Project Context
This was a collaborative project at Kookmin University where engineering and design students developed an autonomous driving system. AutoBrain is an infrastructure-driven autonomous driving system, and MODO (My Own Driving Operator) functions as the user-facing in-vehicle interface built on top of this system.
My Role
As one of five external designers invited to work on the CES exhibition booth, I contributed to the spatial and experiential design. Working within the project’s fast-paced, real-world constraints, I collaborated closely with student teams, mentoring UX/UI decisions and contributing to interface concepts, system diagrams.
Understanding the System
Autobrain
Autobrain is an infrastructure-driven autonomous driving system where edge AI and centralized servers coordinate perception and decision-making, enabling sensorless vehicles to operate safely at a city scale.
MODO: My Own Driving Operator
MODO is the user-facing, agentic AI experienced through the vehicle dashboard and connected devices, translating user context and intent into proactive, human-centered mobility interactions.
Design Goal
Make the system understandable at a glance
Visualize how infrastructure, servers, and vehicles coordinate
Balance technical credibility with visual clarity
Exhibition Design
Brochure Design
MODO UI Design
UI Design
MODO’s UI is built on muted beige and blue tones that settle into a neutral gray, designed to feel calm and unobtrusive in everyday driving. Combined with a liquid glass treatment, the interface reads as a quiet, intelligent presence.
Brand Video
Takeaway
Process & Practical Realities
This project was my largest freelance collaboration to date, both in scale and responsibility. Working with a team of five designers and over ten students on a CES-exhibited project introduced real-world considerations beyond concept development, including technical feasibility, budget, and public-facing execution. I led the initial user flow development, aligning interaction logic with engineering constraints and mentoring student collaborators through iterative UX/UI feedback. Coordinating across a 13-hour time difference with collaborators in South Korea also reinforced the importance of clarity and structured communication.
Balancing this project alongside other freelance work and school truly helped sharpen my ability to prioritize, make deliberate decisions, and recognize when a design is complete.
Industry observations from CES
At CES, I noticed how much robotics is shifting toward more natural, human-like movement. One of the most memorable examples was a ping pong robot, which felt flawlessly fluid and responsive during play. I also saw many demonstrations focused specifically on robotic hands, showing how much effort is going into recreating the complexity of human motion for small, precise tasks. This made it clear that physical interaction design is becoming more intentional and detailed.
The smart home exhibits, especially at Samsung, made me think more about how interfaces fit into everyday life. A camera-monitored wine cellar stood out as an example of how sensing and automation are quietly built into home environments. It raised questions for me around how visible or invisible these systems should be, and how they can stay usable over time. Across brands like Samsung and Panasonic, the consistency in visuals, environments, and even staff presentation showed how strong design systems extended beyond screens and shape the overall experience.