Akshil Shah

Mercedes-Benz (R&D)AI & Adaptive UX Research (UX Researcher + UX Master Thesis)

Full-time · Böblingen, DE · On site · 11 months

11 months in R&D on AI-native, context-adaptive in-car experiences for Maybach and S-Class, owning two projects end-to-end: from research and design to full technical implementation.

• AI-native infotainment UI (Master's thesis): conceived and built a scalable architecture in which an LLM assembles the infotainment UI in real time from a brand-compliant library of atomic elements, adapting layout and content to driving context within safety and brand constraints.
• Full-stack prototype: built in React + Python with LLM-driven UI orchestration and voice interaction; optimised latency, reliability and hallucination mitigation for real-time generation.
• In-car A/B study (n=30): evaluated usability, distraction, situational awareness and adaptivity against a baseline UI in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Published as a full paper at ACM AutomotiveUI 2026.
• AI-personalised cabin & adaptive voice assistant (n=40): explored how far an AI can autonomously personalise comfort and infotainment features; prototyped a voice assistant that adapts its interaction style and visual identity to the user's mood and personality in real time.
• Board-level concepts: in a four-person team, co-created forward-looking infotainment concepts presented to C-level executives, securing internal funding for further research.
• Human-centred process: expert interviews, heuristic evaluation and quantitative + qualitative analysis, in close collaboration with UX, AI engineering and vehicle architecture teams.

CGI DeutschlandLead Consultant – UX

Full-time · Stuttgart, DE · Hybrid · 2.5 years

• Conceptualised UX for a newly built internal management portal for the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, used to manage all companies registered in Germany, delivered within a multi-vendor program following SAFe in two-week sprints.
• Owned the full UX process from requirements gathering through wireframes and high-fidelity design to usability testing, acting as the central interface between the Fachbereich (end users), engineering, and system architecture.
• Designed complex core functionality including role-based access control, case assignment with versioned handover between staff, and progressive disclosure for data-intensive interfaces.
• Ensured legally mandated accessibility (WCAG/BITV) throughout the design process, in close collaboration with a dedicated accessibility specialist.
• Iterative releases over 1.5 years, with continuous expansion of the portal. Additionally delivered UX design and consulting for further client projects across the public and private sector.

Tricksiebzehn GmbHUI Designer & Full Stack Developer

Full-time · Schwäbisch Gmünd, DE · On site · 3 years

• End-to-end design and development of e-commerce platforms (Shopware, WordPress), aligning UX decisions with conversion and revenue objectives.
• Improved checkout flows, information architecture, and mobile responsiveness to reduce friction and support higher customer engagement.
• Built modular frontend architectures (JavaScript, React/Node) enabling scalable feature expansion and maintainable platform growth.
• Optimized performance, accessibility, and SEO to enhance discoverability and measurable business visibility.

FreelancerUI Designer & Developer

Part-time · Vancouver, CA · On site · 1 year

• Designed and delivered responsive WordPress platforms for small businesses, managing projects independently from concept to deployment.
• Optimized usability and performance to improve engagement and search visibility.