Fiinex | Kepler Display Design

As a UX Lead, I was asked to work with Russ Wicks, "Speed King" to see how we could create a highly functional binnacle design for a new hybrid hypercar being built in Newport Beach, California, called the Kepler. Russ was in production on his first 10 cars, needed a new touch screen solution that would ship in the first 10 cars, with flexibility for new features when building the next 11-100 production vehicles.

To design a flexible, functional, and cool a binnacle design that can switch easily from road use to high contrast track racing modes. The design needed to be highly functional for racing first, and a more aesthetic for road use.

I went to the garage where the car was being built, and spent a day understanding how it fit in the car, what the dimensions would be, how the hybrid system worked, what data the driver needed in different driving modes, day, night and track modes. Together, we defined a list of high priority features for road, and for track. For promotional purposes, the road features and styles were of primary importance.

I conducted informal research at a local Maserati and Ferrari dealers and discussed the needs and priorities drivers have regarding binnacle for sport luxury cars. I discovered the track designs can be highly simplified and increased size and contrast views for things like speed, RPM and shift alerts. Plus, for this hybrid car hybrid system status is also valuable.

I conducted informal research at a local Maserati dealer and discussed the needs and priorities drivers have regarding binnacle for sport luxury cars. I discovered the track designs can be highly simplified and increased size and contrast views for things like speed, RPM and shift alerts. Plus, for this hybrid car hybrid system status is also valuable.

My solution to the binnacle was one design that displayed hinted outline forms to create a singular unified look. The style worked in day, night, road and track modes. The current views shown above represent a night time road driving functionality, and style - in red.

The Kepler liked the road style and developed it into their first produciton car, with a plan to extended the UX, design system, and style into a center console screen as well.