The juice

Volvo

Worked within Volvo’s Innovation Lab in Mountain View, CA — a design-driven business unit shaping future products through strategic partnerships and internal innovation. Our focus: modernizing the refuse (garbage) fleet for efficiency, cost savings, and safety in light of California’s 2028 EV regulations.

Contribution

Designed the user interface for Volvo’s next-generation refuse fleet, creating an end-to-end digital route planning system spanning in-cabin and back-office operations. Collaborated cross-functionally to ensure seamless integration across hardware, software, and business strategy.

Outcome

Delivered a fully integrated product concept presented to 140+ global stakeholders. Influenced Volvo’s product roadmap through direct engagement with executive leadership, securing continued exploration beyond the innovation lab.

Role

Product Designer

Timeline

May - Aug 2023

Location

Mountain View, CA

An alert arrives!

Enabled real-time data sharing and live fleet tracking, allowing 80% of manual interactions to be fully automated and service disruptions to be avoided.

Frictionless Route Planning

Took a process that was previously entirely manual and analog and built a holistic, fully integrated dashboard for real-time operational visibility.

Built for IoV

Structured to support easy integration into other platforms (billing, CRM), to predict maintenance needs, and to reduce EV infrastructure challenges (charging deserts, range anxiety). 

Frictionless Route Planning

Took a process that was previously entirely manual and analog and built a holistic, fully integrated dashboard for real-time operational visibility.

An alert arrives!

Enabled real-time data sharing and live fleet tracking, allowing 80% of manual interactions to be fully automated and service disruptions to be avoided.

Built for IoV

Structured to support easy integration into other platforms (billing, CRM), to predict maintenance needs, and to reduce EV infrastructure challenges (charging deserts, range anxiety). 

©

Mario Santanilla - 2025

©

Mario Santanilla - 2025

©

Mario Santanilla - 2025

©

Mario Santanilla - 2025