Digital Driver's License

Overview

As digital security increases the opportunity to use our personal, financial, and biometric information via our mobile and wearable devices increases. We are rapidly replacing our physical credit cards, event tickets, boarding passes, and medical records with their respective digital twins. However, digital twins for personal identification such as a driver license or passport are just emerging and not yet widely available or accepted.

The Opportunity

What can be improved digitally?

Readability

Stronger hierarchy
of information.

Security

Blue light authentication
on screen.

Efficiency

All your cards in
one device.

Existing Patterns

Considering physical attributes

Blue light authentication

When a blue light flashlight is shined at a driver's license, it showcases a unique pattern to establish additional security and ensure that it is a valid license.

Every state has a seal

Each state has a seal design utilized in the blue light authentication view. It adds greater personalization and verification to license.

Information Architecture

Organizing information

Physiognomy

- Photo
- Age
- Sex
- Height
- Eye Color

Dates

- Birthday
- Expiration
- Issued

Conditions

- Restrictions (REST)
- Endorsements (ENDS)

License

- State
- ID Number
- Class #
- QR code

Perfecting Interface

Key Iterations from
User Feedback

Focal Point
Since the locked section is taller than the driver license header, it creates a strong and unintentional focal point. This distracts from the experience. Additionally, the lock is unnecessary since Face ID or Touch ID is required to access the license.

Variable Data
The eyebrow text ("Class C, end M, Rest B") feels awkward. If the user only has a class number, it would be short and disproportional to their name.

User Experience
After an officer or bartender views the digital license's top section, they do not need to see it again. Consequently, the sticky content is unnecessary and distracts from viewing more information.

Hierarchy
After research and user feedback, I discovered that the license number is a crucial element. However, the current state feels visually compact (left-most) and lacks prominence.

Priority
Since the validation of age is the top section of the digital license serves to identify and validate age, the descriptors are more important than the license number upfront.

Hierarchy
When looking at a physical license, the state s treated as more important than the driver's license label. As a result, the top bar's order should flip to provide a greater focus on the license state.

Contrast
Since the last name is more important, it may be beneficial to distinguish the last name by making the first and middle name in a regular weight font.

Spacing
The space between the name and physiognomy descriptors should be the same size as the space above the license ID number.