Overview

As part of the Automotive UX/HMI Bootcamp™ taught by Felice Fortino, I worked on creating a new digital experience for WING, a fictional automotive brand aiming to attract a younger, tech-savvy audience. The project focused on blending premium aesthetics with intelligent interface design, using a V-shaped panoramic screen as the canvas for a forward-looking in-car experience.

Challenge

To design a cohesive HMI system that integrates space-tech inspired visuals with a minimalist aesthetic, while supporting both parked and driving states. The interface needed to balance expressive design with usability, including elements such as a welcome sequence, connected services, contextual driving information, and a dynamic speedometer animation.

Moodboarding and Wireframing

In the initial phase, I gathered inspiration from both conceptual and real-world automotive UIs, paying close attention to how other teams structured features and information across unconventional screen shapes. These insights allowed me to define a taxonomy that guided the development of my wireframes.

Wireframes and information architecture explorations

Moodboard with references from similar UI projects

Creating Minimalism Within Futuristic Vibes

A key challenge of this project was finding the right balance between a futuristic, space-tech aesthetic and the premium minimalism expected from a legacy brand. To support this vision, I experimented with AI-generated landscapes as dynamic backgrounds, aiming to create environments that felt calm yet mysterious, providing a fitting stage for the interface elements.

Exploring new tools and workflows

A highlight of this project was the opportunity to experiment with a diverse set of tools to achieve a polished and functional prototype. Beyond Figma, I integrated Rive, Protopie, Spline, and even Blender into my workflow, testing how each could contribute to building a reliable and engaging usability prototype.

Usability Testing on a 3D environment

Since this project was developed for an in-car context, I had to carefully account for ergonomic constraints. Critical interface elements needed to remain within the driver’s reach and visible despite physical obstacles like the steering wheel. To ensure the design held up under these conditions, I used Blender to simulate an in-car environment and validate the usability of my layouts.

The UI was tested via a 3D simulation made in Blender

Presenting the concept

To communicate the project’s value, I created mock-ups and a presentation video that highlighted the importance of designing ADAS systems with accessibility in mind, ensuring they address the diverse needs of drivers with different abilities.

WING HMI Concept

A space-inpired Car UI Concept for the future