Extract from Genesis Newsroom interview
After transitioning from exterior to interior automotive design, Jaeho Oh was captivated by what he calls the “whole different world of creativity” in interior automotive design. Now, as Genesis’ head of interior design, he faces the ongoing challenge of integrating the best technologies into Genesis models while maintaining a layout that’s simple and refined and features just the right number of analog buttons.
Question: How did you get into automotive interior design?
Answer: While exterior design plays a crucial role in a customer’s purchasing decision, the interior is where they actually experience and live with the car, which I found attractive.
Q: Genesis interior design is often defined by its signature ‘beauty of white space’ concept, what does this mean to you?
A: Beauty of white space is about optimizing the arrangement of interior elements like buttons, displays and other components, and in that process, naturally creating negative space.
Q: What does a typical interior design process look like for a new Genesis model?
A: Once the vehicle typology and its unique characteristics and identity have been confirmed, designers in Korea, Europe and the USA start sketching the interior while considering new UX technologies. Each region then narrows down to about three candidates; we then pick the very best one.
Q: What happens after the selection process?
A: We take that selected interior design and discuss with numerous other teams to make it into production. This entire process usually takes approximately three years.
Q: Automotive interior design is continually evolving. What’s your take on the future of interior design?
A: With advancements in autonomous driving and electric vehicles (EVs), today’s cars are increasingly becoming extensions of our living spaces.
Q: How would that affect Genesis interiors?
A: We will maintain clutter-free interior designs while integrating key controls through AI and voice recognition. For safety and usability reasons, essential buttons will remain analog.
Q: How else do you see Genesis interior designs evolving?
A: As customer expectations continue to rise, we plan to deliver a much more refined, detailed and luxurious experience. Projects like Genesis Magma and One of One will exemplify this evolution, providing a deeper level of exclusivity for our customers.
