SHADES / BENTLEY
Shades is an AR headset for Bentley’s new electrified offering and part of the passenger entertainment system. Their R&D department, LPVIZ and Strays teamed up to create a premium, modern and younger aesthetic. LPVIZ provides proprietary IP which enables the headset to differentiate between the inside and outside of the car while being able to display AR elements on both layers. The device allows people to interact with the digital world through hand gestures. For easy access, it's stored between the driver and passenger in the armrest.
An initial onboarding sequence helps to align the Shades projectors correctly with the wearers' eyes. The large pad on the inside or the device distributes the weight and pressure across the forehead and keeps it away from sensitive areas between the eyebrows and above the nose.
The design went through 3 milestones, 30+ prototypes and 6 iterations. Our focus was first to combine the components in a package that can fit comfortably on various head shapes. Once we had a prove of concept, we shifted to make the device smaller and easier to handle. Bentley's R&D department will carry the project further with the aim to bring the metaverse into their vehicles.
The headset is equipped with two Lumus projectors and a Riegel tracking system. While these components deliver a best-in-class visual experience, their weight and size make them difficult to package in an appealing and small form factor. The challenge at the core of our engagement was that the device is worn meant to be worn on the head and face, which is a very personal and sensitive area.
Each design gave the person wearing it a different expression, some created a frown while others had an angry face. It was important to us to design an approachable form and be conscious of the wearer's expression, while the material choice should speak to its performance and futuristic character.
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CLIENT
Bentley
YEAR
2022
DISCIPLINE
Industrial Design
Design Research
UX Design
DISCIPLINE
Industrial Design
Design Research
UX Design
CLIENT
Bentley
YEAR
2022