Upgrading Tesla’s Factory Design System
Upgrading Tesla’s Factory Design System
Upgrading Tesla’s Factory Design System
Refreshing Tesla’s Factory Design System that directly supports faster task completion and speeds up decisions on the factory floor.
Refreshing Tesla’s Factory Design System that directly supports faster task completion and speeds up decisions on the factory floor.
Refreshing Tesla’s Factory Design System that directly supports faster task completion and speeds up decisions on the factory floor.
The designs can’t be shared due to confidentiality purposes.
The designs can’t be shared due to confidentiality purposes.
The designs can’t be shared due to confidentiality purposes.
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
As a UX designer on this project, I led the effort to redesign components of Tesla’s factory design system and build documentation for it.
As a UX designer on this project, I led the effort to redesign components of Tesla’s factory design system and build documentation for it.
As a UX designer on this project, I led the effort to redesign components of Tesla’s factory design system and build documentation for it.
THE TEAM
THE TEAM
THE TEAM
UX Designer (me),
Production Engineers
UX Designer (me),
Production Engineers
UX Designer (me), Production Engineers
SKILLS
SKILLS
SKILLS
Design Systems
Contextual Research
UX Design
Design Systems
Contextual Research
UX Design
Design Systems, Contextual Research, UX Design
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
June 2025 - Aug 2025
7 Weeks
June 2025 - Aug 2025
7 Weeks
June 2025 - Aug 2025, 7 Weeks
Project Overview
Project Overview
At Tesla, the Factory Design System provides the foundation for digital tools that line operators interact with daily. I worked on strengthening this foundation by upgrading components and creating documentation tailored for factory use. The updated design system aims to improve the speed of workflows, empowering associates to make confident decisions in high-stakes environments.
At Tesla, the Factory Design System provides the foundation for digital tools that line operators interact with daily. I worked on strengthening this foundation by upgrading components and creating documentation tailored for factory use. The updated design system aims to improve the speed of workflows, empowering associates to make confident decisions in high-stakes environments.
At Tesla, the Factory Design System provides the foundation for digital tools that line operators interact with daily. I worked on strengthening this foundation by upgrading components and creating documentation tailored for factory use. The updated design system aims to improve the speed of workflows, empowering associates to make confident decisions in high-stakes environments.
OKAY, BUT WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF USE?
OKAY, BUT WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF USE?
OKAY, BUT WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF USE?
Distant Interaction
Users often operate the software from a distance, requiring clear visibility.
Users often operate the software from a distance, requiring clear visibility.
Glove Friendly Touch
Users wear gloves during tasks, so larger touch targets become essential.
Users wear gloves during tasks, so larger touch targets become essential.
Challenging Visibility
Glare from factory lighting and washed out screens impact color & text legibility.
Glare from factory lighting and washed out screens impact color & text legibility.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
PROBLEM STATEMENT
PROBLEM STATEMENT
In high-speed factory environments, even small usability gaps in the digital tools can slow down production. The existing design system wasn’t fully tailored for associates’ contexts, and needed an upgrade to support error-free decisions on the factory floor.
In high-speed factory environments, even small usability gaps in the digital tools can slow down production. The existing design system wasn’t fully tailored for associates’ contexts, and needed an upgrade to support error-free decisions on the factory floor.
In high-speed factory environments, even small usability gaps in the digital tools can slow down production. The existing design system wasn’t fully tailored for associates’ contexts, and needed an upgrade to support error-free decisions on the factory floor.
