Chevrolet Corvette Redefined

The driver-centric cockpit experience

Case Study

Overview

Chevrolet reimagined the Corvette cabin—not just as a driver’s cockpit, but as a shared, digital ecosystem designed around connection, precision, and performance.

My role as UX Lead was to help translate that vision into an experience that merged luxury and functionality, integrating cutting-edge technology with intuitive usability.

We set out to replace the polarizing “button wall” that previously divided the driver and passenger with an open, fluid, and human-centered design—a cabin that celebrates both the driver’s control and the passenger’s inclusion.

2018 Corvette

2026 Corvette

My Role

Lead Experience Designer
Corvette Framework, Climate Controls & Home

Experience Ownership
Directed the full UX lifecycle for GM’s Themes application, delivering customizable in-vehicle interfaces across Chevy, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac platforms.

Research-Driven Strategy
Conducted competitive benchmarking (BMW, Mercedes, Tesla, Lucid, Audi etc.), synthesized user insights, and identified key journey/feature gaps to guide roadmap priorities and future experience vision.

Cross-Functional Delivery & Launch Readiness
Partnered with product, engineering, and research teams to build accessible, compliant UI solutions, ensuring smooth handoff to development, QA alignment, and on-time production releases.

Design System Modernization
Led a multi-brand DesignOps initiative to audit, standardize, and streamline a design system spanning 35+ infotainment apps—reducing inconsistencies and minimizing engineering/design drift.

The Challenge

The Corvette’s interior had been performance-driven but visually and functionally divided. Feedback highlighted:

Cognitive overload from the vertical “button wall.”
Limited passenger inclusion in the driving experience.
Fragmented control surfaces between digital and physical elements.
A growing expectation for integrated connectivity and performance analytics aligned with modern digital ecosystems.

Our goal:

Design a cockpit that feels purposeful and driver-centric—yet inclusive, intuitive, and beautifully digital.

Research & Insights

We conducted driver and passenger ride-along studies, track-day observations, and post-drive interviews across Corvette owners, enthusiasts, and first-time buyers.

Key insights:

Drivers wanted focus: no visual clutter, direct access to performance data.
Passengers wanted inclusion: visibility into key information and comfort controls.
Owners valued familiarity: tactile reassurance for essential functions.
Track users craved data: real-time analytics without distraction.

This informed a design strategy built around intentional minimalism, progressive disclosure, and adaptive interaction—balancing physical tactility with digital precision.

Design Framework

We redefined the infotainment and instrumentation system through a multi-layered UX framework:

Spatial Clarity — Replace the “button wall” with an open, balanced console featuring a passenger grab handle for shared engagement.
Information Hierarchy — Introduce a triple-screen display that wraps around the driver:
- 14″ Driver Information Center for critical performance data.
- 12.7″ Center Display for infotainment and navigation.
- 6.6″ Auxiliary Display for customizable metrics such as trip info and traction settings.
Responsive Modality — Allow the system to adapt dynamically between Tour, Sport, and Track modes, with graphics and themes that shift seamlessly by context.
Hybrid Interaction Model — Maintain a balance of physical and virtual controls, combining digital flexibility with tactile assurance.

Prototyping & Validation

I developed high-fidelity prototypes simulating multi-screen flow, motion, and latency across various driving conditions.

User validation focused on:

Glance time reduction for core interactions.
Driver immersion and cognitive load.
Cross-screen readability and hand positioning.
Passenger inclusion and shared visibility of media, navigation, and performance data.

Testing spanned multiple contexts:

Driving simulators to measure driver distraction and glance time.
Accessibility and comfort studies across demographics and driving conditions.
User Research by Interviewing GM drivers and ran surveys and usability tests to uncover pain points around theme discovery, customization, and performance.
Competitive Benchmarking by reviewing automotive and consumer personalization apps to identify best practices, gaps, and opportunities for differentiation.
Usability Testing & Iteration by testing interactive prototypes with real users to validate navigation, previews, and customization flows, refining the design through rapid iteration.

Drive Modes

The redesigned cockpit gives drivers intuitive control to switch between Tour, Sport, and Track modes—instantly transforming both the display and driving dynamics.

Impact

The 2026 Corvette interior redefines what a performance cockpit can be — an ecosystem of data, design, and emotion.

Key Outcomes:

Eliminated the “button wall”, creating an open, inclusive cabin environment.
Reduced visual complexity while expanding information access through the triple-screen display.
Improved usability and driver focus validated through glance-time and eye-tracking studies.
Enhanced personalization and connection via responsive, cross-device design.
Cemented Corvette’s leadership as a luxury performance benchmark in its segment.

cockpit screens

Reflection

The 2026 Corvette showcases how thoughtful UX can elevate performance into experience—where every screen, stitch, and interaction supports the driver’s intent and the passenger’s inclusion.

By integrating hardware, software, and human insight, the project demonstrates that design is not just about control—it’s about connection.