VAISHNAVI PANDEY
Ms. Amrapali Hazra
vaishnavi_pandey@nid.edu
This project, conducted in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, explores reimagining the visual and spatial presence of the in-car Virtual Assistant for the Indian luxury automobile market, focusing on High Net Worth and Very High Net Worth Individuals. As luxury in India shifts from material display to experiential and cultural relevance, the project examines how the Virtual Assistant can evolve from a passive interface into an emotionally resonant, culturally adaptive companion. The scope is limited to visual and UI/UX expression, excluding voice interactions. Centered on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and its pillar-to-pillar screen ecosystem, the research draws from primary interviews with Indian users and sales consultants, along with secondary studies on digital luxury and brand aesthetics. Two visual directions- geometric and organic, inspired by Indian motifs and botanical forms were explored. The outcome includes mood boards, interaction flows, visual states, and a partial 3D prototype aligned with Mercedes-Benz’s global design language.