Waymo CMF
Autonomous Automotive.
CMF designers shape a product’s visual identity and user experience through color, materials, and finishes. Beyond aesthetics, our team at Waymo elevated this process by integrating data-driven decision-making, utilizing tools such as spectrophotometers, gloss meters, wave scans, light booths, and digital microscopes to quantify and refine our material and color choices. By blending creativity with scientific analysis, we developed a distinctive, high-quality CMF strategy that embodies Waymo’s innovation and brand vision.
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Role: Color Material and Finish (CMF) Designer
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Team: Yi-Hui Bruce-Wen (Wolwold), Nadia Mkhitaryan, and Sabrina Nassar
Exterior Paint Development
Our goal was to develop a distinctive and recognizable color palette for Waymo's first fully electric vehicle, ensuring a strong visual identity. The color development process began in 2021, during a time of global uncertainty, leading us to draw inspiration from nature’s stability and resilience. By exploring natural hues that evoke tranquility and renewal, we crafted a palette that feels both inviting and enduring.
Capsule Collection
The Capsule Collection is a set of Waymo-inspired 3D forms designed to showcase painted color selections dynamically, helping us assess automotive paint flop under various conditions. Built from classic Waymo brand shapes, the Capsule Collection enhances our ability to make informed design decisions.
Waymo Blue Visual Tolerance
To address color tolerance challenges with a selected material, we explored how much flexibility we could allow within our specifications without compromising Waymo’s brand identity. This project was conducted in two stages: first, to refine or expand acceptable tolerances, and second, to identify solutions for yellowing and substrate aging. Through data-driven analysis and material testing, we aimed to ensure long-term color consistency and durability while maintaining Waymo’s high design standards.
