/ WORK
As a digital experience design consultant, advisor, futurist, and design educator, Danny Stillion, Founder and Principal of designbivouac, has led world-class teams and shaped advanced consumer products, new interaction paradigms, and various aspects of our mobility ecosystem at strategic and execution levels.
Below is a range of representative work that Danny has designed or led.
FORESIGHT OS | Futurecasting Software Concept
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/ AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Work and perspective have been featured in WIRED, BusinessWeek, Fast Company, The Atlantic, the IDEA Awards, the Webby Awards, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. Various patents have been awarded. Below are some representative projects shaped through direct design, design direction, and client relationship stewardship. Roles related to each project are also listed.
/ WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
“As a pioneer in the field of interaction design while at IDEO, Danny has hired, led, and mentored hundreds of design practitioners over the course of multiple decades. Though his knowledge of the mobility industry (and others) and the practice of user experience is deep, the quality that always sets Danny apart is his approach to leading—with care for designers, their growth, and their success. His approach has consistent outcomes: best-in-class products and experiences.”
Chris Nyffeler
Director of Search UX
International Growth at Google
“I cannot stress enough the fact that we learned a lot of methodology and cultural aspects through the fruitful and enjoyable cooperation with you and your team. You helped us lay the foundations for what we have achieved so far. Thank you very much again for that support.”
Stefan Maurer
Director, Head of Strategy
Product Planning & Business Development Mercedes-Benz Vans
Danny Stillion’s influence in the design community is broad and deep—extending to designers that work in every major company across the globe. I saw his vast expertise in action while partnering with a large tech company to create a safer, more efficient mobility ecosystem. I am continuously inspired by his incredible ability to synthesize large amounts of content into actionable and impactful insights. Danny leads with kindness, focus, and proficiency. He is one of my favorite collaborators and is an incredible asset to any team. Thank you!
Shayna Proctor
Lead Designer,
YouTube Kids
“You guys are clearly smart. This [concept] is something we would never have come up with. We understood the value of this work five minutes into your presentation. I can think of many ways in which we can leverage this approach.”
Sergio Marchionne
Chairman and CEO of Ferrari
/ REPRESENTATIVE WORK
DESIGNBIVOUAC
Postcards From the Future
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This series explores future possibilities for technology and culture. Like postcards from the future, this work demonstrates designbivouac’s approach to future visioning, designed to spark imagination and inspire new possibilities.
IDEO
Future of Automobility Series
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This four-part immersive series explored how autonomous vehicles could move people, goods, spaces, and together through speculative design. The series includes photorealistic visuals, spatial audio, and research-driven storytelling. The work captured public imagination, earned multiple awards, and attracted global media attention.
TOYOTA
BLAID Navigation Device
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BLAID is a discreet personal mobility device designed to help visually impaired users navigate complex environments using cameras, sensors, and a blend of haptic and audio feedback. Developed in close collaboration with the visually impaired community, it offers four intuitive modes—Explore, Scan, Capture, and Find—that enhance spatial awareness, identify surroundings, store location data, and guide users to specific destinations.
SKYRYSE
SkyRyse One Cockpit & SkyOS
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Designed for enthusiasts previously deterred by the complexity and high barriers of traditional systems, SkyOS replaces outdated mechanical controls with a fully digital, touchscreen-based interface that simplifies flying and boosts confidence in the cockpit.
BMW
iDrive Redesign
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The redesign of BMW’s original iDrive system marked a pivotal shift in the BMW vehicle user experience. The first-generation iDrive, with its distinctive circular menu structure, was ambitious but ultimately problematic, posing significant challenges in physical interaction and cognitive load. The redesign represented more than a software update; it fundamentally changed how drivers engage with technology behind the wheel.
CISCO
VOIP Phone System
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Cisco’s lineup of voice-over-IP phones set a new standard for digital communication in the enterprise world. At a time when voice-over-IP technology was still emerging, Cisco’s phones stood out for combining robust technical performance with a user-centered design that emphasized clarity, efficiency, and ease of use. Its ergonomic form factor was carefully shaped to support long hours of desk use, while the intuitive interface made complex digital telephony features accessible to a broad range of users with minimal training.
MEDTRONIC
StealthStation User Interface
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The Medtronic StealthStation uses MRI and CT imaging to generate real-time 3D anatomical maps, guiding surgeons with precision via electromagnetic tracking. This minimizes disruption to delicate tissue and improves surgical outcomes. An intuitive touchscreen interface delivers step-by-step guidance while accommodating multiple users in the operating room, supporting clarity, coordination, and confident decision-making in complex procedures.
CLEARMOTION
Active Suspension Demonstrator
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An immersive product demonstrator was designed to let OEM partners experience ClearMotion’s groundbreaking suspension technology firsthand. With customizable ride modes, dynamic vehicle gestures, and real-time terrain simulations, the demonstrator showcased the system’s ability to reduce cabin movement by up to 75%, thereby enhancing comfort, control, and performance.
