In the evolving landscape of automotive innovation, the relationship between form and function continues to define how vehicles are conceived, built, and experienced.
For Lexus, this interplay forms the basis of its design language. The Japanese marque treats technology and design as inseparable, aiming to create mobility solutions that anticipate human behavior.
A vision takes flight
One expression of this philosophy is the Black Butterfly, Lexus’ next-generation cockpit interface for electric vehicles reimagined as part of Lexus’ LF-ZC electric concept car.
“The Black Butterfly was not born out of a desire for novelty, but rather as a result of the pursuit of a wider field of vision and intuitive operability,” says Takashi Watanabe, President of Lexus International. Notable features include a steer-by-wire steering wheel positioned to enhance visibility, and the use of light diffraction to place the meter panel farther from the driver to minimize eye movement and enhance focus—examples of how design decisions prioritize both safety and usability.
For Lexus, the Black Butterfly signals a broader shift toward interaction design that is intuitive and technologically advanced.
In perfect harmony
In its pursuit to explore trends beyond the automotive context, Lexus partnered with Tokyo-based creative agency SIX and design studio STUDEO to delve into the conceptual dimensions of the Black Butterfly through an immersive installation at Milan Design Week 2025, where Lexus has exhibited since 2005. “We believe that participating in Milan Design Week, where we can think, create, and exchange ideas with creators who continue to take on challenges for the future, is very meaningful,” says Watanabe.
The collaborative project, titled ‘A-Un,’ was inspired by the Japanese concept of ‘Aun no Kokyu’—a quiet understanding and synchronized breathing between people. Within this framework, the installation explored the harmony between technology and people—a connection that, to Lexus, becomes a medium for discovery and new experiences.
From design to dialogue
At Milan Design Week, the installation marked a continuation of Lexus’ approach to design as a multidisciplinary dialogue. It invited reflection on how design can respond to human presence and movement, activating in ways that mirrored the Black Butterfly’s values.
As an homage to traditional Japanese materials and craftsmanship, approximately 35 kilometers of bamboo thread were hand-woven over three months into a visually striking installation measuring three meters high, ten meters wide, and four meters deep (9.8 x 32.8 x 13 ft).
The creative teams at SIX and STUDEO began conceptual discussions in 2023, with the development process exploring the convergence of technology, humanity, and the passage of time. The result was an installation designed to respond dynamically to visitors’ heartbeats, synchronized with rhythms sampled from nature. It changed color and movement, illuminating with a unique image in a form of sensory feedback to create a sense of connection between people and their environments.
As automotive design increasingly intersects with user experience, spatial design, and digital interaction, projects like Lexus’ Black Butterfly offer a glimpse into the future of mobility. “We will design for a future where we can give shape to the concept of how close we can get to human sensibilities,” says Suga. Through the Black Butterfly and its artistic extension in Milan, Lexus is contributing to the ongoing conversation about how we interact with vehicles—one that may help shape mobility design for years to come.
Read more about innovation at Lexus here.
