WORDS & IMAGES: Scout Motors
n trucks—and in life—balance is everything. Go too heavy on screens, and it starts to feel like you’re just driving a tablet. Go too analog, and you miss out on the conveniences digital can bring.
The folks designing the new Scout® Traveler™ SUV and Scout® Terra™ truck interfaces get this. They’re building something that feels natural under your fingertips and smart where it counts.
Buttons will be right where your hands expect them—because some things are still best controlled by feel. Digital steps in only when it makes things simpler, not flashier.
With no digital legacy to inherit, the user experience in the new Scout trucks starts with a clean slate. That’s not a limitation; it’s an open lane. And that freedom gives the team room to do things differently. Eye-tracking, motion studies, and real-time testing are all helping shape an interface that feels effortless and personal.
“We’re not just building a car. We’re creating a connection machine,” says Dré Nitze-Nelson, Scout Motors’ Director of UX. “It’s about using technology in a way that feels natural—and building an emotional bond at the same time.”
"It’s about using technology in a way that feels natural—and building an emotional bond at the same time."
“We use eye-tracking glasses to create a heat map and see where people’s eyes go,” adds User Experience Manager Nicole Johnson. “When you think about driver distraction, it’s crucial to know how much time folks are spending glancing at the screen.”
Small insights from those heat maps can drive big design decisions. The team is always tweaking placement, contrast, and motion to keep things simple for the driver. And it’s not just about what’s on the screen.
"When you think about driver distraction, it’s crucial to know how much time folks are spending glancing at the screen."
“We prioritize the things drivers reach for most often,” says Senior Design Manager Matt Metropulos. “Stuff like temperature controls, accessories, off-road settings—we keep those as physical buttons. You shouldn’t have to dig through menus for basics.”
The goal: an interface that feels calm and cohesive, even when the road isn’t.
There’s plenty of science behind it, but user experience is also an art. “It’s not just about what’s on the display,” says UX Art Director Youjin Kim. “We think about how it moves, how it sounds. The right details can deliver useful information—or make the whole experience more rewarding.”
From highway to backcountry, the Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra truck are being built for tactile, intuitive interaction every step of the way. Watch Forging The Future: UX below to see it all come together.
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