What I thought when I started out
What I thought when I started out
What I thought when I started out
Conducting
Research
Conducting
Research
Conducting Research
Building
Understanding
Building
Understanding
Building Understanding
Designing
and Testing
Designing
and Testing
Designing and Testing
What I learned the more I dived in
What I learned the more I dived in
What I learned the more I dived in
Conducting
Research
Conducting
Research
Conducting Research
Building Understanding
Building Understanding
Building Understanding
Factory ops
in different regions
Factory ops
in different regions
Factory ops
in different regions
Employ various testing methods
Employ various testing methods
Employ various testing methods
Adapting
to different languages
Adapting
to different languages
Adapting
to different languages
Mental models of factory associates
Mental models of factory associates
Mental models of factory associates
Adapting
to future services
Adapting
to future services
Adapting
to future services
Only show necessary information
Only show necessary information
Only show necessary information
Align with Tesla’s other design systems
Align with Tesla’s other design systems
Align with Tesla’s other design systems
Glare from factory lighting
Glare from factory lighting
Glare from factory lighting
Current workarounds
and patterns
Current workarounds
and patterns
Current workarounds
and patterns
Avoiding disruption through radical changes
Avoiding disruption through radical changes
Avoiding disruption through radical changes
Breakpoints for various screen sizes
Breakpoints for various screen sizes
Breakpoints
for various screen sizes
Designing with Macbook colors
Designing with Macbook colors
Designing
with Macbook colors
Washed out screens of devices
Washed out screens of devices
Washed out screens of devices
Designing
and Testing
Designing
and Testing
Designing and Testing
Key Insights from Research & Discovery
Key Insights from Research & Discovery
Understanding the factory operations required going on-site, studying how the station controllers were used in practice, and collaborating closely with engineers. Some key insights were:
Understanding the factory operations required going on-site, studying how the station controllers were used in practice, and collaborating closely with engineers. Some key insights were:
Understanding the factory operations required going on-site, studying how the station controllers were used in practice, and collaborating closely with engineers. Some key insights were:
💻
💻
Screen resolutions impact fidelity
Screen resolutions impact fidelity
Screen resolutions impact fidelity
Design renders differently on Macbooks vs. station controllers, making device testing essential.
Design renders differently on Macbooks vs. station controllers, making device testing essential.
Design renders differently on Macbooks vs. station controllers, making device testing essential.
🧠
🧠
Operator mental models guide use
Operator mental models guide use
Operator mental models guide use
Designs must respect slow rollouts and ingrained shape and color associations for intuitive use.
Designs must respect slow rollouts and ingrained shape and color associations for intuitive use.
Designs must respect slow rollouts and ingrained shape and color associations for intuitive use.
👾
👾
Screen sizes vary across the floor
Screen sizes vary across the floor
Screen sizes vary across the floor
The design system must flex across controllers, TVs, and tablets in the factory.
The design system must flex across controllers, TVs, and tablets in the factory.
The design system must flex across controllers, TVs, and tablets in the factory.
The Design Process
The Design Process
For each component (buttons, keyboards, data table etc) , I followed a 5-step process.
For each component (buttons, keyboards, data table etc) , I followed a 5-step process.
For each component (buttons, keyboards, data table etc) , I followed a 5-step process.
Spot usability issues
Explore design options
Validate with engineering
Test on station controllers
Review and document
View pending units and start return
Scan labels, add pickup details, review cart
View shipment documents created by Tesla
See the new shipment added to scheduled list
Carrier picks up the shipment and delivers to Tesla
Tied it all together with documentation, so the system stays easy to scale and maintain in both dark and light modes.
Tied it all together with documentation, so the system stays easy to scale and maintain in both dark and light modes.
Tied it all together with documentation, so the system stays easy to scale and maintain in both dark and light modes.
This design system carries significant weight because even small usability gaps can turn into costly mistakes on the factory floor. I learned that the context makes all the difference, and a system only works when it is designed for the environment it lives in.
This design system carries significant weight because even small usability gaps can turn into costly mistakes on the factory floor. I learned that the context makes all the difference, and a system only works when it is designed for the environment it lives in.
This design system carries significant weight because even small usability gaps can turn into costly mistakes on the factory floor. I learned that the context makes all the difference, and a system only works when it is designed for the environment it lives in.
THE DESIGNS CAN'T BE SHARED DUE TO CONFIDENTIALITY PURPOSES.
THE DESIGNS CAN'T BE SHARED DUE TO CONFIDENTIALITY PURPOSES.
THE DESIGNS CAN'T BE SHARED DUE TO CONFIDENTIALITY PURPOSES.
To sum up,
TO SUM UP,
TO SUM UP,
This project aims to improve the rate and speed of task completion on the factory floor. The upgraded design system is now positioned to scale across future services and operations, strengthening Tesla’s production ecosystem.
The solution is projected to reduce financial losses and prevent delays that leave units offline so long they become permanently unusable. This project strengthened Tesla’s Energy Service Portal by closing a critical gap in asset management.
The solution is projected to reduce financial losses and prevent delays that leave units offline so long they become permanently unusable. This project strengthened Tesla’s Energy Service Portal by closing a critical gap in asset management.
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Tesla factories globally benefiting from this design system
Tesla factories globally benefiting from this design system
Tesla factories globally benefiting from this design system
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