Royal College of Art Vehicle Design course Yearbook 2015 by RCA Vehicle Design

Royal College of Art

2015 vehicle design

Published by

Baron Books of Buckingham

for the Royal College of Art Editor Clive Birch Photographs by Tony Lien; student montage by Mark Hinton Cover by Gareth Rees Origination by Academic + Technical Typesetting, Bristol Printed and bound by Latimer Trend & Co Ltd, Plymouth

© Royal College of Art All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of Baron Books Any copy of this book issued by the publishers as clothbound or as paperback is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on a subsequent publisher. ISBN 978 0 9566287 8 7

Contents Change and challenge – Professor Dale Harrow The learning experience A world of talent The class of 2015 Postgraduate photocall Terra Nova – with Land Rover The good times The team of 2015 Worthy of note Power-breaker – with Zyngo

3 4 5 6 52 54 62 64 65 66

The Year of the Bus – Clive Birch User Research: driverless cars – Stephen Boyd Davis ReRun© – Sheila Clark Car club design – Jae-Seung Roe Using auto archives – Helen Evenden Messing about with boats – Cindy Charwick Pleasing Cities, Busy Hum – Guy Colborne Travels fastest alone – Matthew Humphries The view ahead – Pilkington Index

68 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88

Professor Dale Harrow discusses

Change and challenge The world of design is changing. Business and government recognises the role of design, and academe nurtures a cross-disciplinary matrix, as design becomes more and more holistic. Commerce and culture combine to achieve sustainable futures economically and socially. Movement design is in the forefront of new strategies. Design both stimulates and resolves contemporary challenge. RCA vehicle design faces a future of rapidly escalating change, with digital interface, autonomous vehicles, organic materials and alternative powertrains demanding attention. The car industry dominates manufacture, invades new markets and demands design excellence. At the same time, society seeks new solutions for personal mobility and vehicle designers seek wider horizons. Political and economic realities impose new models on academic provision. RCA vehicle design has responded to those needs, across a wider spectrum of movement in public and personal transport. Research, industry partnerships, project models encompass road, rail, air and water transport. At the same time, movement design attracts students from all five continents and widely differing societies, and in greater numbers than ever before, to study with each other in a cosmopolitan culture, across a wide range of design opportunities. The RCA vehicle design programme operates within a School of five disciplines, and works closely with other programmes across the College, especially with service, textile and communications. At the same time, the programme is served by a well‑established departmental team drawn from interior,

exterior, communications and related design disciplines, supplemented by visiting tutors and lecturers from a broad spectrum of expertise within academe and from industry, commerce, the professions and government. The programme also works closely with the Helen Hamlyn Design Centre, with its focus on inclusive design, health and all-age ability, and with major institutions. Major automotive projects provide a platform for student enquiry and development while staff, research associates and doctorate students engage in major government research, design and development process. Development continues on the national ambulance project, and with the future London low-emissions taxi, while the programme is one of the principal players in the government’s major research exercise into the future of autonomous vehicles. Other areas of enquiry include public transport behavioural patterns and the impact of communications design on volume movement of people and goods. Research graduates are investigating the history of automotive craft, styling and design, the opportunities and development of carshare modes of urban transport, and the application of new metals and other materials to multi‑modal mobility. Change is endemic to design, its rationale and its outcome. The challenge for today’s design world is to direct change rationally, economically and socially without losing the passion that informs and excites tomorrow’s design leaders. RCA vehicle design is committed to those objectives, and to that passion. 3

The learning experience Many and varied are the targets of the post-graduate designers of tomorrow’s means of movement and mobility, whether cars, trains, buses or bikes, boats, planes or as yet unimagined devices. Most hold the car in their initial sights as the target of their endeavours, and many will indeed find their future in the motor industry, but more and more see opportunity in other modes of transport, in related fields, in transport infrastructure, teaching, experimentation. And futures vary from specialism in interiors to studio teamwork, small specialist studios, design development, the variety of freelance work. The learning experience at the RCA enables this breadth of ambition and direction. Graduates stem from diverse backgrounds in automotive, product or industrial design, architecture, transport engineering, and a minority step over from apparently unrelated disciplines, such as fine art or medicine. The common factor is a fascination with personal mobility coupled with a desire to change the world. These designers care. The cross-disciplinary approach through staff, industry experts, other programmes, and through lectures, gateway visits, seminars and workshops, stimulates and strengthens the learning experience. Above all, students reinforce each others’ ideas through the diversity of their widely differing experiences and cultures. This international interface is one of the greatest strengths of the programme, a lasting influence on their learning and their careers. Here lifelong friendships are forged between masters of their craft. Gone are the days when every vehicle designer dreamt of designing the next supercar, though there will always be those who have the imagination and skill to do so. Tomorrow’s design leaders are driven by social responsibility, market awareness and the desire to find better ways and means. That does not preclude imagination and the flair for creative thinking remains as ingrained as ever in this generation of literal movers and shakers. 4

