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UX/UI Design Mobile

ReNew

Built for people, not process. A reimagining of the DMV experience through a digital platform designed around the user.

Role

UX/UI Designer

Type

Academic Project

Responsibilities

Research · UX Design · UI Design · Prototyping

Tools

Figma

01 Overview

The big picture

What was once defined by waiting and uncertainty is reimagined through a digital platform designed around the user, not the system. ReNew is a UX/UI redesign of the DMV experience, bringing clarity, ease, and efficiency to one of the most notoriously frustrating government services.

The prompt

Redesign the DMV experience through a digital platform that reduces friction, eliminates unnecessary in-person visits, and puts the user in control.

02 The Problem

A system built for the institution, not the person

Outdated systems have turned the DMV into a frustrating and uncomfortable experience, filled with long waits, confusing procedures, and unnecessary stress.

Confusing navigation and cluttered interface Make it hard for users to find what they need quickly or confidently.
Limited digital functionality Forces users to visit the DMV in person for tasks that could easily be handled online.

03 Competitive Analysis

What exists today

Existing DMV platforms share common shortcomings, poor mobile experiences, fragmented information, and workflows that prioritize the institution over the person. Understanding where they fall short helped define the opportunities for ReNew.

Feature	CA	NYC	AZ	IN	FL
Mobile-Friendly Dashboard	—	—	✓	✓	✗
Real-Time Wait Times	✓	✓	✓	—	✗
Digital Document Upload	—	—	✓	—	✗
Clear Step-by-Step Guidance	✗	—	—	—	✗
Chat Support / Help System	✗	—	—	✗	✗
Modern UI / Human-Centered UX	✗	—	✓	✓	✗

04 User Research

Who we're designing for

Maya Rosales, 17

Goal: Earn her driver's license with minimal stress while balancing school, work, and personal responsibilities.

Pain points

In-person wait times conflict with school schedules and extracurriculars.
Important steps like tests, documents, and appointments are scattered across multiple pages or systems.

Frustrations

The current DMV website is difficult to navigate on a phone and uses confusing language.
Appointment availability is limited and hard to track.

05 The Solution

Designed around the user

ReNew consolidates the DMV experience into a clear, accessible digital platform that handles the hard parts so users don't have to.

ReNew prototype.

Making appointments now takes less than a minute.

Prep for your tests, use the chatbot, and renew, all in one place.

Waiting is as easy as the tap of a button.

06 Key Learnings

What I took away

Frustration is a design opportunity. The DMV's pain points weren't flaws to work around, they were the clearest possible signal of where good design could make a real difference.
Real users ground every decision. Designing through Maya's lens kept the work anchored in genuine need rather than assumption, especially when it came to mobile usability and plain language.
Simplicity is the hardest thing to design. Making a complex government process feel effortless required stripping away far more than was added.