jordan katsianis automotive and industrial design folio
As you flick through this folio you will no doubt be asking yourself who is this guy and why does he feel he is good enough to be given this opportunity? Well you will hopefully see a process of thought and rationalisation through my projects, look at some sketches and see that although I have a very long way to go, I hopefully show at least a modicum of artistic promise and finally a
clear focus on my work and career ambitions. Something that may not be immediately clear, and a little different to other folio’s you will have been browsing through, is a passion and depth of knowledge when it comes to the car industry. My focus for this next step in my personal development has been my top priority during my introduction to the full time workforce over
the last two years, I feel ready to push on and take what will hopefully be a large step closer to fulfilling my goal of working within the automotive arena in the design, development or commentary of not only automobiles, but mobility, and the way we as a society get around in our increasingly futuristic society
Personal statement
This is where my car obsession started, a car magazine bought for me by my mum on a family trip to Europe as a 6 year old. Inside were not just the normal cars I would see back home in Australia, but weird wonderful and interesting machines like the Citroen XM, Plymouth Prowler and Chrysler 300M. The reason these cars would capture
personal journey
my interest were their shapes. Boxy and weirdly proportioned like the XM or curvy and low like the Chrysler, these cars all represented a new world for me which drove me to need to know everything to know about cars as a child. That obsessive nature is continued today, but has been channelled towards the design.. Once home, I came back to my uncle having purchased a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL and completely falling in love with it. Being a Mercedes-Benz of the era, its meticulous engineering and quality shone through to me even at that age. I loved the white plastic steering wheel and the heft of all of the switchgear. Also having now loved one magazine, it was my first issue of CAR, an imported
magazine in Australia which would start a lifelong car magazine collection. In this first issue I remember the Jaguar F-Type concept cover star, but also a funny little thing called an Audi A2 which utterly fascinated me with its shape now so recognised and for the time advanced Aluminium construction. In 2001 it was a performance car magazine Motor which revealed to me the clincher
that would hook me to the brand and vehicle type for good. The Audi RS4, a sly expression of German supercar engineering in a sober suit. It was from here I knew I wanted to not only design, but create new types of cars which appealed to people as much as this car appealed to me.
Project work
A future of private mobility in our cities is becoming more unlikely as ecological and exponential pressures change the notion of how we get in and around our population hubs. The growth in size and density of the largest international cities mean that a new framework of thinking in regards to the movement of people and
products around urban centers require a dramatic and profound new methodology to how we can integrate our requirement of mobility with an idea of self sufficient power generation. It has been my intention to look past the current methods of mobility in our cities and look at new ways the automobile can function in a sustainable
future, not just as a mode of transport, but a tool to be utilised in a more homogenous system of energy and mobility. When not in use, the automobile is essentially a giant power generator, but does not play any part in the generation of the electricity we use. By utilising this dual purpose we can investigate a more intelligent system
City Circle
technological rationalisation My
core idea for this project was the integration of using a non privately owned city based vehicle as a dual purpose machine to also utilise its powertrain as a static power generator. In creating a base for the vehicle to be housed in,
LH2
any time the vehicle is not in use it could be used to generate power for this base.As we move away from fossil fuels, my chosen route forward was the integration of a hydrogen fuel cell. One major constraint of this technology is the storage of
it’s liquid hydrogen. By installing a battery pack, the fuel cell would then only be used to power the batteries when at its home base negating the need for on board LH2 storage.
H2O
LH2 is stored in underground holders much like CNG to be into the vehicles fuel cell creating electricity with the only byproduct being water vapour
Through the fuel cell, City Circle will produce supplementary power for its ‘homebase’. When required for use, the car will then convert to EV mode and run off the integrated battery pack, itself automatically topped up when the car returns to its ‘homebase’ via the fuel cell
LH2 The groundwork for City Circle was the identification and rationalisation of a service system to help give the project context. In the mid term, congestion will be too great to carry private vehicles in cities with a very high population density,
What the reduction of private vehicles does is hamper are the industries which still rely on a flexible and reliable method of transport within as well as in and out of our major city centers. By providing a system to fuel the vehicles
as well as better utilise them when not in use, city circle represents a more efficient and effective way of mobilising and powering business within a crowded city center.
service system design
packaging development The package constraints were set by 2 main parameters which were the technical requirements of both its carbon tech chassis and hydrogen powertrain, as well as seating for four inside. The rationalisation for using a CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic) tub for the body is its ability to support a stiff and safe passenger cell whilst remaining relatively flexible to allow future modifications to the powertrain and body as technology progresses. Either side of the tub are extruded subframes, carrying the power and drivetrains as well as providing the crumple zones to the aid of passenger and pedestrian safety. As the powertrain does not center around a traditional and heavy IC engine, the subframes flexibility allows different propulsion options for different applications.
