Interview about Spec Air Air Suspension Management, winner of the A' Mobile Technologies, Applications and Software Design Award 2024
The design journey of Spec Air at Spectrum is a story of trials and tribulations, culminating in refined design solutions. At every stage, from interface design to technical implementation, we took small steps, which allowed us to create a flexible and intuitive user interface. Adaptive profiles and automatic adjustments based on GPS and accelerometer data are the result of meticulous experimentation. Spec Air embodies our commitment to innovation, combining design and technology to provide drivers with unprecedented control over their vehicle's performance.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe inception of the Spec Air Suspension Management system was driven by a deep-seated fascination with the synergy between high-performance automotive technology and the sleek, purposeful aesthetics of modern aerospace design. It wasn’t merely about creating a functional air suspension controller; it was about reimagining the user experience, transforming it from a mundane adjustment into an immersive, almost pilot-like interaction.My journey began with an intensive study of contemporary interface design. I wasn’t just focusing on the overall aesthetic; I was dissecting the minute details—the haptic feedback of control surfaces, the clarity of information displays, and the intuitive flow of user interactions. I was particularly drawn to the way aerospace interfaces prioritize essential information, presenting it in a clean, uncluttered manner that exudes precision and reliability. To further refine my approach, I explored sci-fi design concepts—not as mere fantasy, but as extrapolated real-world interface possibilities. I was especially fascinated by the visual language that conveys highly technical data through instantly readable graphic representations.The successful realization of the Spec Air system is, in my view, a testament to the power of cross-disciplinary inspiration and meticulous attention to detail. It proves that a product can be not only highly functional but also aesthetically captivating and emotionally engaging. Winning the A’ Design Award was a significant validation of this design philosophy—a reward for the countless hours of iteration, refinement, and collaboration that brought this vision to life.
In recent years, minimalist design has dominated digital interfaces, emphasizing flat visuals and stripped-down aesthetics. While this approach excels in reducing visual clutter, it often comes at the cost of losing a sense of depth, tactility, and emotional engagement. When designing Spec Air Suspension Management, I deliberately chose to break away from strict minimalism, embracing skeuomorphic elements to create a stronger connection between the digital interface and the physical mechanics of air suspension systems.Why Skeuomorphism?The inspiration for this decision came from my deep appreciation for high-precision mechanical instruments interfaces. In aviation and high-performance automotive controls, depth, lighting, and tactile feedback play a crucial role in usability. By incorporating skeuomorphic elements, such as subtle shadows, realistic toggles, and finely-tuned visual textures, I aimed to give users a sense of interacting with a real, precision-engineered tool rather than just a digital UI.Enhancing the User Experience • Instant Familiarity: The use of real-world-inspired controls ensures that users intuitively understand their functionality without a learning curve. • Tactile Feedback Simulation: Though digital, the interface conveys a sense of physical engagement, making interactions more satisfying and precise. • Immersive Control Experience: Air suspension tuning is not just a technical adjustment—it’s an interactive, real-time performance tweak. The design mirrors the high-end automotive aesthetic, reinforcing the feeling of precision engineering at the user’s fingertips.Striking a BalanceThis approach does not mean a return to overly ornamented, skeuomorphic excess of the past. Instead, it’s about finding the right balance between realism and clarity, leveraging modern UI/UX principles while ensuring the interface remains sleek, functional, and highly responsive.By moving beyond pure minimalism, Spec Air achieves something more than just a control panel—it delivers an engaging, intuitive, and premium user experience that resonates with automotive enthusiasts and professionals alike.
