Top Car Designers Weigh In on Future Industry Trends to Look For

Car designers aren’t just tasked with creating compelling, user-friendly cabins and sleek exteriors. They must maximize sustainability based on company goals, investigate new materials and techniques, and work with increasing amounts of artificial intelligence.

Newsweek asked some of the industry’s top designers to give their opinion on what the next trends in design will and won’t be, and how they’re working to anticipate needs.

Here’s what they said.

Trend: Back to Basics

Chris Benjamin, Chief Design Officer at Scout Motors

“The next big design trend is not a trend at all. I believe the key is to go back to the basics, to create something that is impactful through amazing proportions and focuses on cool details and technology to foster the emotional connection people have with their vehicles. The future isn’t a dystopian robo future—it’s recreating the love affair that we as humans have with our automobiles.”

Trend: Optimize Technology to Deliver the Right Value

SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design Center

“In a world where the pace of change is accelerating and countless variables make the future difficult to predict, it is more important than ever to stay true to the essence of design and confront what truly matters.

“At Hyundai, our design philosophy is rooted in Progress for Humanity and a customer-centric approach. This means going beyond what customers consciously recognize and addressing their latent needs—anticipating what enhances their lives before they even realize it.

“In an era where people face increasing uncertainties, it is crucial to optimize technology to deliver the right value through design. Through authentic and thoughtful design, we aim to bring joy, empathy and comfort to every journey.”

Trend: Emphasis on the Digital Space

Sellene Lee, CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Chief Designer, Calty Design Research

“I see this larger trend of cars becoming exponentially more experiential. With new technological advancements and more emphasis on the digital space with the help of AI, there’s a move toward a deeper quality, sensorial experience in the automotive space.

“Our designers are exploring what this means, and are creatively discovering different ways to offer the optimal state of sensorial design that can engage our customers better, perhaps the next gen integration of mobility UX/UI + AI power will lead to a next-level revolution of personalization. This can be done through a more seamless, predictive human-machine interface while fully engaging the five senses that will foster a nirvana of personal immersion.”

Trend: Addressing Mobility Needs

Karim Habib, Head of Kia Global Design

“It’s difficult defining the next big design trend at a time like this, when different trends are moving in different directions, and often at speed.

“In spite of this, at Kia, we believe that we should be working toward improving people’s lives, and it’s important that, as industrial designers, we keep people at the center— understanding their needs, and creating products and experiences that meet them. Our challenge, as always, is to anticipate their future needs, so that we can craft relevant and meaningful solutions to address those too.

“As mobility designers, we look to anticipate the change in our users’ mobility needs, so that we can enable movement in a safe and rewarding way, and that—whether that be visually or haptically—our users can feel a tangible improvement to their lives. In this way, we’re extremely proud of our vision for a Platform Beyond Vehicle, where the concept of modularity and adaptability allows us to positively impact the varied lifestyles—and workstyles—of our users, and challenge the long-established conceptions of space, time and mobility.”

Trend: Finding Balance

Ryan Nagode, Stellantis Vice President and Head of Interior Design

“Our interior design teams are dedicated to enhancing our customers’ mobility experiences by integrating the latest technologies and features. While advanced features, content and screen sizes can sometimes lead to tech overload, we’re actively listening to our customers. As in-vehicle touchscreens and digital interfaces become more prevalent, we strive to find a balance. We are continuing to innovate with user-friendly designs that blend modern digital touch surfaces with intuitive physical buttons, which many customers find straightforward and convenient. Whether you’re off-roading in a Jeep, keeping your family on the move in a Chrysler, feeling the adrenaline of Dodge’s performance or relying on our Ram trucks for tough jobs, you’ll find thoughtfully crafted interiors designed to meet your needs.”