Where once vehicle design often flew off the radar into realms of sci-fi and fantasy, armed now with digital tools to visualise the impractical, and an increasing and accelerating array of hitherto unimaginable options presented by science and technology, its practitioners project the imaginable with flair and precision. They do so primarily through the balanced menu of projects, partnered or tutor-led. That means working with progressive but long-established motoring organisations like the RAC, London’s multi-modal transport operation, major carmakers like Fiat or LandRover, entrepreneurial electric car makers, global trainmakers like Hitachi, or franchised manufacturers of global brands. Vehicle design offers students an unparalleled interface with experience and expertise. Vehicle design offers three pathways – Automark, Urban Flow and Inside Out, each with its own focus, yet all integrated and non-exclusive, reflecting student preferences. Automark looks to global markets, brand identity and consumer. Urban Flow examines infrastructure, systems and typologies. Inside Out majors on materials and methods, with an emphasis on interiors. Overall the pathways enquire user experience and expectation, respect operational criteria and interpret markets. At the core of the programme lies an opportunity to choose an issue, research it, develop a narrative of discovery and direction, and use this to underpin a personal project with which to complete two years of design study, professional practice and personal development. Throughout the post-graduate year, there are opportunities to enter competitions, seek bursaries, achieve special placements, have work displayed externally. At the heart of the programme a dedicated team of professionals leads the pathways and the projects, guides and advises every student, and shares the learning experience with pride and with passion.

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Automark

Bo Pan

China

Further education 2011 BA Industrial Design, Taiyuan Technology University

Work experience 2013 Graphic Designer in ZhengBang, co, China

To me, vehicle design is not just a profession or a job, it is No. 1 passion for my whole life. My dream is to design lots of cars for people to love and use. Also, I believe that car design has huge potential due to the development of new power and material technologies. People say that car design is always the same, but I see the future of car design could be hugely different, interesting and colourful.

Contact email: p anbo1225@gmail.com bo.pan@network.rca.ac.uk Wechat: panbo1225 mobile: +44 (0)7835 218688

Automark

Ting-An Chen

Taiwan

Further education 2009 BA, industrial design, Shih Chien University

Work experience 2012 Cre8 Design, industrial designer 2011 R.O.C Army, supply sergeant

Achievements 2013 Land Rover Terra Nova, final team selected 2014 Salon Privé, concours of the future, selected

Project JTM: Affordable future by weaving What is the true meaning of massproduction if only certain people can afford/ enjoy the products? The inevitable future we are facing needs a stronger answer to ensure vehicles are affordable and enjoyable for our younger generation. Will this ‘new production method’ be the answer?

Contact email: AngusChen.TC@gmail.com mobile: +44 (0)7923 295152

Automark

Alex FernĂĄndez

Spain

Further education 2010 BA industrial design, Eina UAB

Work experience 2013 Magma Design 2012 Integral Design & Development 2009 G56

Achievements 2014 EVO G-TR of the future, finalist

Environmental impact is the single biggest challenge for the auto industry. A paradigm shift has yet to take place, so that sustainability becomes paramount and consumers demanding it become the norm. However, the tools to accomplish thisÂ still need to be designed and deployed. How would technology shape the values of such a hopeful future? Which attributes of luxury would remain and which would be reformulated upon such a paradigm shift?

Contact email: alex.fernandez@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7527 143252

Automark

Simon Haynes

Further education 2012 Majenta Alias Academy 2010 BA Automotive Design, Swansea Metropolitan University

Work experience 2014 RECARO GmbH & Co. KG, intern 2013 SWIFT Group Ltd, designer

Achievements 2014 Zyngo Power-breaker, Automark Winner Salon Privé, concours of the future, runner-up EVO GT-R of the future, 2nd Place

No Infrastructure Needed As the world becomes more urbanised, what happens to people who do not live in the world’s cities? This is a relief vehicle for places that do not have viable infrastructure for manufacture. It is also a study into reforming the manufacturing process of vehicles, and looking into new manufacturing processes like ‘4D Printing’, examining how this will affect the design.

