At ROBRADY, we’ve collaborated with Medallion once again to design a refined HMI for Bennington’s 2025 model boats. Building on over 20 years of setting standards in watercraft interfaces, our goal was to move beyond traditional analog-inspired design to deliver a digital-first, streamlined display that enhances Bennington’s luxury experience. We crafted a sleek interface that preserves the brand’s elegance while pushing the user experience to a new level of digital sophistication.
Embracing Digital Design Over Skeuomorphic Constraints
This upgrade marked a deliberate departure from analog-inspired aesthetics, as the interface transitions to embrace a fully digital layout. In our previous design, we leaned into a skeuomorphic representation, maintaining an analog feel. However, this time, we’ve left most of those stylistic choices behind, focusing instead on a distinctly digital aesthetic. Only the speedometer area retains a subtle nod to traditional designs, ensuring Bennington’s relentless attention to detail remains intact while also embracing a modern design aesthetic.
A Course Set by Collaboration
Bennington’s deep understanding of their customers guided every stage of the design process. Through close collaboration, we refined the interface from early wireframes to final prototypes, ensuring each iteration reflected real user feedback. This expertise resulted in an interface that not only meets but exceeds Bennington’s premium standards. By focusing on both user and brand needs, we’ve delivered a system that redefines what’s possible in marine interface design.
Custom Controls at Your Fingertips
The new interface includes both a 12-inch Main Display and a 7-inch Vessel Control touchscreen, offering flexibility to meet diverse user preferences. With an “always on display”, customizable screens, and full switching controls, we prioritized usability. Key visual enhancements like high-contrast themes and RGB lighting options enhance readability under varying conditions. The option to switch between light and dark modes further enables visibility in direct sunlight or at night, while the dark theme adds an automotive-inspired touch Bennington desired.
Bridging Tradition and Technology
A standout feature of this latest system is its adaptive mode functionality, tailored to both “running” and “floating” activities. Unlike traditional infotainment systems, the interface dynamically reconfigures based on the boat’s status, displaying essential controls and data with optimal clarity. When cruising, navigation and speed information are prioritized in “Running Mode.” While in “Float Mode,” the focus shifts to leisure and environmental controls. By fully utilizing the digital format, we’ve ensured that each screen layout provides a seamless, activity-oriented experience—enhanced by one-layer-deep navigation for quick, intuitive access to controls. This streamlined approach keeps essential features within reach, eliminating unnecessary steps. The result is an interface that has resonated deeply with Bennington and their customers, delivering both ease of use and a premium experience on the water.
Docking at the Cutting Edge
Our work with Bennington showcases how ROBRADY transforms complex technical requirements into user-friendly, visually compelling solutions. This project doesn’t just set a new standard for Bennington but also signals a broader evolution in the industry—one that embraces the digital frontier fully, leaving the analog constraints in the wake.