BMW i Inside Future
A glimpse into autonomous driving.

BMW CES 2017—a sneak-peek into the future, where driving is not the only pleasure a car has to offer.
Interior of BMWi Inside Future showing Halo-Active-Touch

Premium experiences across a connected platform.

The art of driving has been a constant part of our lives for over a century, evolving from diesel to electric, and from luxurious to sporty. Yet, the advent of autonomous driving technology is set to revolutionize our traditional notions of mobility.

Inside Future is the result of our BMW collaboration for the 2017 CES convention—a ride into the future, where driving is optional, napping is possible, and working productive. We created the Inside Future sculpture to show new ways of interaction between the driver, the passenger and the future vehicle. The aim was to introduce visitors to the brave new world of autonomous cars, reassure their skepticism and offer them a series of interactive experiences that vary from relaxing and entertaining, to productive or social.

A view into the passenger side interior.

If a vehicle doesn’t need to be a car, what should it be?
  • Prototyping interior sensors.
    Cars are becoming a central platform in a growing digital world.
  • Assembling the rear of the vehicle.
    Designing the future vehicle platform.
  • UX discussion inside vehicle mock-up.
    Prototyping and enabling premium user experiences.
  • Prototype view of the all-digital dashboard.
    The right balance of digital and physical interaction will be fundamental in providing a premium experience.
  • Assembling dynamic exterior lighting prototype.
    Attention to detail from start to finish.
  • Milling of BMW kidney grille for CES show car.
    The Inside Future sculpture, created at Designworks' Los Angeles studio.
  • Testing the ultrasonic transducer array.
    Creating seamless transitions between augmented reality and on-screen content.
  • Adding books to balance the sculpture out with analog media.
    Delivering a premium physical and digital experience.
  • Reviewing the color and material finishes.
    Beauty, delivered through the touch and feel experience of the Inside Future sculpture.

We designed a space that is comfortable, beautiful, diverse and connected.

Inside Future is an environment that is able to cover digital needs and relax analogue senses, without distracting them with an army of screens, buttons and controllers. To achieve that, we used the best kind of technology. The kind that becomes invisible when you don’t need it, integrated into the type of environment that feels intuitively human.

We focused on 4 key users tenets: human design, seamless transitions, on/off demand technology and digital/physical harmony.

inside future sketch of humanized design

Humanized Design: applying a user-centered approach to the design to showcase a more human future experience.

Detail of seamless dashboard UI.

Seamless Transitions: The key to premium mobility in the future hinges on seamless transitions between nodes within a connected journey.

Close up rendering of holographic touch interface.

On/Off Demand Technology: Technologies need to be integrated with care and with the occupants’ immediate needs and desires in mind. Technology should be present only when needed and latent when not.

Detail view of BMWi rear seat control tablet.

Digital and Physical Harmony: Rich, digital interactions are blended with real, haptic experiences. The combination of a natural, flowing interior working with future technologies creates a harmonious environment without friction.

Us, BMW, and the Future.

We think about the future. A lot. (We got it from our mother company).

The thing that connects us to the BMW Group is our attitude towards the future. We may not always work together, but when we do, it’s on something that’s going to significantly shape products and experiences 5–10 years from now.

Fascination for the future runs very deep in this family.

inside future from the back