The five-year development journey of Spec Air Suspension Management was shaped not only by technical evolution and user-centered design but also by the challenging geopolitical and logistical realities of working across Ukraine and the United States. This unique trajectory influenced both the final design solutions and technical implementations, making the system more resilient, adaptable, and refined.Adapting to Constraints & ChallengesDeveloping a high-precision digital product across two vastly different environments—one affected by war after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the other offering access to advanced technology and market opportunities—required a highly adaptive mindset. These challenges directly shaped the final product: • Emotional and Psychological Challenges: When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war introduced an element of emotional instability and unpredictability that significantly slowed development at certain points. It became difficult to focus on creative and technical problem-solving when safety and stability were no longer guaranteed. However, this experience also reinforced the importance of resilience and persistence, pushing me to refine the project even under extreme conditions. • Remote Collaboration & Efficiency: Working across time zones and amid disruptions taught me to streamline design processes, prioritize clear documentation, and develop modular, adaptable systems. The iterative process became leaner, with a strong focus on precision and efficiency. • Hardware & Software Flexibility: Given the variability in available resources, I designed Spec Air to be highly adaptable to different hardware configurations, ensuring seamless integration across different manufacturing environments. • Resilience & Innovation Under Pressure: The necessity to problem-solve in high-stress conditions refined the interface logic, control feedback, and overall system stability. Every design choice was tested not only against aesthetic and functional benchmarks but also against real-world unpredictability.Design Evolution Through Geographic Influence • Ukrainian Engineering Mindset: Coming from a strong technical and engineering background in Ukraine, I applied a rigorous focus on mechanical precision and detail, ensuring that Spec Air would be a highly reliable, performance-driven product. • US Market & User Expectations: Transitioning to the US market exposed me to a broader audience of enthusiasts and professionals, influencing the design to become more visually engaging, premium, and immersive—aligning with the expectations of high-end automotive consumers.The End Result: A Fusion of StrengthsThe result of this cross-border development journey is a product that embodies both the resilience of its origins and the refinement of global market standards. This experience reinforced my belief that great design is not just about aesthetics or functionality—it’s about adaptability, endurance, and the ability to evolve despite challenges.Winning the A’ Design Award was not just a recognition of the product’s innovation—it was a testament to the journey, persistence, and international collaboration that made it possible.
The integration of GPS and accelerometer data in Spec Air Air Suspension Management creates a smart, adaptive system that enhances both vehicle performance and driver experience. Traditional air suspension systems rely primarily on manual adjustments, requiring the driver to make changes based on intuition or habit. Spec Air, however, uses real-time sensor data to dynamically optimize suspension settings, providing a seamless and intelligent driving experience.How the System WorksBy continuously processing GPS coordinates, speed data, and accelerometer readings, Spec Air can automatically adjust ride height and damping settings based on real-world driving conditions. This automation provides several key advantages:Speed-Based Adjustments: • At low speeds, it maintains a higher stance for better maneuverability over obstacles (e.g., speed bumps, driveways). • At higher speeds, it lowers the ride height to improve stability, handling, and fuel efficiency.Cornering & Load Response: • The accelerometer detects lateral G-forces during cornering, allowing the system to stiffen the suspension on the outer wheels, reducing body roll and improving stability. • During hard acceleration or braking, the system compensates for weight shifts, optimizing traction and ensuring a planted, responsive driving feel.Enhancing Driver Experience • Effortless Automation – No need for manual adjustments; Spec Air adapts instantly and intelligently in real time. • Customization & Presets – Users can set custom ride profiles, defining preferred suspension behaviors for different driving modes (e.g., Comfort, Sport, Off-Road). • Safety & Longevity – By minimizing unnecessary strain on suspension components, Spec Air extends the lifespan of the system while improving ride comfort and safety.Bringing Performance & Comfort TogetherThe integration of GPS and accelerometer data transforms Spec Air from a basic suspension controller into a highly intelligent, driver-focused system. It seamlessly balances performance, efficiency, and comfort, ensuring that whether you’re on a track, city street, or rough terrain, your suspension adapts dynamically to provide the best possible ride quality.
The development of Spec Air Suspension Management’s wireless connection between the control unit and user app presented several technical and safety challenges, particularly in terms of latency, security, and signal stability.To ensure real-time responsiveness, we optimized data transmission protocols while maintaining a balance between speed and reliability. Signal interference and connection drops were mitigated through redundant communication layers and adaptive reconnection mechanisms.Some proprietary optimizations in latency handling and fail-safe mechanisms remain part of our technical know-how, ensuring Spec Air delivers a fast, secure, and seamless user experience.
The identical layout of the physical remote and mobile interface in Spec Air Suspension Management ensures a seamless transition between both control methods, allowing users to instantly recognize functions without the need for adaptation.In real-world driving scenarios, this dual-control approach offers several key advantages: • Tactile Precision for Driving – The physical remote allows for quick, no-look adjustments, enabling drivers to make real-time suspension changes without taking their eyes off the road, enhancing both safety and responsiveness. • Expanded Functionality via Mobile App – The mobile interface provides detailed customization and real-time monitoring, allowing users to fine-tune settings when stationary or analyze suspension behavior post-drive. • Consistency & Muscle Memory – With identical layouts and button configurations, users develop muscle memory, making adjustments intuitive and error-free, whether using the remote or the app.This dual-control system bridges practicality and advanced customization, ensuring drivers have the right tool for every situation—whether it’s quick on-the-fly adjustments or in-depth tuning.
