Entrance 1 Hudson Building Interactive Design
Where architecture, interaction, and storytelling converge.
Client:
General Motors
Scope:
UX/UI Design
Year:
2026
OVERVIEW
Interactive Digital Experience for Detroit's Newest Landmark
The Hudson Building represents one of Detroit's most significant architectural and cultural milestones in decades. General Motors commissioned an interactive digital experience for Entrance 1 that would welcome guests, showcase American innovation, and create a memorable first impression within the space.
My role was to design the complete user experience and visual interface for a large-format interactive installation that blends storytelling, physical interaction, and premium digital design.
The Challenge
The experience needed to accomplish several goals simultaneously:
Create a striking attract mode that draws visitors from across the lobby.
Encourage physical interaction through custom-designed tangible objects.
EducDeliver educational content without feeling like a museum exhibit.
Reflect General Motors' premium brand while celebrating 250 years of American ingenuity.
Feel intuitive enough that guests could begin interacting without instructions.
The installation also had to account for motion design, animation, accessibility, and a physical hardware system that would be integrated into the architectural environment.
My Role
Lead UX/UI Designer
I was responsible for the end-to-end experience design, including:
UX strategy
Information architecture
User flows
Interaction design
Visual interface design
Physical object integration
Motion design direction
Prototype visualization
Design Approach
The experience was designed around a physical interaction rather than a traditional touchscreen interface. Visitors place a custom discovery tile onto the interactive table to activate the experience, then rotate it to explore stories celebrating 250 years of American innovation.
The UI was intentionally minimal, allowing the physical interaction and architectural space to remain the focal point while providing a premium, intuitive experience.
Experience
The interface follows a simple three-stage journey:
Attract — A living map of the United States draws guests toward the installation through subtle animation and motion.
Activate — Placing the physical tile transforms the interface, shifting focus to the selected story.
Discover — Rotating the tile reveals curated content through clean radial layouts, imagery, and interactive storytelling.
Every transition was designed to clearly communicate system state while maintaining a refined, cinematic feel.
Outcome
The final installation transforms a traditional informational display into an immersive interactive experience that encourages exploration through physical engagement.
By combining tangible interaction with a clean digital interface, the experience creates a memorable introduction to the Hudson Building while showcasing General Motors' commitment to innovation, design, and technology.