This thesis centres on experience design and automotive design. The aim is to investigate the emotional experience of the driving activity. The research question driving the study is: "How can experience design influence the driving activity?" Experience design proposes to explore emotional aspects of interactions in context. A model of the human-product-environment relationship, using activity theory as its foundation, is presented. The model is used to situate the overall experience of driving. An experiment exploring the overall emotional experience in real driving situations was conducted. Participants were required to drive around a specified route while performing particular tasks with the vehicle interface. A data triangulation approach was employed involving interviews, think-aloud protocols and observations. Findings indicate that context together with the emotional state of the driver before driving impacts the overall emotional experience. Positive emotional states before driving with no interaction challenges in high-traffic contexts generated neutral overall experiences. However, positive emotional states before driving with interaction challenges in high-traffic contexts generated negative overall experiences. Negative emotional states before driving combined with interaction challenges in high-traffic contexts generated positive emotional experiences. It appears that positive emotions associated with overcoming challenging interactions in high-traffic contexts reflect positively on the overall experience. Emotions elicited in low and mediumtraffic contexts did not affect the overall experience. Another finding suggests that extended visual interaction with interface in high-traffic context generates negative emotions. It is proposed that vehicle interfaces should adapt appropriately to their surrounding context to support positive (and avoid negative) emotional experiences. In low and medium-traffic contexts interfaces may encourage interactions. In high-traffic contexts, if the driver is in a positive emotional state before driving interfaces may discourage challenging interactions. If the driver is in a negative emotional state before driving the interface may encourage challenging interactions. In conclusion, this study proposes the application of current and upcoming technologies for future automotive interiors to enhance positive (and reduce negative) emotional experiences within the driving activity.

Within the field of heavy machinery, the driver environment and its user interface (UI) has not always been a high priority during product development. This is about to change since the user experience, especially of the driver, becomes more of a selling point. Kiruna Utility Vehicles (Kiruna UV), who manufactures slag haulers for the steel industry, has developed a new driver cabin to meet these future demands. The development has been conducted in collaboration with students at Luleå University of Technology. This master thesis aims to create a basis for the digital user interface of the Kiruna UV SH60 slag hauler. The needs of the users are very important in order to ensure a good user experience. This is why a human-centred design process was chosen for this project. Extensive research has been conducted with the drivers, mechanics, managers and manufacturer of the SH60 slag hauler. Research was conducted through field studies, where interviews, observations and eye tracking were used as the main tools.The slag hauler driver operates the vehicle in two positions, where the need for information differs. When the slag hauler is driven the driver is facing forward and in this position the slag hauler is similar to any other heavy machinery. The UI needs to display for example speed, gear and RPM. When loading or emptying slag pots, the driver turns around to manoeuvre the tipping system. In this position, information about the lockings, support legs and tipping system is the most important.Through brainstorming sessions and ideation workshops with the manufacturer and participants without connection to the slag hauler, ideas on how different types of information can be shown were generated. Ideas regarding layout of the UI were also produced. These ideas were then mapped onto four different concepts that were developed through several iterations. These were then evaluated through a survey study, a usability test and feedback sessions with slag hauler drivers, mechanics and the manufacturer.A final concept was created that accommodates all the information that is needed in order to operate and maintain the slag hauler in a safe and efficient way. That is for example speed, RPM, information about the tipping system and data from the engine, transmission and hydraulic system. The final concept contains the parts of the four previous concepts that proved to work the best in the concept evaluation. The user interface has a modern look that fits into the new driver cabin design. We have shown that the user experience of the driver and service personnel can be improved through the user interface, by adapting it to user needs. We have also shown what benefits can be achieved by using a human-centred design approach within the field of heavy machinery. / I tunga fordon har förarmiljön och dess användargränssnitt ofta varit lågt prioriterad under produktutvecklingen. Detta håller på att förändras då användarupplevelsen, i synnerhet för föraren, blir ett allt viktigare försäljningsargument. Kiruna Utility Vehicles (Kiruna UV), som tillverkar slaggtruckar för stålindustrin, har tagit fram en ny förarhytt för att möta dessa nya krav. Utvecklingen av förarhytten har skett i samarbete med studenter vid Luleå Tekniska Universitet. Detta examensarbete på masternivå har haft som syfte att skapa ett digitalt användargränssnitt för Kiruna UV:s slaggtruck modell SH60.Användarnas behov är viktiga för att kunna säkerställa en bra användarupplevelse. Därför valdes en människocentrerad designprocess för detta projekt. Omfattande användarstudier har genomförts tillsammans med förare, mekaniker, beslutsfattare och tillverkaren av slaggtrucken. Efterforskningarna har utförts i form av en fältstudier där intervjuer, observationer och eye-tracking användes som huvudsakliga verktyg.Slaggtrucksföraren manövrerar slaggtrucken i två olika positioner, där informationsbehovet skiljer sig åt. Vid körning av slaggtrucken är föraren vänd framåt och i detta läge är den ganska lik andra tunga maskiner. Användargränssnittet måste förmedla information om varvtal, hastighet, växel och bränslenivå.Vid lastning eller tömning av slaggdeglar vänder sig föraren om för att manövrera tippsystemet. I detta läge måste gränssnittet förmedla information om lyftarmarnas position, låsningar och stödben.Genom brainstorming och idéskapande workshops med intressenter och deltagare utan erfarenhet av slaggtruckar, skapades idéer om hur information kan presenteras. Även idéer för gränssnittets layout togs fram. Idéerna kopplades sedan till fyra olika koncept som utvecklades i flera iterationer. Dessa utvärderades genom en enkätundersökning, ett användartest samt återkopplingsmöten med slaggtrucksförare, mekaniker och tillverkare. Ett slutligt koncept skapades, som innehåller den information som behövs för att manövrera och underhålla slaggtrucken på ett säkert och effektivt sätt. Exempel på detta är varvtal, hastighet och information om tippsystemet. Konceptet innehåller de delar av de fyra koncepten som visade sig fungera bäst under konceptutvärderingen. Användargränssnittet har ett modernt utseende som passar in i den nya förarhytten. Vi har visat att användarupplevelsen för förare och servicepersonal kan förbättras genom att anpassa gränssnittet efter deras behov. Vi har också visat vilka fördelar som finns med att använda en människocentrerad designprocess för produktutveckling av tunga maskiner.