BYD UI Design Contest Concludes, Top Prize to Feature in New Seal 08 Model
Chinese automaker BYD has announced the winners of its smart cockpit UI design contest. The first-place design is slated for integration into the upcoming BYD Seal 08 production vehicle.
BYD, the Chinese automotive manufacturer, has concluded its smart cockpit UI design competition, aimed at fostering innovative digital interface solutions for vehicles. The winning design has been selected for integration into the upcoming production version of the BYD Seal 08.
The competition, initiated by BYD in collaboration with several prominent Chinese art and design universities, centered on the theme of "emotional value." It garnered hundreds of submissions, and a jury ultimately selected 12 finalist works, with the top entry destined for mass production.
The first prize was awarded to a team from the Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts for their submission titled "Heart Wave Echo · Tide Rises Co-existence." This design proposes an "emotionally co-existing" smart cabin, featuring an intelligent voice assistant and virtual companion named "Xiao Hai." The concept aims to provide emotional support and create an immersive, warm, and personalized mobile environment.
Other awarded designs explored diverse approaches to the in-car user experience. A second-prize winner from Tongji University, "Heart Sea Voyage," utilized transparent glass-like elements and a minimalist style to promote a serene driving atmosphere. Another entry from Jiangnan University, "Bao Bao is Here," introduced a growing pet character whose development is tied to the user's vehicle usage, aiming to cultivate a sense of enduring companionship.
The contest outcomes illustrate BYD's commitment to enhancing the digital user experience within its vehicles by incorporating cutting-edge design principles. The decision to implement the winning UI concept in the Seal 08 highlights the increasing significance of user-centric design and emotional intelligence in automotive interfaces.