Inside MINI's circular OLED: design, identity and usability
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Learn how MINI's circular OLED, co-created by BMW Designworks and Android-based, blends heritage with usability while tackling third-party app integration.
MINI has detailed the creation of its circular OLED interface, now the signature visual centerpiece of the brand’s latest models. The interface was developed by Designworks together with BMW. According to interactive design director Matthew Potter, the team initially explored 3D graphics and complex elements, then deliberately simplified the concept to preserve the spirit of the original MINI with its central round instrument. The result reads as a confident nod to heritage.
Adrian van Hooydonk noted that development ran in parallel with BMW’s curved display, but for MINI the decision was to retain the circular form as part of the brand’s identity. After the interface shifted to Android, broader customization became possible; one of the key challenges, however, has been integrating third‑party apps within a round canvas without eroding the signature aesthetic. The choice underscores how design and usability had to be balanced carefully.
Designers say shaping the visual character required a precise equilibrium between emotion and convenience. The circular OLED emerged as a unique solution not seen at other brands. For buyers who judge a car by how well its technology supports its personality, this approach is likely to resonate.