DEVELOPMENT SKETCHING
To contrast against its teutonic context that is the inner city, I decided to pursue a more organic shape paired with quite masculine and dramatic wheel arch extensions. These extensions not only help to direct airflow in
high speed applications but also help the driver place the wheels in real time whilst trying to negotiate tight urban spaces. The distinctive glass ‘Helmet’ aids visibility by reducing the pillars with through the use of high strength steel and carbon fibre, whilst details like lighting, all been hidden into the second class surfaces between the wheel arches and main body.
model development
I had multiple options when it came to the manufacturing of a 1:5 scale model, deciding eventually to employ a combination of 5 Axis CNC and 3D printing for the best result. After creating a set of solidworks CAD files for programming into the
robot arms, the wheels and wheel arch extensions were 3D printed and adhered afterwards. In order to complete the build, I had to hand finish the build before sending it off to be painted and refined.
City Circle was my thesis project and therefore needed to reprent the growth that I had made as a designer and a professional. Although it was a very tough experience I feel that it was a time in my life where I was truly passionate in my work and confirmed to me that I wish to continue to pursue
my goal to become a designer. As always with short term projects, I feel that there was definite improvements that I could have made along the way, but overall have no regrets regarding my decisions about the nature of my project.
electric share car initiative
SWIPE + DRIVE
The Swipe + Drive project was a collaborative project between Reva and RMIT university to embody and design an electric share car based on an upgraded version of the Reva G-Wizz platform and drivetrain. My role in the collaborative was to head a team tasked to create a solid technical package for the project as well as consult with the
exterior designers through the design process to ensure the design team adhered to the design brief in creating a small, but functional 2 person vehicle capable of both inner city as well an inter suburban driving. It was my extensive technical knowledge of the platform as well as a good understanding of the various safety and technical
regulations our car would need to reach in order to become a viable alternative to current expensive electric car share options available in the current marketplace. Through sets of technical drawings, I was able to give the design teams a detailed set of guidlines and benchmarks to attain to.
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to work from. As a vehicle designed for a specific market we had the ability to create a highly rational set of packaging to best incorporate our brief requirements. Once our packaging sets were drawn we could start refining the technical package to include reach, visibility and safety drawings.
MECHAN
The initial task was to survey the current G-Wizz’ platform to establish available dimensions so to begin a set of drawings. From here we referred back to our brief to start building a new platform and set of packaging dimensions to be given to the exterior design team. We experimented with scale mock up’s and creating a set of benchmarks
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The initial task was to survey the current G-Wizz’ platform to establish available dimensions so to begin a set of drawings. From here we referred back to our brief to start building a new platform and set of packaging dimensions to be given to the exterior design team. We experimented with scale mock up’s and creating a set of benchmarks
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The project was eventually presented to a panel including a one of Reva’s own designers, as well as a sustainable energy representative from the Australian Government and the transport minister for Melbourne. This project, although early in my degree, was a very helpful learning experience in the realities of designing a production car for market.
FoodLINK is a system serving the restaurant and cafe industry in Melbourne’s CBD. Based around the tram network, fresh produce, meats and seafood will be delivered to participating restaurants and cafes via the tram network in modified trams. These innovations conform to the changes being made in the city of Melbourne in the pursuit of a happier and more efficient CBD.
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The map shows the different streets able to be serviced by FoodLINK. As there is not a direct line from the Victoria Market to the streets running E/W the colour coding represents the serviceable streets within Melbourne’s CBD. To overcome this issue a swap over system has been integrated. Below a drawing of the redesigned trams with in-built ramps provide an example of how the units will be transported and distributed inside of the existing network
Autodesignblog was an idea of mine to begin a forum for expressing my initial thoughts about new cars as they get released to the media,.
the background that I do of automotive journalism and design, being able in car design. to combine my passions My blog is also a method together has been very for me to sharpen my rewarding up to this writing with theories point and aim to continue about the industry giants this to build up a strong and stories of great driving database and track my experiences no matter improvement in writing the car I was driving at the style in the months to time. come.
As someone who only see’s these cars through a computer screen and not a media launch, I thought it would be an interesting concept to write about It’s been an important my own opinions, having first foray into the world
Designers Intuition - according to the marketing department It was the fabulous Mies van der Rohe who – arguably – coined the term ‘the devil is in the detail’, and as a designer I know this to be critical, but when the automotive industries equivalent of Lord Frank Wright pens a new luxury saloon, generally the industry takes notice. Following on from the at first flawed, but eventually redeemed (post facelift) original XF, Ian Callum has been entrusted to continue the reinvention of Jaguar, with the second generation XF his latest offering. After seeing the cars on the road finally I have however started to take note of a violation of the devil mantra and picked a few details Mr Callum surely could not have condoned.
