First production car with RGB exterior light

Background & Goal

The Z10 is the first production car in the world with RGB capability integrated into its exterior lights. Featuring 414 RGB LEDs with 256 pure colors and unlimited gradient options, it sets a new standard for exterior automotive design. This innovation not only enhances the car’s expressive personality—through features like Car with Emotions—but also supports functional applications, such as charging status indicators and alerts.

The goal was to deliver a groundbreaking RGB lighting system for the Z10, combining emotional engagement with practical functionality while future-proofing the vehicle for autonomous driving requirements.

My role & Responsibilities

Chief Designer and creative lead, responsible for setting the strategy, leading the team, and aligning stakeholders to ensure feasibility and success.

Developed the overall strategy for the RGB lighting system, ensuring both creativity and technical feasibility.
Led a cross-functional team to deliver a holistic exterior lighting experience.
Aligned diverse stakeholders through frequent communication, presentations, and advocacy for the groundbreaking concept.
Managed project planning and traveled to China multiple times to oversee and refine deliverables.
Conducted user studies and implemented feedback to optimize animations and color calibration.

Challenges & solutions

Convincing stakeholders of the value and feasibility of the RGB lighting concept.
→ Supported the larger program user clinic, where 40% of participants expressed willingness to pay more for RGB lighting. This reinforced the concept as one of the car’s unique selling points and secured stakeholder buy-in.
Validating and refining the RGB lighting concept.
→ Conducted smaller user studies in VR to test animations, colors, and gradients, incorporating insights to optimize the design.
Managing technical and cultural complexities during the development process.
→ Traveled to China to oversee deliverables, fine-tune timings, and calibrate colors, ensuring the final output met technical and design expectations.
Balancing creative goals with engineering constraints.
→ Worked closely with engineering teams to align designs with technical feasibility and manufacturing requirements.

Tools, Techniques, and Methodologies

Project Management Tools: Excel, PowerPoint.
Design Tools: Aurora 2, prototyping software for textured video and light maps.
Methodologies: User-centered design, iterative prototyping, and smaller-scale VR user studies.

Key Achievements

Delivered the world’s first production car with RGB exterior lighting, cementing Lynk&Co’s reputation as a bold and innovative brand.
Implemented the Car with Emotions concept, enabling the car to express moods like happiness, suspicion, or even mimic a lion.
Designed RGB lighting for practical applications, such as charging status displays and safety alerts, ensuring functionality alongside aesthetics.
Supported the larger program user clinic, which confirmed RGB lighting as a unique selling point for the Z10.
Participated in the Z10 launch event, contributing to a documentary & media interviews.
Received significant media attention, showcasing Lynk&Co’s leadership in automotive innovation.

Lessons learned

Personal Growth
Gained expertise in leading high-stakes creative projects and managing cross-cultural collaboration at a technical level.

Team Insights
Reinforced the importance of integrating smaller-scale user testing to validate designs and build stakeholder confidence.

Future Applications
Developed insights into future-proofing design concepts to align with emerging needs, such as autonomous driving indicators.

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