2025 Automotive Interior Design Commendation: Volvo EX90

GOOD DESIGN AUSTRALIA’S AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN COMMENDATION IS A SPECIAL ACCOLADE WITHIN THE AUTOMOTIVE AND TRANSPORT CATEGORY THAT RECOGNISES EXCELLENCE IN AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN AND STYLING.

Calm is the ultimate luxury, and you feel it the moment you step into the Volvo EX90. Designed for families who value space and style, the seven-seat SUV received the 2025 Automotive Interior Design Commendation.

The cabin feels like a modern Scandinavian living room. Sunlight floods through the panoramic roof, illuminating seats sculpted for long journeys and layouts that adapt seamlessly to children, cargo, or both.

Serenity in motion

We spoke with Lisa Reeves, Head of Interior Design at Volvo Cars, about how interior design shapes the way we connect with space.

“As a designer, I’m always interested in how space makes people feel. For the EX90, it begins with that immediate sense of calm you associate with a living room, a feeling of light, spaciousness, and comfort, where everything feels intuitive and considered,” said Lisa.

“Translating that into an SUV that is also engineered to perform and protect you in critical moments is both a responsibility and an inspiration. We worked with lightweight proportions and an open, airy layout, so the interior feels welcoming rather than imposing,” she added.

“By integrating intelligent technology into soft, harmonious forms, we aim to create an environment where you feel relaxed, cared for, and confidently in control, reflecting both Scandinavian design principles and the quiet confidence of an electric Volvo.”

2025 Automotive Interior Design Commendation – Volvo EX90. Image: Supplied

Responsible luxury

Every detail of the EX90 is considered. It’s not about flashy features – it’s about simplicity, comfort, and natural materials.

“Sustainability and tactility were central to the EX90’s material choices,” Lisa said.

 “We selected premium, responsibly sourced materials that feel natural and inviting, creating a tactile, comforting cabin experience. Upholstery options include a soft, durable wool blend and Nordico, a leather-like material made from recycled PET bottles and bio-attributed materials from Swedish and Finnish forests,” she added.

“These are paired with calming interior colour themes and carefully chosen décor elements to ensure a refined, luxurious atmosphere. Every material was chosen not only for its feel and quality but also to reflect Volvo’s commitment to a sustainable, human-centric design philosophy.”

Some design elements required pushing boundaries. One standout example is the illuminated backlit wood – real wood panels subtly lit from behind to highlight their natural grain and create a warm, inviting glow throughout the cabin.

“The illuminated backlit wood was a challenge. It was a new concept and took some development testing,” Lisa said. 

“Features like the shaping of the natural wood and the illumination are an example of combining art and engineering to create crafted sophistication. These are features of high emotional value and create an extraordinary design.”

Recognising the care and innovation behind the design, the 2025 Australian Good Design Awards’ Jury highlighted how the interior combines complementary styles and materials into a harmonious, inviting space.

“Nicely styled and well executed, including thoughtful material selection. A standout example of automotive design excellence and highly worthy of recognition. Volvo sets a high benchmark for good design in this category,” the Jury said.

Volvo EX90 Ultra Twin Motor. Image: Supplied

A new era for Volvo in electrification, technology, and safety

Volvo’s design team emphasised that from the start, electrification, technology, and safety shaped their approach to the interior.

“Choosing an electric car with advanced technology comes with an expectation of seamless functionality, and creating a sense of ease and trust was a conscious design decision,” Lisa said.

“The electric platform gave us the freedom to rethink proportions and focus on clarity rather than complexity.”

“Lightweight volumes and balanced geometry create an interior that feels intuitive and composed, while technologies such as the 14.5-inch centre display, head-up display, and premium audio systems are integrated to support the experience without overwhelming it,” she added.

Safety is always central to Volvo’s design process.


“The advanced safety systems define the volume framework of the interior, and from that foundation, we create the key lines and forms”, Lisa explained.

“Our goal was to make these elements feel extraordinary and eye-catching without being loud, and clear without feeling minimalist. Striking the balance between pure, harmonious shapes and intuitive readability is what makes the interior feel both safe and inviting, without compromising simplicity or comfort.” 

This attention to safety was also a standout to the Jury.


“Packed with intuitive safety technology, the EX90 is unmistakably Volvo in both design and style. Its design language, built on decades of expertise, positions safety as a must-have and defines what high-end truly means,” the Jury said.

Designing luxury without compromise

At every touchpoint, design principles informed the ergonomics and spatial layout, ensuring comfort for every occupant.

“Our guiding principles were inclusivity, comfort, and intuitive functionality”, said Lisa.  

“Controls and displays are thoughtfully positioned for natural reach and visibility, while seats with heating, ventilation, and massage options enhance personal comfort.” 