The overall design is indeed lovely. Sleek, but not polarising, distinctive, yet not obnoxious, its however a tiny little badge that – along with its XE brother – breaks what must be every designers cardinal rule. The lovely work the design team have done elongating the flank behind the front wheel with the subtle vent graphic, has for some reason been adulterated with a poorly sized, afterthought of a R-Sport badge. Now this is only a problem on such branded models, but having seen the sheer percentage of Mspor tlineSAMGRdesign rivals on the road, I fear that a pretty high proportion of future Jags will be stricken with this horrendous collapse of the design teams willpower against the marketing department.
To make matters worse, optional packages like the smartly named ‘Black pack’ seem to also be featuring on these cars, instilling trashy details like the replacement of a slick little chrome strip on the bootlid which played the role tricking the eye into widening the rear as it melted into the white space in the taillights, for a black plastic one, which makes a contrasting point of making the entire rear look 60% narrower than it actually is. This of course is only exaggerated once again by Jaguars odd placement of its dual exhaust pipes on bigger engined models. Its details like this along with their roll on effects that must irk designers like Callum into wanting to knife Gary in marketing.. So I beg designers from
the current flagship design studios, if you are wanting to make your cars ‘sporty’, or even just look sporty for Mark in accounting, do it properly and design something that doesn’t look like it has left the factory as a 3rd owned model now owned by a youth in Birmingham. Mr Callum, please make a deal with marketing that they will get their black boot trim if the accounting department allows you design another taillight with darker reverse and indicators, or redesign that little chrome (or black if they really must) vent to properly house a badge, not just screw it on top.
design exercise - Porsche 914 As our every day mobility needs keep pushing us towards alternative power means, the small petrol powered sports car will, I think, see a revival as a hobbyist product. Porsche, maker of the worlds best sports cars, has an opportunity to revive the iconic 914 into a small and lightweight sports car to fill this marketplace, appealing to enthusiasts as a low cost sports roadster.
When it comes to the design of a sports car I think the most important place to start is to establish a technical context for the vehicle. Using a nonturbocharged version of the 2.0 flat four in the 716 Boxster, along with a modified version of the same cars chassis, the new 714 will have a target weight of under one tonne, through the use of composite and aluminium. This less is more approach is something I wish to emulate in the design of the new 914.
design Inspiration
Porsche is very good at taking inspiration from past models to influence new ones. The core of the Porsche brand, the 911, is in constant evolution from its 1960’s original. I want to embody the same respect for the 914’s heritage while examining modern theme’s as well as taking idea’s from the various modified examples owners use for show and track.
These initial sketches are my basis of the design. Here you can see the clear design cue’s from the original 914, but here seen with more pleasing proportions. In keeping with the original I want the new car to also feature a removable hard top roof and the ability to use secondary surfaces below the main belt line to incorporate the use of different material use for different personalisation options and model variants.
In order to keep an eye on the packaging details, I quickly sketched up this rough packaging drawing to explain the layout and packaging in the new set of proportions. Also not yet set, the dimensions are to be benchmarked against other small roadsters like the Mazda MX-5 and the Fiat 124 Spider.
This sketch is closest to what I envisage for this car. I like the subtle simple surfacing and lack of a front grill graphic. As the engine is mid mounted, engine intake and cooling at the front is not such a big requirement, while the small amount of airflow required can be captured by a hidden intake under the front apron. In also removing any air
intakes along the flanks, I have been able to continue this pared back efficient aesthetic. The lighting signature hark back to the original utilising LED tech to miniaturise the units. I also have decided to black out the A pillars creating a wrap around effect, accentuating the perched roof and ‘shark fin’ b pillar.
These rear sketches are some of the other variations I have explored. Above I have looked at drawing inspiration from limited run high performance Porsche variants like the 1968 911 R. The offset central exhaust is also a hark back to the motor sport specials. In separating the body along the flank, there was the idea of continuing that around the rear of the car.
I wanted to utilise the later model 914 for inspiration for the interior design and layout. With central infortainment systems negating the need for so many of the traditional controls, I wanted to create a selection of swooping and diving sections of dashboard intersected with ribbons of metallic or carbon fibre materials.
Taking inspiration from the new 918 Spyder and the upcoming Panamera, the use of black glass touch capacitive controls and hidden screens with be used for the HVAC and Infotainment controls.
I also want to integrate auxiliary dials and readouts to these screens, including a round dial graphic as seen in the new Panamera.
quick design exercise - bmw 2+2 Coupe