LAETITIA DE VIENNE CREATIVE COLOUR AND MATERIAL DESIGNER PROJECT LEADER
VOLVO STUDY NOVEMBER 2018
laetitiadevienne@free.fr (+44) 07400 320930 LEAMINGTON SPA UK
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VOLVO STUDY Volvo is a Human centred company “A brand for people who care about people”. Their engagement for the environment and people are the reasons why I chose to do this study. As an automotive company, they face a challenging future, where pollution is a problem that needs to be solved. People still need to travel but it doesn’t have to be compromising for our planet and our future
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With a Swedish cultural approach, Volvo created the program called OMTANKE , It means “caring” and “consideration” but also importantly ” to think again”. One of the key ambition is that at least 25% of all plastics in cars launched after 2025 will be made from recycled material. This is the most progressive statement around the use of recycled plastic by any premium automotive manufacturer.
THE RECYCLED-PLASTICS XC60
To demonstrate the viability of this ambition, the company has unveiled a specially-built version of its XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid SUV that looks identical to the existing model, but has had several of its plastic components replaced with equivalents containing recycled materials.
Here is 3 of their principles: 1 MILLION ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES BY 2025
From 2019, they will be offering a choice of an electric or hybrid engine on each car. They aim for electric cars to make up 50 per cent of their sale by 2025.
NO ONE SHOULD BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A VOLVO CAR BY 2020
Zero collision policy, intelligent assistance, auto brake, Volvo is moving forwards. Their cars are evolving into semi-autonomous vehicles for people security on the road. This approach is a good way to prepare customers to autonomous vehicle
HEALTHY AIR
All Volvo car filter the air coming into the car thanks to multiple filters reducing the levels of dust, pollen and other particles. Can we help the air inside and outside to be cleaner by reducing the emission we produce to create our cars? Could our materials be rejecting less VOC(Volatile organic compound)?
The special XC60’s interior has a tunnel console made from renewable fibres and plastics from discarded fishing nets and maritime ropes. On the floor, the carpet contains fibres made from PET plastic bottles and a recycled cotton mix from clothing manufacturers’ offcuts. The seats also use PET fibres from plastic bottles. Used car seats from old Volvo cars were used to create the sound-absorbing material under the car bonnet.
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THE VOLVO XC 40 To continue exploring the possibilities in term of materials and conception, I chose to work on the Volvo XC40. This car Is already a step forward on the technologies and services offered and is a good platform for exploration. Here are some of the key features offered. YOUR CO-DRIVER
A SPACE TO ENJOY
Is your co-pilot, It can identify, warn and brake for you if a collision is imminent with CITY-SAFETY. If there’s crossing traffic when you reverse out of a parking space, Cross Traffic Alert warns you PILOT- ASSIST is a driver assistance feature, with Adaptive Cruise Control. It means you get gentle steering support to help keep the car centred in its lane and at a set speed or distance from the car in front.
Craftsmanship and carefully selected materials create a unique feeling each time you enter the cabin. Made from 100% recycled material, the textile interior mats of the XC40 combine modern style with sustainability.
ALWAYS CONNECTED
A SPACE TO SHARE
With the app, you are always connected to your car. Find where it’s parked, control cabin temperature, lock and unlock remotely. Should you be involved in an accident, a Volvo On Call operator automatically contacts you to arrange assistance.
Sharing is the way forward, to preserve resources and experience the rewards of more connected, sustainable lifestyles. The XC40 features an innovative system that lets you remotely share your car for a set period. Leave it at the airport and let your friend use it for the weekend, saving you the parking fee.
In-Car Delivery saves you time by using the connectivity of the XC40 to allow online shopping to be delivered to the trunk of your car while it’s parked.
Natural light from the panoramic roof, a comfortable seat, clean air and ambient LED-lighting are just some of the features for you to enjoy the space.
Innovative car sharing opens up a world of possibilities – it means that a friend or colleague can access or borrow your car, wherever you are and wherever your car is. It’s connected thinking for a connected world. SIMPLIFYING YOUR LIFE
The car tech features are designed to make your life easier, to remove day-to-day hassles. They let you stay connected, help you park the car with the 360 camera, charge your phone wireless and so much more.
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INSPIRATION OFFER MORE WITH LESS
Consumers are always trying to tailor their products to their needs and taste. That’s how modern life works with fast technology, on-demand services and the possibility to have things quickly. We talked previously about sustainability and change the way we produce. In fact, this is where the paradoxe is. How to offer the personalisation to the customer when automotive brands currently have huge complexity. Car makers often end up putting components directly into landfill or recycling because the colour option was not as popular as predicted. How to reduce this proliferation without compromising the customer options. How to continue to offer a good choice to the customer without compromising the economy to our planet and production? Play with modularity and reduction of parts is a good way to reduce complexity and be more efficient.
