new tricks for an old pony - a screen that doesn't look like one

new tricks for an old pony - a screen that doesn't look like one

I wanted to bring modern functionality to my 1965 Ford Mustang without making it look like I'd installed a modern screen. So I built a custom e-ink system that disguises a single digital display as two vintage instruments, designed to blend into the car's original wood and chrome interior.

A single push-and-twist knob controls everything, from a clock and album art to photos and eventually live engine data. A companion iOS app extends the experience, with an interface designed to feel like reaching into the dashboard rather than opening a utility app.

The project also became an experiment in AI-assisted engineering: how far could I take a product from concept to working hardware with AI as a development partner? The result combines a Raspberry Pi, custom electronics, Python, Swift, and 3D-printed components—all designed and prototyped by me, with AI writing the code and this mechanical engineer directing the show.


2026 - in progress

ROLES

  • Product & Interaction Design

  • Industrial Design & 3D Printing

  • AI-Assisted Engineering (Python, Swift)

  • Electronics & Hardware Prototyping

  • iOS App Design

SCOPE

Design and build a dynamic display for a vintage convertible that feels original to the car, stays readable in direct sun, runs on its own in a car's electrical environment, and is controlled by a single knob — with a companion app for the moments you need more.

PLATFORMS

  • Car dash

  • Raspberry Pi + eInk

  • iOS


PLATFORMS

  • Car dash

  • Raspberry Pi + eInk

  • iOS

OUTCOME

A working system on final hardware: six display modes, knob control with 1–2 second refreshes, background music sync from Apple Music, and a native companion app. In-car installation, ignition-aware power, and engine data are next.

dynamic information without the black rectangle.

A glowing tablet on a '65 dash breaks the spell instantly. In a convertible, it's worse: with the top down, sun washes backlit screens out. I wanted music, time, photos, and engine data without anything that looked or behaved like a modern screen.

an instrument, not a screen.

The '65 dash is a row of round chrome gauges, so anything new should read as one more. It should reflect light, hold still, answer to a knob, and look factory-original when the car is off.

01 / Make it feel like it came with the car.


PROBLEM
Backlit screens look unmistakably modern behind chrome and wood grain, and they wash out in direct sun.

SOLUTION
One e-ink panel sits behind two chrome-bezeled cutouts, reading as two separate instruments on the center console compartment door. E-ink reflects light like paper, so it's easiest to read in full sun. It also holds its image at zero power: parked, the pony logo stays on like a dashboard badge.

02 / One knob that does everything


PROBLEM
Anything that asks for attention while driving is a liability.

SOLUTION
The system runs behind the scenes. Music follows from the phone in your pocket, and the clock keeps itself current. The only control is a push-and-twist knob: turn to change modes, and on rare occasion, push to refresh.

02 / One knob that does everything


PROBLEM
Anything that asks for attention while driving is a liability.

SOLUTION
The system runs behind the scenes. Music follows from the phone in your pocket, and the clock keeps itself current. The only control is a push-and-twist knob: turn to change modes, and on rare occasion, push to refresh.

03 / Built for the road, and the garage


PROBLEM
Cars cut power without warning, can't have their batteries drained, and offer no monitor when something breaks.

SOLUTION
The power-management system is designed to wake with the ignition, sleep when parked, and eventually shut down completely to protect the battery.

04 / A companion app worth opening


PROBLEM
You rarely need an app for a car accessory, and when you do, it feels like configuring a router.

SOLUTION
The app is optional, so the moments you open it should feel like reaching into the dash: the car's own dash as the background, a simulated e-ink display, map-light highlights on selections, and a Mustang-style pull knob with haptic clicks.

05 / In and out with a couple of screws

PROBLEM
Custom electronics in a classic car usually mean permanent modifications and tangled wiring.

SOLUTION
The system lifts out as one unit: one wire pack, two screws. The slim 3D-printed mount uses minimal fasteners, hides all of them, and keeps the memory card reachable for updates.

06 / Built to grow


PROBLEM
Hobby projects become dead ends when every new idea needs a rebuild.

SOLUTION
A simple one-knob system that cycles through modes leaves room for future features, like reading data from the car's fuel injection system. And the industrial design prioritizes ease of assembly and disassembly, making it simple to swap out components any time.

BUILDING WITH AI: from product requirements to working hardware

I'm a designer, product manager, and mechanical engineer, not an embedded developer. AI made this possible, but I enjoyed running it like a product team, not a vibe-coding session, and my knowledge of software engineering principles allowed me to fill in the gaps.

Requirements first
Acceptance criteria for every mode and behavior, kept as the source of truth.

Decisions on record
A running log of why, including rejected alternatives.

Review and verify
AI code reviews caught a crash loop and two threads fighting over the display. Every component was tested on hardware, and I corrected the AI when its advice didn't match my bench.

iOS app built in Swift, Raspberry Pi in Python

Outcome & Learnings


Lucille runs on final hardware with six modes, knob and app control, and music that follows from my pocket. In-car installation and engine data are next.

It reinforced a belief: the best technology disappears into the object it serves. And with AI as a partner and real product discipline, one designer can get from sketch to a working, multi-platform product.

Next Steps


  • Carve openings in steel door

  • Mount the system

  • Connect it to power and DRIVE

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