Personalized Sound
for Nissan & INFINITI
The Nissan Personalized Sound app is an industry-first in-vehicle audio experience that adapts sound to each driver’s unique hearing profile. Designed to enhance clarity, balance, and enjoyment, the app allows drivers to experience music as if it were remastered just for them.
Experience Sound Like Never Before
Modern vehicles offer powerful audio systems, but most rely on one-size-fits-all tuning that doesn’t account for individual hearing differences. Research shows that factors like age-related hearing loss, noise exposure, and personal sound preferences significantly impact how people experience audio. Nissan set out to create a more inclusive and personalized listening experience by combining hearing science with intuitive digital design. The result is a system that bridges advanced audio engineering with approachable, in-vehicle UX.
Roles
UI Designer
Research Engineer
Client
Nissan
INFINITI
Timeline
6 Months
Tools
Figma
Sound tuned to your hearing.
How might we improve the listening experience for all customers, especially those experiencing hearing loss, by personalizing sound in a way that is accurate, intuitive, and easy to use while driving?
Project Goals
- Provide an accurate yet simple hearing test that fits naturally into the in-vehicle experience.
Enable drivers to fine-tune sound beyond basic bass, mid, and treble controls through a 10-band equalizer.
Deliver high-quality sound results that feel noticeably clearer and more balanced.
Design an intuitive UI that feels modern, sophisticated, and effortless to use
My Approach
I collaborated closely with audio engineers and developers to translate complex hearing science into a user-friendly experience. Together, we accounted for real-world constraints such as cabin noise, typical hearing ranges, and driver attention. We conducted comprehensive usability testing with participants across a spectrum of hearing abilities and interest levels in sound quality. Feedback was applied iteratively and in real time, working hand-in-hand with development to refine both interaction and performance.
Research and Audio Engineer Collaboration
We partnered with audio experts to understand hearing variability, environmental noise factors, and how best to translate test results into meaningful sound adjustments.
Interaction Design & Prototyping
I focused on making advanced audio controls approachable. Designing an interactive 10-band equalizer and a guided hearing test that felt clear, calm, and confidence-building.
Usability Testing & Interation
We tested with users ranging from casual listeners to audio enthusiasts, including those with hearing loss, continuously refining the experience based on real-world feedback and implementation constraints.
Final Design
I had the opportunity to contribute to the overall look, feel, and functionality of the app; helping define interaction patterns, visual hierarchy, and usability details that support a more personalized, high-quality listening experience. As someone who genuinely loves music, this work felt especially meaningful. The idea that drivers can tune their audio experience to match how they hear is something I’m deeply excited about using myself.
Key Takeaways
This project represents a U.S. industry-first personalized in-vehicle sound technology, setting a new benchmark for inclusive audio design.
Integrating a hearing test directly into the vehicle experience allows sound to be tailored at a level previously unavailable to drivers.
Thoughtful UX design played a critical role in making advanced audio science feel simple, empowering, and delightful.