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PROJECT GOOGLE ARA (CONCEPT)
About three years ago, the Ara team developed a concept design that reimagined the smartphone as a series of smaller, LEGOstyle bricks that could be attached, rearranged, and swapped out in seconds. The logic was borrowed from the high-end PC market, where various aspects of the computer can be changed endlessly in lieu of replacing the whole package every couple of years. This concept was too ambitious and expensive. It has been stopped in 2018 We can learn from it that with too much complexity this idea is not viable, the offer of customisation needs to be limited.
THE GRID BY STUDIO POOL
Studio POOL designed a modular, Bauhaus-inspired collection of seating for French brand Petite Friture. The GRID contract series includes various modules – two-seat sofa, armchairs, corner armchairs, chairs, a stool, and a coffee table – that can be arranged into all kinds of configurations to suit just about any lobby, reception area, office space, and even residential situations. It’s designed to allow as many or as few components to go together as needed for the space.
THE CONCEPT For the Volvo study the idea is to play with innovative materials and technologies to create a semi-modular interior for the 2030’s XC40. Based on 2 fixed interior environments, the customer will be able to choose packs from a predefined colour palette. The coloured pieces will only be created and implemented in the car when requested by the customer when it is ordered. Production wise, no need for extra tools, new printing technologies will be used.
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MIDNIGHT BLACK BASE Offered Environments as standard, this dark environment is deep, rich As component and modern. saving The there materials is onlyoffer 2 environments a large range ofavailable texture and to the hapticcustomers. to highlight However, the shapes someand make parts theareinterior inter-changeable more welcoming. to create unique interiors suitable for everyone
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3D knit made from whool fibres and reccycled plastic bottle
Kvadrat Textile minimalist and modern high quality textie
Light Brushed Aluminium for a technical feel
3D printed PLA
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POLAR GREY PREMIUM A light environment for a minimalist and refreshing interior. Materials have been selected with care to meet high standard quality and create a Scandinavian inspired space..
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Semi Aniline leather for an authentic premium interior
Kvadrat Textile for a unique home feel.
Linen Oak wood
3D printed PLA
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MATERIALS The the the use
materials have been chosen to be better for environment in any way. It can be, to reduce energy footprint, reduce the amount of waste, less chemicals and be more authentic.
KVADRAT TEXTILE Contemporary high quality textile. The yarns of this textile has been made from the everyday common plastic bottle. Kvadrat made strong sustainaibility statements, they also use textile waste.
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3D KNIT
3D-knitting uses computer-controlled machines to knit fibres into complex, seamless shapes based on a digital design. Compare to normal trim methods, there is no waste production as you weave the exact amount of textile needed. It’s ecologic, economic, lightweight and can be produced.
3D PRINTING
By making some parts using 3D print technology. We can save money on tooling, launch quicker. Also saving storing capacity by saving data instead of piling stock. Just build on demand. It’s a solution for customisation and it allows to create lightweight structures. Environmentally, PLA (polylactic acid) is one of the best options. It’s a thermoplastic that can be easily melted down and moulded. It’s a bioplastic derived from renewable materials such as corn, sugarcane, or tapioca. PLA is not without its issues, true, but unlike other plastics, it’s not based on petroleum and requires less energy to produce. It’s compostable via commercial composting outfits, Also, It releases fewer irritating fumes than other plastics when the 3D printer is doing its thing.
SMART TECHNOLOGIES (possibility of integration on the interior) Integrating some key elements of the interior as switches, or button could be a design uplift as well as a simplification of the design.
SEMI-ANILINE LEATHER Compared to entry range leathers, the semi-aniline leather is a premium leather produced and finished with care and fewer chemicals. which means less VOC rejected in the car. The surface is also softer, with a dryer haptic.
@ GRIST
THE CUSTOMISATION Using the 3D print technology, some key parts of the interior can be changed on demand as an option when ordering the vehicle. Inspired by electronic product design and Scandinavian home decoration only two colours are available. Teal Blue and Coral red. It is also possible to swap the black and white available as standard.
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TEAL BLUE
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CORAL RED
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We’ve previously seen two examples of modular design; The Google ARA Project and The Grid. Both allow personalisation but only the Grid project, comprising fewer parts, was commercially viable, showing that there is a balance to be achieved between complexity and flexibility. My XC40 based project has been designed on Volvo values, with a minimalist approach and ‘human centred’ philosophy, allowing each individual to feel at home, demonstrating Volvo’s commitment to the ‘Omtanke’ principles of a more sustainable future. The geometry shown here represents the current car. Obviously, to fully realise the philosophy, the interior needs to be designed to allow the integration of the modular parts and a reduction in total number of components. The key technology is 3D printing, which is not yet present in production cars. It is a smarter, more ecological approach to creating products that are differentiated and personal to the customer. Less waste, more recycled content and personalisation is under control. This business-led approach, which balances personalisation with ecology and efficiency, can be applied to any manufacturer and to vehicles at all prices. It just needs to be integrated into the design brief from the start as a philosophy of ‘one design centred around Humans’
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