Lumina — Solar-Aware Vehicle OS

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The biggest UX challenge was making solar energy feel understandable. Solar charging is happening quietly in the background, so the user cannot really see or feel it. Early on, the interface became too focused on battery numbers and energy data. The real challenge was to turn that hidden process into something people could relate to in daily life. That is why Lumina focuses on simple ideas like range gained from the sun, how the glass is responding, and how ready the car feels when the user returns.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
The highlight was the moment I realised the product should not just show data. It needed to tell a small story about what happened while the user was away. The line “+9 km from today’s sun” became the turning point because it made the idea instantly clear. A low point was when the design started to feel too much like a normal EV dashboard. It had the right information, but not enough emotion. Once I reframed the app around sunlight, comfort, and confidence, the product felt much more human.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In five years, I hope Lumina can grow from a concept into a more complete experience for solar mobility. I can see it helping drivers understand how much energy their car collects, how that energy supports each journey, and how features like auto tint can make the car feel more comfortable while parked. For me, this project reflects the kind of design work I want to keep doing. I want to create products that make advanced technology easier to understand, more useful in daily life, and more connected to people.