Porsche Driver Experience

Overview

The goal of the project was to establish a consistent, cohesive user experience across Porsche's next-generation model lineup: Panamera, Macan, Cayenne, 911, and Taycan, while remaining true to Porsche's iconic design language.

Responsibilities

My primary responsibility was translating 2D UI concepts for the IC (Instrument Cluster) into functional 3D elements, which were subsequently implemented by the Porsche development team. This process demanded strict adherence to technical constraints, including polygon count and texture size limitations, as well as meticulous attention to detail to ensure each element met production-quality standards. In addition to my core 3D work, I collaborated closely with the 2D design team, contributing to the creation of supporting 2D assets.

Challenges

Translating flat 2D interface designs into performant 3D geometry meant constantly balancing visual fidelity against hardware limitations; Every model had a hard polygon budget and texture memory ceiling that couldn't be exceeded without impacting real-time rendering performance. Working across an international, interdisciplinary team also meant aligning 2D design intent, 3D production constraints, and engineering feasibility through frequent stakeholder reviews, all while keeping the visual language consistent.

Tools & Workflows

Day-to-day work relied on Cinema 4D for 3D modeling and animation, Sketch for 2D interface design, and WebGL for real-time rendering considerations. Core technical skills included precise polygon modeling, UV mapping, and texture optimization, which is essential for meeting the strict performance budgets required by in-vehicle hardware. The project was run in agile sprints within an interdisciplinary, international team, with regular stakeholder reviews ensuring alignment between design intent and engineering feasibility throughout.

Outcome & Impact

The engagement operated on a weekly delivery cadence, with finished 3D assets handed off directly to Porsche's internal development team for implementation into the vehicle's onboard systems. This tight feedback loop meant issues around performance budgets or visual fidelity surfaced early and could be resolved before assets moved further down the production pipeline, keeping the 3D UI system on schedule across all model derivates.

Visual content is used under fair use principles for the sole purpose of illustrating my contribution to the project. All rights to the displayed works and brand assets belong to Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.