Cadillac CELESTIQ UE5 Bespoke Configurator

Another Cadillac CELESTIQ post but this time, it’s the final form. Built in Unreal Engine 5, this is the Bespoke Luxury Configurator, designed to craft truly one-of-a-kind CELESTIQ vehicles for each client.

Over the past year and a half, I led and helped design Cadillac’s fully bespoke configurator for the all-electric CELESTIQ EV. Every possible configuration and design detail is accessible through this tool—from exterior paint colors down to the finest interior stitching. Whether a designer chooses to work within the predefined seven interior zones or prefers to customize each individual element, the configurator allows for complete creative control.

The CELESTIQ's customization palette includes over 100 paint finishes, 12 interior décor options, 10 color themes, four wheel types, and two metal finish options. The tool extends far enough to allow users to even create custom decors and interior colors—empowering clients to create a vehicle as unique as their vision.

During the development of this tool and working with the Concierge team hired by Cadillac to help design and sell the vehicle, I personally worked with over 45 high-profile clients to help design their one-of-a-kind CELESTIQ vehicles. I also created custom renders of each client's configuration, giving them a visual keepsake of their design while their physical car was scheduled for commission and build. It was an incredibly exciting and rewarding opportunity to lead and design such an innovative tool for Cadillac.

We produced a marketing video highlighting the core features of the configurator, many of which are showcased in this post—but the tool’s capabilities extend far beyond what’s seen here.

Key features include:
+Multiple dynamic camera viewing positions
+An automatic turntable for full vehicle rotation
+Real-time cinematics showcasing the current design
+Vehicle animations and lighting choreography
+Different background environments
+A powerful search function for all configuration options
+Save functionality for in-progress and completed builds
+Render outputs of both cinematic sequences and 8 predefined customer-facing angles
+Custom color and decor creation tools
+Plus a dozen of additional customization options for premium features.

This configurator was built to deliver both visual impact and seamless usability, ensuring clients can experience and refine their unique CELESTIQ design with total creative freedom. During the development of this tool, I led the art direction, defined the UX design, managed project coordination, and ensured product accuracy—all of which were essential to delivering a premium experience. I also created materials, lit and staged the vehicle, contributed to feature development, and worked directly with clients during design sessions. Every part of this process played a key role in shaping a tool worthy of the CELESTIQ name.

Together with co-designer Keith Takens, we designed and built the entire functionality of this tool from the ground up—tailored specifically to meet the unique demands of designing ultra-bespoke CELESTIQ vehicles. Keith lead a lot of the back end development of the tool, creating a solid list of features to truly bring this vehicle to life.

https://www.artstation.com/keithtakens

Other members apart of the development was Amanda Kopas who animated all of the moving pieces in the vehicle like the tray tables and Robert Rollans who scanned many of the real world material samples used to create many of the material shaders.

https://www.artstation.com/amandakopas
https://www.artstation.com/robrollans