For years, University of Michigan School of Information lecturer James Rampton has been on the forefront of automotive UX, an emerging field that makes cars fun, easy and safe to drive. 

Before joining UMSI, Rampton worked as a lead product designer at General Motors. Today, he’s a full-time lecturer at UMSI, bringing his industry experience to teach the next generation of designers. 

For The Screens Podcast, Rampton talked with host Denise Michelmann about the new field and the future of the automotive industry given the push for electrical vehicles and self-driving cars. 

“There are two big barriers to EV adoption,” Rampton says. “One is the price and the other is charging infrastructure. There’s simply not enough subsidies, nor enough money invested into charging infrastructure. And sometimes, it’s not only that there aren’t enough of them, but the ones that are available are constantly breaking down.” 

Rampton also spoke about the emergence of the automotive UX field and infotainment systems and how they compare to Europe and Asian markets. 

“I think we in the U.S are actually very conservative when it comes to our designs,” he says. “We want to hold our control buttons close to our hearts, but the Asian market, especially the Chinese and Koreans, are really into the virtual experience and they’re pushing the envelope. 

“American infotainment systems have a class look and there’s a sense that the more technology you introduce the less reliable the car is.” 

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Watch James Rampton’s interview with the Screens Podcast. 

Check out upcoming automotive UX classes and read about UMSI Lecturer III  James Rampton by visiting his UMSI profile.