“Thoughtful details such as charging ports, cupholders, generous storage, and a flat second-row floor ensure comfort and practicality for everyone, so refinement and family functionality coexist seamlessly,” she added. 

From soft, ambient lighting to nature-inspired materials, every element is designed to put occupants at ease, while twin motors deliver confident performance. It’s everything families would want in a car, and more.

“In the EX90, families don’t have to compromise on luxury. Precious materials at eye level create an emotional connection, while durable finishes handle everyday life,” Lisa said.

“The EX90 interior points to the future of Volvo design by combining calm, human-centered spaces with seamless technology.”

“It shows how we can create spacious, balanced, and intuitive interiors that are emotionally connected, inclusive, and confident, where comfort, safety, and innovation naturally create a premium balance,” Lisa added.

Shaping the future of automotive design 

This vehicle showcases that exceptional automotive design emerges when disciplines work together from the outset.

“This cohesion starts with teamwork. From the very start, UX, CMF, engineering, and design worked together as one team. This close collaboration ensures every detail – from materials and controls to displays and seating – is intentional and cohesive, creating an interior that feels seamless, intuitive, and fully integrated,” Lisa said.

“When asked what she hopes the interior conveys, Lisa added: ‘The EX90 interior is “just enough”. Nothing could be added, nothing taken away. I hope this idea resonates with people, reminding them to value what truly brings calm and purpose into their lives. Every detail is carefully considered, creating a serene, balanced space where luxury feels effortless, intuitive, and complete, offering comfort and wellbeing for everyone on board.’”

“The EX90 is a good example of design restraint and confidence that less is more. The car world needs more of this. The Volvo EX90 builds upon the well-earned reputation of safe and efficient family transport,” the Jury added.

Good Design Australia congratulates Volvo for showing how thoughtful collaboration and restrained, human-centred design can create interiors that are both elegant and deeply valued by families.

2025 Automotive Exterior Design Commendation: Hyundai IONIQ 9

GOOD DESIGN AUSTRALIA’S AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN COMMENDATION IS A SPECIAL ACCOLADE WITHIN THE AUTOMOTIVE AND TRANSPORT CATEGORY THAT RECOGNISES EXCELLENCE IN AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN AND STYLING.

The Automotive Exterior Design Commendation celebrates vehicles that turn heads. In 2025, the spotlight falls on the Hyundai IONIQ 9, a three-row electric SUV designed for family life without compromise.

As the flagship of Hyundai’s award-winning EV range, the IONIQ 9 is a bold step towards the company’s vision of 21 electric vehicles by 2030. The brief demanded a revolutionary SUV that combines space, comfort, and performance, wrapped in a striking design and crafted with the customer in mind.

Simon Loasby, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai Design Center, guided us through the results. Its sleek, slippery silhouette exemplifies “aerosthetic,” a term coined by Hyundai to describe the fusion of aerodynamics and aesthetics.

 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Exterior. Image: supplied

A new piece on the board

Hyundai set out to create an EV unlike anything seen before, shaped by how people use a vehicle and how they want it to look and feel.

“It was a collaborative effort across our organisation. A very strong virtual collaboration on how to create the most efficient shape and form,” said Simon.

“We wanted to do something unique for this generation of EVs, for people focused on efficiency, sustainability, and being in tune with nature.”

Nature played a central role. Diana Kloster and the colour team explored materials, human behaviour, and the environment to make the SUV both sustainable and efficient.

Simon explained that the IONIQ 9 rests on three pillars: sustainability, furnished space, and Parametric Pixels.

That look follows Hyundai’s “chess-piece” philosophy, ensuring each vehicle is distinct yet cohesive.

“IONIQ 9 is one of our chess pieces. Its silhouette is unique, and each model has a different move on the board, but together they form a cohesive group through design details like Parametric pixel lighting,” Simon said.

A defining feature is Hyundai’s Parametric Pixel, a futuristic-retro motif of geometric pixels across the front and rear. It unites all IONIQ vehicles and gives the SUV a striking, unmistakable identity.

“The base in IONIQ for us, the visual base, is the Parametric Pixel, which connects all of our electric cars,” Simon added.

Hyundai IONIQ 9 front. Image: supplied

Electric elegance

Building on its signature visual language, the IONIQ 9 exemplifies electric elegance. Its sleek ‘aerosthetic’ exterior fuses cutting-edge design with advanced electric vehicle technology, reflecting Hyundai’s commitment to aerodynamic efficiency and futuristic styling. A tapering boat-tail not only enhances airflow but also defines the vehicle’s distinctive silhouette.

“It’s a hugely aesthetic form, but we didn’t want complexity. We wanted a simple, puristic form,” Simon explained.

