Interiors

Interior Development Paths: Interface, Identity, Integration

It used to be that exterior vehicle design sold cars. Now, vehicle interiors are becoming the new interface between brand, driver, and digital experience, and are highly cost constrained. OEMs are now designing for new generations of consumers—with input from equally new generations of designers—requiring more modularity, sensitivity to regional nuance, and manufacturing pragmatism than before.

ITB has played a central role in advancing this space. We’ve organized conferences dedicated to interior innovations, completed targeted consulting assignments, authored foundational reports, and helped OEMs, Tier 1s, and material suppliers grow this ecosystem from the inside out for decades.

🔮 Drivers to Interiors

📱 Return of Physical Controls

Buttons are back to an extent at some OEMs - driving rethinking of HMI strategies.

🖥️ Smarter Screen Integration

Displays continue to expand, but are more deliberately placed, task-oriented, and physically integrated.

🧵 Skin and Trim Reimagined

New surface layers and tactile finishes transform how trim modules are engineered, sourced and cost-managed.

🌍 Regional Supply Chains

Interior supply is decentralizing / deglobalizing. Local execution is now key to design relevance and delivery.

🛠️ Where ITB Assists

Track HMI evolution—physical controls, screen role-setting, and UX trade-offs
Assess modular instrument panel, door trim and console concepts across styling, manufacturability, and flexibility
Match emerging skin-layer materials with application cost realities
Align supplier product development to OEM regional engineering execution and design studio intent
Run foresight interviews to shape demographic- and market-specific strategies

✅ Further Discussion

If you’re shaping the next generation of cockpit appearance, durability and experience, you’ll want a partner who has helped support interior ecosystems from the ground up.

Let’s explore where design, supply, and strategy intersect.