Exploring Digital Luxury

Next-generation in-car experiences that blend physical and digital interaction.

CLIENT

Bentley

ROLE

UX Designer

EXPERTISE

Strategy

UX/UI Design

YEAR

2020

Exploring Digital Luxury

Next-generation in-car experiences that blend physical and digital interaction.

CLIENT

Bentley

ROLE

UX Designer

EXPERTISE

Strategy

UX/UI Design

YEAR

2020

Exploring Digital Luxury

Next-generation in-car experiences that blend physical and digital interaction.

CLIENT

Bentley

ROLE

UX Designer

EXPERTISE

Strategy

UX/UI Design

YEAR

2020

Redefining digital luxury

During my time at DCA, I have been working with this client exploring future concepts within the Tangible Interface space. This work combines all of my past experiences with Physical and Digital product design.

As part of Bentley’s innovation team, I contributed to early-stage research and concept development for in-car human-machine interfaces (HMI). The work focused on creating sensorial, seamless interactions that blend digital responsiveness with Bentley’s handcrafted physical environments.

Challenge

From explorations to final designs in 5 weeks while working with multiple projects at the same time

Challenge

From explorations to final designs in 5 weeks while working with multiple projects at the same time

Challenge

From explorations to final designs in 5 weeks while working with multiple projects at the same time

My Role

Interface Exporation

Created concept layouts for embedded interfaces that prioritise sensorial feedback (e.g., gestures, subtle haptics, material transitions).

Prototyping

Used Unity and Unreal Engine to simulate HMI behaviours and light/dark transitions in driving contexts.

Collaborative R&D

Worked alongside engineers and CMF designers to test ideas that blended craftsmanship and smart interaction.

My Role

Interface Exporation

Created concept layouts for embedded interfaces that prioritise sensorial feedback (e.g., gestures, subtle haptics, material transitions).

Prototyping

Used Unity and Unreal Engine to simulate HMI behaviours and light/dark transitions in driving contexts.

Collaborative R&D

Worked alongside engineers and CMF designers to test ideas that blended craftsmanship and smart interaction.

My Role

Interface Exporation

Created concept layouts for embedded interfaces that prioritise sensorial feedback (e.g., gestures, subtle haptics, material transitions).

Prototyping

Used Unity and Unreal Engine to simulate HMI behaviours and light/dark transitions in driving contexts.

Collaborative R&D

Worked alongside engineers and CMF designers to test ideas that blended craftsmanship and smart interaction.

Enhancing comfort AI

Tangible AI for Car Comfort

As part of Bentley’s innovation team, I worked on a future-facing research project in collaboration with Bentley, UCL and DCA Design to explore how AI-powered in-car systems could offer more intuitive, tactile, and emotionally resonant interactions.

The goal was to challenge the dominance of screens and voice assistants in modern vehicles by reintroducing physical embodiment — making intelligence something you can feel and respond to, not just see or hear.

Outcome

We designed a research tool that used mechanical movement, light, and bi-directional touch to simulate how an AI system might physically express intent, respond to user input, and build trust through tactile interaction.

Outcome

We designed a research tool that used mechanical movement, light, and bi-directional touch to simulate how an AI system might physically express intent, respond to user input, and build trust through tactile interaction.

Outcome

We designed a research tool that used mechanical movement, light, and bi-directional touch to simulate how an AI system might physically express intent, respond to user input, and build trust through tactile interaction.

My Role

Concept Exploration

Helped define the design vision for a physical, responsive assistant that felt alive and embodied intelligence

Form & Interaction Prototyping

Worked on form development and mapped potential user interactions (pressing, swiping, hovering, etc.)

Physical Interface Design

Collaborated on the physical construction and movement logic of the rig, ensuring each component reflected the system’s “thinking” in a tactile way

My Role

Concept Exploration

Helped define the design vision for a physical, responsive assistant that felt alive and embodied intelligence

Form & Interaction Prototyping

Worked on form development and mapped potential user interactions (pressing, swiping, hovering, etc.)

Physical Interface Design

Collaborated on the physical construction and movement logic of the rig, ensuring each component reflected the system’s “thinking” in a tactile way

My Role

Concept Exploration

Helped define the design vision for a physical, responsive assistant that felt alive and embodied intelligence

Form & Interaction Prototyping

Worked on form development and mapped potential user interactions (pressing, swiping, hovering, etc.)

Physical Interface Design

Collaborated on the physical construction and movement logic of the rig, ensuring each component reflected the system’s “thinking” in a tactile way

Key Insights

Novelty drives curiosity

Users were immediately drawn to the system’s beauty and movement, even without understanding its function

Tactility builds connection

Physical movement encouraged users to explore, reflect, and feel the system’s intentions, leading to emotional engagement

Trust needs clarity

Users sought more feedback and clearer logic in how the system responded — showing the importance of interpretable AI behaviors

Key Insights

Novelty drives curiosity

Users were immediately drawn to the system’s beauty and movement, even without understanding its function

Tactility builds connection

Physical movement encouraged users to explore, reflect, and feel the system’s intentions, leading to emotional engagement

Trust needs clarity

Users sought more feedback and clearer logic in how the system responded — showing the importance of interpretable AI behaviors

Key Insights

Novelty drives curiosity

Users were immediately drawn to the system’s beauty and movement, even without understanding its function

Tactility builds connection

Physical movement encouraged users to explore, reflect, and feel the system’s intentions, leading to emotional engagement

Trust needs clarity

Users sought more feedback and clearer logic in how the system responded — showing the importance of interpretable AI behaviors

Impact

This project provided new models of interaction for luxury automotive experiences, proposing that future in-car assistants can be more than functional — they can be expressive, interactive, and emotionally resonant.

The study was published at IUI 2022, helping shape ongoing research around Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) and human-AI relationships in vehicles.

Research Paper