eBike team, we defined three distinct product directions—each optimized for a different riding context.
01
LED Remote Only: A minimal, screenless setup paired with a smartphone, designed for riders who prefer simplicity, robustness, and minimal distraction.
02
Small Display + LED Remote: A compact display showing essential ride data at a lower cost, balancing focus and functionality.
03
Medium Display + LED Remote: A richer interface for riders who want greater control, detailed metrics, and deeper integration with the bike system.
I was responsible for the interaction design across hardware controls and digital interfaces, prototyping these concepts to support product decision-making.
As rider needs evolved, a single display solution was no longer sufficient. Different riders valued different trade-offs between information density, cost, durability, and rider attention. Through internal research, user studies, and close collaboration with the eBike team, we defined three distinct product directions—each optimized for a different riding context.
01
LED Remote Only: A minimal, screenless setup paired with a smartphone, designed for riders who prefer simplicity, robustness, and minimal distraction.
02
Small Display + LED Remote: A compact display showing essential ride data at a lower cost, balancing focus and functionality.
03
Medium Display + LED Remote: A richer interface for riders who want greater control, detailed metrics, and deeper integration with the bike system.
I was responsible for the interaction design across hardware controls and digital interfaces, prototyping these concepts to support product decision-making.
We began with workshops to align across design, engineering, and product teams. Through personas, riding scenarios, and journey mapping, we identified key moments requiring attention, moments of distraction, and points of control during a ride.
This work established 'Cognitive Safety' as our core principle. We prioritized glanceability and tactile feedback to minimize 'eyes-off-road' time, ensuring interactions remained safe even under cognitive load.
We began with workshops to align across design, engineering, and product teams. Through personas, riding scenarios, and journey mapping, we identified key moments requiring attention, moments of distraction, and points of control during a ride.
This work established 'Cognitive Safety' as our core principle. We prioritized glanceability and tactile feedback to minimize 'eyes-off-road' time, ensuring interactions remained safe even under cognitive load.
To validate core interactions early, I built a fully functional hardware–software prototype. A physical remote controlled a live UI running on a smartphone via Bluetooth, using the phone as a proxy for the final embedded display. This approach allowed us to validate tactile ergonomics alongside UI logic.
To validate core interactions early, I built a fully functional hardware–software prototype. A physical remote controlled a live UI running on a smartphone via Bluetooth, using the phone as a proxy for the final embedded display. This approach allowed us to validate tactile ergonomics alongside UI logic.
To gather more realistic feedback during user testing, I worked closely with a user researcher to set up a simulated riding environment that mirrored real cycling conditions. Participants were asked to use the prototype while riding, allowing us to observe interactions in motion and capture in-the-moment feedback.
Prior research showed that many riders wear gloves, so I proposed including glove usage in the testing sessions, enabling us to evaluate critical details such as button size, tactile feedback, and interaction accuracy.
To gather more realistic feedback during user testing, I worked closely with a user researcher to set up a simulated riding environment that mirrored real cycling conditions. Participants were asked to use the prototype while riding, allowing us to observe interactions in motion and capture in-the-moment feedback.
Prior research showed that many riders wear gloves, so I proposed including glove usage in the testing sessions, enabling us to evaluate critical details such as button size, tactile feedback, and interaction accuracy.
User testing validated the overall interaction approach:
Over 90% of riders said both display variants (small and medium) were easy to read and not distracting.
The small display was praised for its balance between focus and affordability.
The LED remote was consistently recognized as simple, intuitive, and robust.
Based on these findings, two directions advanced to production:
01
The screenless concept, shipped as the LED Remote
02
The small-display concept, shipped as the Kiox 300
User testing validated the overall interaction approach:
Over 90% of riders said both display variants (small and medium) were easy to read and not distracting.
The small display was praised for its balance between focus and affordability.
The LED remote was consistently recognized as simple, intuitive, and robust.
Based on these findings, two directions advanced to production:
01
The screenless concept, shipped as the LED Remote
02
The small-display concept, shipped as the Kiox 300
This project provided hands-on experience designing safety-critical, real-world products where mistakes cannot be easily undone. Working across physical hardware, embedded software, and mobile prototypes sharpened my ability to design under strict constraints, balancing usability, safety, cost, and durability.
More importantly, it reinforced a systems mindset: successful interaction design is not about maximizing features, but about shaping the right set of trade-offs for real users in real environments.
This project provided hands-on experience designing safety-critical, real-world products where mistakes cannot be easily undone. Working across physical hardware, embedded software, and mobile prototypes sharpened my ability to design under strict constraints, balancing usability, safety, cost, and durability.
More importantly, it reinforced a systems mindset: successful interaction design is not about maximizing features, but about shaping the right set of trade-offs for real users in real environments.