SAMSUNG
Smartphone Innovations
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Extensive user research informed the development of smartphone concepts aimed at multitaskers, business users, and everyday consumers. The focus was on rethinking form factors and interaction models to better support modern, multifaceted lives.
NAUTO
Fleet Driver Safety Device
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Nauto combines optical object detection, AI-driven behavioral analysis, and in-cabin sensing to deliver real-time feedback that helps prevent collisions and reduce risky driving behaviors. Designed for commercial fleets and professional drivers, the system integrates seamlessly across various vehicle types thanks to its compact form and a simplified installation process that requires no hardwiring or specialized tools.
CATERPILLAR
Customer First Digital Design Strategy
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Caterpillar has a long-standing legacy of building powerful, reliable machines that serve a wide range of industries worldwide, from construction and mining to energy and transportation. This project built upon that legacy by enhancing the machines' capabilities and intelligent connectivity and driving a broader organizational transformation toward customer-centricity.
BLUE ORIGIN
New Shepard Capsule Experience
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This Blue Origin capsule concept celebrates the full arc of human spaceflight, from the anticipation of launch to the wonder of zero gravity and the return to Earth. Emotional resonance, well-being, and intuitive interaction are prioritized throughout. Designed to support astronauts in weightlessness, the interior features ergonomic handles, footrests, and lighting cues that guide and reassure occupants throughout the journey.
SAMSUNG
Memory Website
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Samsung’s memory website showcased head-to-head comparisons with competitors’ memory chips to hi’ to highlight performance advantages. These benefits were brought to life through clear technical comparisons. At the same time, a companion social media campaign personified the frustrations of using inferior memory through a cast of relatable, character-driven narratives. The digital experience and campaign effectively communicated Samsung's value proposition in informative and emotionally resonant ways.
MERCEDES-BENZ VANS
Moving Goods Exploration
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This collaboration explored the future of goods transportation through design thinking and rapid prototyping, helping shape the Mercedes-Benz adVANce initiative and laying the foundation for their Silicon Valley innovation lab. The work considered the entire cargo delivery cycle, from warehouse loading and route optimization to final drop-off confirmation and fleet management.
MERCEDES-BENZ
S-Class UI Sprint
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This rapid visualization sprint extended the capabilities of the Mercedes-Benz design team, enabling exploration of a broader range of user interface aesthetics than initially envisioned, with a focus on increasingly larger displays and interactions spanning multiple display surfaces. The goal was to craft seamless, intuitive in-car experiences that reflect the brand’s values of luxury, innovation, and emotional resonance.
HYUNDAI
Health + Mobility CES Exhibition
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Hyundai’s Health + Mobility CES exhibit introduced personalized micro-experiences, or “Mood Bursts,” designed to shape a driver’s emotional state through coordinated sensory inputs including scent, sound, lighting, temperature, and posture. Each mood burst, such as a calming experience during traffic or an invigorating alert during long drives, delivered short, precisely choreographed interventions tailored to real-time driving conditions.
GOOGLE
Advanced Vehicle User Interface
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This project explored, researched, prototyped, validated, and documented the in-vehicle user experience for Google. Driven by real-world driver needs, the initiative aimed to shift OEMs away from isolated, feature-focused development toward a proactive, needs-based platform strategy that leverages the broader mobility ecosystem to deliver safer, smarter, and more consistent driving experiences.
PLASTIC LOGIC
QUE ProReader
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Purpose-built for professionals, the QUE proReader offered seamless access to emails, calendars, documents, and subscription content in a lightweight, shatterproof form. Optimized for PDFs, it featured the most prominent plastic touchscreen of its time and earned an IDEA award for its innovative design.
BUSINESSWEEK
Technology Forecasting
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This forward-looking project brought together contributors from all IDEO locations and disciplines to explore how emerging interfaces—stylus, touch, and voice—could transform how we interact with technology. The team envisioned various innovative devices, including large, high-resolution stylus-driven displays, transparent speakers, wireless printers, and flexible, tube-shaped portable computers, all of which pushed technology's boundaries.
FERRARI
Vehicle Access User Experience
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To reimagine key aspects of the Ferrari ownership journey, interviews with various Ferrari owners revealed emotional milestones that shaped the design of the vehicle access experience. Central to the new ownership and access experience was the Amuleto, a symbolic object delivered at the time of order, featuring the storied Ferrari emblem and engraved information about the purchased vehicle.
CHASE
Online Banking Conceptualization
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This proposed redesign of Chase’s online banking interface is rooted in human-centered design and behavioral insights. Research has revealed that people naturally organize their finances into purposeful “stacks”—modular groupings aligned with specific goals or responsibilities—rather than as linear lists of transactions.