Hyundai Group’s design chief, Luc Donckerwolke, says car interiors featuring more physical buttons and smaller screens are making a comeback. “Simply put, people already have their phones,” he explains
Just last week, Hyundai unveiled a prototype of its next-generation infotainment system, featuring a large, Tesla-style central touchscreen. For those who are increasingly frustrated by the disappearance of physical buttons in modern cars, this might have been a worrying sight.
We felt the same, which is why we spoke with Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Hyundai Motor Group, at the Seoul Mobility Show. He was quick to offer reassurance: analog interfaces aren’t gone for good—they’re just on a brief hiatus.
“We’ll see a return of analog controls and a reduction in screen use,” said Donckerwolke. “But it will take one or two model generations. Simply put, people already have their phones—and they use them for almost everything.”
He added that while syncing a smartphone with the car is common, most drivers still rely on their phones for navigation and other tasks, making oversized in-car displays somewhat redundant.
“Ever since the iPhone changed the game, everything’s become a screen,” Donckerwolke continued. “It’s convenient for manufacturers—you save on tooling costs by eliminating buttons and gauges. But there’s still a strong emotional connection to analog interaction. The goal now is to strike a balance: screens large enough for safe glances, without forcing drivers through layers of menus to perform simple tasks.”
He emphasized that over-reliance on screens can undermine safety.
“If everything is buried in a touchscreen, you’re taking your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road. That’s a problem. Safety should always come first.”
This philosophy echoes a recent issue highlighted by our reviews editor, Chris Tsui, who noted that when the screens in the Mercedes-Benz CLE300 failed, nearly every non-driving function in the car became inoperable.
Donckerwolke also pointed out that in their effort to mimic smartphones, automakers have burdened themselves with recreating functions the driver’s phone already handles—adding unnecessary complexity.
Even today, Hyundai and Genesis EVs offer a more thoughtful balance of analog and digital than many competitors. That’s thanks in part to Donckerwolke’s creative vision—he’s had a hand in designing icons like the Lamborghini Murciélago, Bentley Flying Spur, and Audi R8 Le Mans race car.
Still, he warned that the return of analog will depend on the segment and price point.
“It varies by vehicle type,” he explained. “Mainstream cars will continue using big screens for a while. Entry-level models will lean on a ‘bring your own device’ approach, with drivers mainly using their phones. Luxury vehicles will still have screens, but they’ll be paired with voice control to reduce reliance on touch.”
This shift is not just good for drivers—it benefits automakers too. Maintaining large screens requires regular software updates and opens the door to security and privacy concerns.
“The real issue with big screens is content,” Donckerwolke said. “Other industries are better at updating digital experiences. If automakers can’t keep up, the screens lose value.”
Honestly? They had us at “fewer screens.”