The Hyundai IONIQ 9 turns aerodynamics into art. Its seamless silhouette sweeps from hood to tail, embodying “aerosthetic”.

The exterior shapes the interior too. Shortening the hood, angling the windscreen, and positioning the roofline over the second row creates a spacious, airy cabin. Even the third row enjoys clever proportions, offering more room than the exterior suggests.

“The cabin length, from the rear separation edge to the bottom of the cowl, is much bigger than anything we’ve ever produced. That gives us the overall architecture inside,” Simon said.

Sustainability guided every decision.

“The black cladding on the exterior is actually from recycled tyres. The pigment comes from old car tyres that are ground up, creating a black pigment. That’s a wonderful way of reusing waste,” Simon added.

This vision first appeared in the SEVEN Concept, showcased in LA, with its lounge-like interior and circular design principles that directly shaped the IONIQ 9.

“We stacked IONIQ 9 with the most sustainable content we could and created the most efficient SUV,” Simon added.

Every curve and edge was carefully sculpted to minimise drag, creating a design that’s as efficient as it is striking.

“Aerodynamically, we’re down to a drag coefficient of 0.259, slightly lower than that of our Sonata ICE sedan, but achieved for a full three-row SUV. That means you use less energy, charge less, and lose less time charging,” he explained.

To achieve this balance of efficiency and style, the team relied on a guiding framework that ensured every design decision supported the vehicle’s overarching vision: the design priority pyramid. 

Hyundai IONIQ 9. Image: supplied.

Designing with clarity

Woo-hyun Lee and Hyeong-soo Lee from Hyundai’s Exterior Design Team credited the design priority pyramid as one of the frameworks Simon brought to the project that shaped the vehicle’s design.

At the top of the pyramid is the “aerosthetic lounge,” said Simon. “The top portion is the three-second answer. Bump into your editor-in-chief, and you say, ‘That’s our aerosthetic lounge. It’s aerodynamic, beautifully aesthetic, and it’s a lounge space’.

This hierarchy keeps the team aligned, captures the car’s essence in seconds, and ensures every choice supports the top-level vision.

It allows the team to expand on key attributes like proportion and seating layout without losing focus. It guides every project, from full vehicles to interiors and even steering wheel redesigns, keeping priorities clear and design intentional.

Hyundai IONIQ 9 Lounge. Image: Supplied

Customer-centric design

For Simon, great design starts with the customer. The IONIQ 9 was guided by a customer-centric approach. The team was challenged to understand how people live, use and experience their cars, then solve the problems they might not even articulate.

“Good design isn’t about styling for the sake of it. It’s about understanding the customer’s perspective, their lifestyle”, he explained.

“We don’t just sit and sketch. We follow the journey our customers take. Watching people shows you what really frustrates them and where things can be improved.”

This philosophy is evident in the vehicle’s smallest details. Simon pointed to the cup holder as an example.

“One of my biggest frustrations in cars is trying to get a coin out of the cup holder. It’s a universal annoyance. “In our Palisade, or any of our cars since, it’s now the easiest cup holder to get a coin out of. It’s a small detail, but it reflects our design mindset and how we solve hidden problems through design.”

The same approach shapes bigger design decisions, referencing the iterative process to perfect the vehicle’s proportions and silhouette.

“To achieve the aerodynamic efficiency we wanted, we had to adjust the vehicle’s height. It’s about collaboration, debate, and looking at the big picture. That process created a more efficient and distinctive profile that works for customers every day,” Simon said.

A statement in motion

The IONIQ 9 embodies what’s possible when designers speak up, challenge ideas, and work together to find the best solutions.

“It’s a collaboration. It’s open to ideas from anywhere. Everybody speaks up, shares points, asks questions, and keeps asking until you get a solution you can accept,” Simon explained, emphasising curiosity and questioning assumptions.

“It’s a bit of an ‘I’ mindset, like a five-year-old asking ’why’ over and over until you find a solution you can accept,” he added.

Even seemingly fixed targets, like the car’s height, were open to debate as the team kept asking, ‘Why?’ 

Early on, they realised that sticking to the original numbers would compromise aerodynamics. Through discussion, questioning, and weighing all inputs, they decided to raise the roofline, creating a more efficient and distinctive profile. It’s a clear example of how collaboration, curiosity, and accountability drive the best design outcomes.

By aligning exterior and interior design and focusing on the priorities set out in the design pyramid, Hyundai crafted a car where function and beauty are inseparable.

The IONIQ 9 combines sustainability, human needs, and visual impact. It’s striking in style yet practical in performance, with every detail serving customers and reinforcing brand identity.

Good Design Australia congratulates Hyundai for reimagining what’s possible in automotive design.