The customizable profile system in Spec Air Suspension Management is designed primarily for show cars and stance projects, while still offering versatility for various driving conditions. It allows users to instantly switch between preset suspension setups, ensuring both aesthetic precision and functional adaptability.How It Works:Users can create and save multiple ride height and damping profiles, each tailored for different scenarios. With a single tap on the remote or mobile app, the system adjusts in real time, allowing for effortless transitions between static display modes and drive-ready setups.Profile Examples: • Show Mode "P"– Drops the car to its lowest stance, creating a flawless tuck and aggressive fitment for exhibitions and photo shoots. • Daily Drive "Low" – Raises the ride height slightly for practical clearance, making it possible to drive comfortably without compromising the car’s aesthetics. • Cruise Mode "Ride" – Balances ride comfort and style, maintaining optimal clearance while preserving the stance look on the move. • Speed Bump/Elevation Mode "High" – Lifts the vehicle to clear obstacles like steep driveways or speed bumps without scraping.For stance enthusiasts, this system ensures precise, repeatable height adjustments, eliminating the need for manual tweaking. Whether at a car show or on the road, Spec Air provides effortless control and adaptability, keeping the focus on form, function, and flawless execution.
The material selection for Spec Air Suspension Management’s physical remote was driven by durability, premium aesthetics, and tactile experience, ensuring an interface that feels as high-end as the vehicles it controls.Why Aluminum & Soft-Touch Rubber? • Aluminum Body – The remote’s full aluminum construction was chosen for its lightweight durability, premium feel, and resistance to wear. The cool, metallic surface provides a precision-engineered sensation, much like the finely machined components found in high-performance automotive interiors. • Soft-Touch Rubber Buttons – The buttons feature soft-touch rubber to enhance tactile feedback, grip, and control. This ensures a satisfying press with just the right amount of resistance, making adjustments effortless yet deliberate.This combination results in a sleek, functional, and highly refined remote that seamlessly blends aesthetics and usability, aligning perfectly with the stance and show car community’s expectations for precision and style.
Spec Air Suspension Management’s real-time height adjustment system is engineered for precision, speed, and stability, ensuring seamless control over high-pressure air distribution without sacrificing responsiveness.How It Maintains Precision & Responsiveness: • High-Resolution Sensors – The system continuously monitors ride height with millisecond-level accuracy, ensuring instant feedback and precise adjustments. • Advanced Valve Control – Electronically controlled valves regulate airflow with high-speed actuation, balancing pressure across all air springs to prevent uneven height shifts or oscillations. • Dynamic Pressure Compensation – The system dynamically adjusts for load variations and external factors, ensuring stable ride height even under shifting conditions. • Optimized Flow Algorithms – Intelligent software algorithms manage air distribution efficiency, minimizing pressure spikes and ensuring smooth, controlled transitions between height presets.This advanced approach guarantees that Spec Air delivers sharp, predictable, and repeatable height adjustments, making it ideal for stance builds and show cars, where precision and aesthetics are paramount.
Looking ahead, Spec Air Air Suspension Management is poised to evolve by integrating emerging technologies that enhance precision, automation, and user experience, keeping pace with the future of automotive suspension management.Future Innovations & Enhancements: • AI-Powered Predictive Adjustments – Implementing machine learning algorithms to analyze driving patterns and road conditions, enabling automatic, adaptive suspension tuning in real time. • Smart Vehicle Integration – Expanding compatibility with OEM systems, CAN bus, and IoT connectivity, allowing seamless interaction with modern infotainment and driver-assist systems. • Enhanced Sensor & Data Analytics – Utilizing higher-precision sensors and cloud-based analytics to provide users with detailed suspension performance insights and predictive maintenance alerts. • Voice & Gesture Control – Introducing hands-free suspension adjustments via voice commands or gesture-based input, enhancing usability in both driving and show environments. • Advanced Airflow Optimization – Developing next-generation valve systems for even faster, smoother, and more energy-efficient air distribution, ensuring near-instantaneous height adjustments.With these advancements, Spec Air will continue to push the boundaries of stance culture and air suspension performance, blending cutting-edge technology with the aesthetics and precision demanded by show car enthusiasts and performance-driven users alike.
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