Lincoln Panoramic Steering Wheel UX Design
Lincoln Panoramic Steering Wheel UX Design
Human-centered steering wheel UX/UI and interaction model for Lincoln Digital Experience, defining how the Nautilus D-pad seamlessly controls the panoramic display from concept through production.
Human-centered steering wheel UX/UI and interaction model for Lincoln Digital Experience, defining how the Nautilus D-pad seamlessly controls the panoramic display from concept through production.
Client
Lincoln
CAtegory
UX
ARTIST
Clay Carpenter
Product Duration
1 Year
Defining the HMI and Interaction Model
The Lincoln Panoramic Display is a 48-inch screen that stretches from pillar to pillar and anchors the Lincoln digital experience infotainment system, first introduced in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. What began as an exploration of a calming, spa-like in-vehicle experience quickly evolved into a critical thinking exercise on communication systems at an entirely new scale. With split screens and a canvas this wide, we had to define new rules for how the HMI speaks, including where information lives, how content transitions, and how the experience stays calm, readable, and premium in every moment. Within the Aspire team, I led UX explorations, defined the core interaction touch-points, and built concept models to demonstrate the system end-to-end. I then partnered closely with the Aspire development team to bring those concepts to life, and I’m proud that key aspects of the interaction model I proposed carried through into the production vehicle.
The Lincoln Panoramic Display is a 48-inch screen that stretches from pillar to pillar and anchors the Lincoln digital experience infotainment system, first introduced in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. What began as an exploration of a calming, spa-like in-vehicle experience quickly evolved into a critical thinking exercise on communication systems at an entirely new scale. With split screens and a canvas this wide, we had to define new rules for how the HMI speaks, including where information lives, how content transitions, and how the experience stays calm, readable, and premium in every moment. Within the Aspire team, I led UX explorations, defined the core interaction touch-points, and built concept models to demonstrate the system end-to-end. I then partnered closely with the Aspire development team to bring those concepts to life, and I’m proud that key aspects of the interaction model I proposed carried through into the production vehicle.
The Lincoln Panoramic Display is a 48-inch screen that stretches from pillar to pillar and anchors the Lincoln digital experience infotainment system, first introduced in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. What began as an exploration of a calming, spa-like in-vehicle experience quickly evolved into a critical thinking exercise on communication systems at an entirely new scale. With split screens and a canvas this wide, we had to define new rules for how the HMI speaks, including where information lives, how content transitions, and how the experience stays calm, readable, and premium in every moment. Within the Aspire team, I led UX explorations, defined the core interaction touch-points, and built concept models to demonstrate the system end-to-end. I then partnered closely with the Aspire development team to bring those concepts to life, and I’m proud that key aspects of the interaction model I proposed carried through into the production vehicle.
The UX Behind the Steering Wheel and HMI Screen
Typically, a car’s steering wheel handles quick tasks like cruise control and audio, but for the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, the goal was to put the infotainment experience at the center of everything. The hardware set the challenge: a familiar center screen, two directional pads on the steering wheel, and a 48-inch panoramic display stretching from pillar to pillar. My role was to use human-centered UX and UI design to define how those inputs and screens could communicate as one cohesive system, so interactions felt intuitive, consistent, and seamless no matter where the driver started.
Typically, a car’s steering wheel handles quick tasks like cruise control and audio, but for the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, the goal was to put the infotainment experience at the center of everything. The hardware set the challenge: a familiar center screen, two directional pads on the steering wheel, and a 48-inch panoramic display stretching from pillar to pillar. My role was to use human-centered UX and UI design to define how those inputs and screens could communicate as one cohesive system, so interactions felt intuitive, consistent, and seamless no matter where the driver started.
Typically, a car’s steering wheel handles quick tasks like cruise control and audio, but for the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, the goal was to put the infotainment experience at the center of everything. The hardware set the challenge: a familiar center screen, two directional pads on the steering wheel, and a 48-inch panoramic display stretching from pillar to pillar. My role was to use human-centered UX and UI design to define how those inputs and screens could communicate as one cohesive system, so interactions felt intuitive, consistent, and seamless no matter where the driver started.
GOING FROM IDEATIONS SKETCHES TO WORKING MODELS
Starting with quick ideation sketches on paper and marker boards, I mapped the steering wheel interaction model as a clear UX flow before moving into working prototypes. We built the design into testable models, put it in the buck, and iterated through multiple rounds of refinement based on real feedback. Each pass applied human-centered design principles to simplify decision points, improve focus and response, and remove friction. The goal was always the same: an interaction so intuitive it never needs instructions.
Starting with quick ideation sketches on paper and marker boards, I mapped the steering wheel interaction model as a clear UX flow before moving into working prototypes. We built the design into testable models, put it in the buck, and iterated through multiple rounds of refinement based on real feedback. Each pass applied human-centered design principles to simplify decision points, improve focus and response, and remove friction. The goal was always the same: an interaction so intuitive it never needs instructions.
Starting with quick ideation sketches on paper and marker boards, I mapped the steering wheel interaction model as a clear UX flow before moving into working prototypes. We built the design into testable models, put it in the buck, and iterated through multiple rounds of refinement based on real feedback. Each pass applied human-centered design principles to simplify decision points, improve focus and response, and remove friction. The goal was always the same: an interaction so intuitive it never needs instructions.
Awards
The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus has been recognized for standout infotainment and HMI innovation, led by the 48-inch Panoramic Display and the Lincoln digital experience. As part of the team behind this work, I focused on defining the HMI communication system and interaction patterns that make a large-format automotive interface feel calm, premium, and intuitive in real use.
Popular Science (2024 Best of What’s New Awards): Grand Auto Winner for the 48-inch pillar-to-pillar panoramic display
MotorTrend (2025 Best Tech Awards): Best Tech for Lincoln digital experience infotainment
HMI Innovation Award (with Fantasy): Recognition for Human Machine Interface design and rethinking driver-vehicle interaction
The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus has been recognized for standout infotainment and HMI innovation, led by the 48-inch Panoramic Display and the Lincoln digital experience. As part of the team behind this work, I focused on defining the HMI communication system and interaction patterns that make a large-format automotive interface feel calm, premium, and intuitive in real use.
Popular Science (2024 Best of What’s New Awards): Grand Auto Winner for the 48-inch pillar-to-pillar panoramic display
MotorTrend (2025 Best Tech Awards): Best Tech for Lincoln digital experience infotainment
HMI Innovation Award (with Fantasy): Recognition for Human Machine Interface design and rethinking driver-vehicle interaction
The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus has been recognized for standout infotainment and HMI innovation, led by the 48-inch Panoramic Display and the Lincoln digital experience. As part of the team behind this work, I focused on defining the HMI communication system and interaction patterns that make a large-format automotive interface feel calm, premium, and intuitive in real use.
Popular Science (2024 Best of What’s New Awards): Grand Auto Winner for the 48-inch pillar-to-pillar panoramic display
MotorTrend (2025 Best Tech Awards): Best Tech for Lincoln digital experience infotainment
HMI Innovation Award (with Fantasy): Recognition for Human Machine Interface design and rethinking driver-vehicle interaction
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