Automotive & mobility

B2B

Bringing tier-1 infotainment to emerging carmakers

Client

Snapp Automotive

Snapp Automotive

Model

Embedded strategy

Embedded strategy

SnappOS running on an in-car touchscreen

Services

Product strategy

Product strategy

UX/UI design

UX/UI design

Product optimisation

Product optimisation

Rapid prototyping

Rapid prototyping

Info

Snapp Automotive builds Android-based infotainment from firmware to finished UI. Founded by ex-Google engineers, they developed SnappOS as a modular platform to deliver tier-1 quality at emerging-maker economics.

The strategic problem they brought us was how to design for OEMs they hadn't met yet without defaulting to generic. We worked that through with them, then built a theming architecture that stayed premium across brands.

PetLink logo over a background image of a fluffy dog
PetLink symbol combining a dog and cat into a GPS icon on a red background
PetLink symbol combining a dog and cat into a GPS icon on a red background

Challenge

Snapp Automotive needed a platform that could serve any future OEM while still feeling premium and brand-specific. The paradox: how do you design for brands you haven't met yet, without defaulting to generic?

Our analysis

Modular had to be proven to mean premium, not just asserted. So we tested real interactions through working prototypes rather than static tools, finding where customisation created value and where it only added complexity.

Hands holding packaging of the PetLink GPS tracker
Hands holding packaging of the PetLink GPS tracker
Hands holding packaging of the PetLink GPS tracker

What we did

01.

Built capability through embedded expertise

We embedded a senior specialist within Snapp Automotive to work directly with the developers. Being in the team meant taking part in strategic decisions, understanding the technical constraints closely, and iterating directly within Android rather than handing over theoretical designs.

Built capability through embedded expertise

We embedded a senior specialist within Snapp Automotive to work directly with the developers. Being in the team meant taking part in strategic decisions, understanding the technical constraints closely, and iterating directly within Android rather than handing over theoretical designs.

02.

Created an extensive design system

We developed a design system supporting multiple themes across vehicle segments: from high-end sports cars to city vehicles. Each theme maintained consistent interaction patterns whilst expressing distinct visual identities, proving to OEMs that platform solutions could preserve brand differentiation.

Created an extensive design system

We developed a design system supporting multiple themes across vehicle segments: from high-end sports cars to city vehicles. Each theme maintained consistent interaction patterns whilst expressing distinct visual identities, proving to OEMs that platform solutions could preserve brand differentiation.

03.

Rapid media player customisation

Responding to requests from OEMs, we delivered multiple media player implementations: neutral white-label and branded OEM templates, proving that platform development could match tier-1 customisation at fraction of the timeline.

Rapid media player customisation

Responding to requests from OEMs, we delivered multiple media player implementations: neutral white-label and branded OEM templates, proving that platform development could match tier-1 customisation at fraction of the timeline.

04.

Mobile companion app as vehicle extension

We designed the companion app as a genuine extension of the vehicle: remote climate control, status monitoring and departure planning showed SnappOS delivering the connected experiences consumers expect, with the contextual intelligence that separates premium from commodity.

Mobile companion app as vehicle extension

We designed the companion app as a genuine extension of the vehicle: remote climate control, status monitoring and departure planning showed SnappOS delivering the connected experiences consumers expect, with the contextual intelligence that separates premium from commodity.

05.

Established scalable design principles

Our work left lasting principles within SnappOS: how the interface adapts between driving and parked states, how information hierarchy shifts with context, and how customisation holds safety alongside expression. These decisions became part of the platform's foundation, keeping it consistent as it scaled across manufacturers.

Established scalable design principles

Our work left lasting principles within SnappOS: how the interface adapts between driving and parked states, how information hierarchy shifts with context, and how customisation holds safety alongside expression. These decisions became part of the platform's foundation, keeping it consistent as it scaled across manufacturers.

Billboard showing cute dog, PetLink GPS tracker, UI screen and a text "The home of pet safety"
Billboard showing cute dog, PetLink GPS tracker, UI screen and a text "The home of pet safety"
Billboard showing cute dog, PetLink GPS tracker, UI screen and a text "The home of pet safety"
Billboard showing cute dog, PetLink GPS tracker, UI screen and a text "The home of pet safety"
Cute smiley dog and a UI component showing pet avatar, name, battery level, distance and status
Cute smiley dog and a UI component showing pet avatar, name, battery level, distance and status
Cute smiley dog and a UI component showing pet avatar, name, battery level, distance and status
Cute smiley dog and a UI component showing pet avatar, name, battery level, distance and status
Cute smiley dog and a UI component showing pet avatar, name, battery level, distance and status
Cute smiley dog and a UI component showing pet avatar, name, battery level, distance and status

Project impact

A design system built for multiple OEMs

We built a theming architecture that expressed distinct brands while keeping the platform efficient.

A design system built for multiple OEMs

We built a theming architecture that expressed distinct brands while keeping the platform efficient.

Two-week customisation cycles

Established design patterns and component library that reduced new theme development from months to 14 days.

Two-week customisation cycles

Established design patterns and component library that reduced new theme development from months to 14 days.

An in-house capability left behind

By the end of the engagement, Snapp's team could extend the system themselves, using the principles and patterns we had put in place.

An in-house capability left behind

By the end of the engagement, Snapp's team could extend the system themselves, using the principles and patterns we had put in place.

Ready to build product capability that compounds?

Embed a senior specialist in your team for the long term: they build your team's ability to decide on evidence and move on to the next challenge as each is mastered.

For Snapp Automotive, that was a theming architecture that held up across OEMs, new themes in about two weeks, and an in-house capability left behind.

Let's talk about embedding it in yours.

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