Contact email: simonphaynes@gmail.com mobile: +44 (0)7584 372662

Automark

Tom Henwood

United Kingdom

Further education 2010 BA Automotive Design, Swansea Metropolitan University

Work experience 2015 LWE Hyperion, designer 2014 Initial sketch phase for new London taxi project

Achievements 2014 Zyngo Power-breaker, best overall design EVO G-TR of the future, winner 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed, exhibitor ¼ scale model

In a world so dictated and controlled by our electronic devices, and the electric car becoming ever more viable, what will it take to inject the future ‘battery heads’ with a mechanical fascination and start to create a personalised vehicle to escape the daily grind? By pushing people to use their 3D printers to build their own cars, a tangible connection is created from Day One.

Contact email: Tom.henwood@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7738 668117

Automark

Daniel Jung

Republic of Korea

Further education 2012 BSc Industrial Design, Yonsei University, Korea BSc Housing & Interior Design, Yonsei University, Korea

Work experience 2011 Hyundai Motors Group, Architecture Design, Korea Eyetag (Exclusive Distributor of Impossible for Korea), camera device design

Achievements 2014 Future City Mobility, museum exhibitor

Liquid Today The world is being filled with invented objects, inspired by new technologies. Markets and people keep longing for novel and unique objects. Also their desire depends on a constantly changing society. This project is about studying how people will enjoy the benefits of personal transport in a future flooded city. Rising sea levels, caused by climate change, will lead a new type of transport in many cities.

Contact e-mail: liquidtoday@gmail.com mobile: +44 (0)7541 920253

Automark

Jung-Yul Lee

Republic of Korea

Further education 2011 MA Transportation Design, Kookmin Univ 2007 BA Industrial Design, Konkuk University, Korea

Work experience 2011 Shoe design, Erchos Ltd., Korea

Achievements 2015 Land Rover Terra Nova, final team selected

Expression for Personalization â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;All members of society should have free will to express themselvesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Mass production of cars was started by Ford in 1908. In the future, if carmakers establish standard platforms, many other parts would change, and so would manufacture, to satisfy a desire for personalisation. Consumers might change their own car designs in their garages, like changing their clothes. This is not simple customising but, through immediate interaction, would reflect innovative design.

Contact email: jung-yul.lee@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7761 177230

Automark

Gareth T.W. Rees

Wales

Further education

2009 BA Automotive Design, Swansea Metropolitan University

Work experience 2014 Land Rover, exterior design 2013 Sky Sports, broadcast design 2011 Tinopolis, graphic design

Achievements 2014 Coachmakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Company bursary, shortlisted 2008 Targa Rodolfo Bonetto, 1st place

Element: Self-sustainable Work Vehicle With an ever-growing world population, our food and energy demands will put increased stress and dependence on agriculture. Element explores the future of farming, a biotech inspired work vehicle, fully automated and self-sustainable. Considering possible advancements in anaerobic digestion technology, autonomous systems and new materials, the concept looks to challenge the perception of farming through design, branding and user-interface management.

Contact email: gareth.rees@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7446 026094

Inside out

Cal Craven

Ireland

Further education 2011 BDes 1st class Honours, Industrial Design, National College of Art & Design (NCAD) 2010 Product Design, Student Exchange, Escola Superior Artes E Design (ESAD)

Work experience 2012 Co-founder, Vapour Studios 2011 Co-founder, CurveCreative Design Consultancy World Economic Form Global Shaper

Achievements 2014 Hitachi Deep Tube, finalist 2006 National Pro Tennis Ranking of 12 in Ireland

Low emission luxury exploration yacht 2027 The mega-rich still desire mega-yachts but, with environmental restrictions and the desire for socially conscious luxuries, how will the industry adapt? This, yacht owners becoming more covert, and aspiring to exploration, rather than sipping champagne in marinas, suggests a new breed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a super-yacht designed for extreme conditions, giving something to the environment and to society.

Contact email: cal.craven@network.rca.ac.uk/calcraven.com mobile:+35 3874 130519

Inside out

Yihui Guo

China

Further education 2013 BA Industrial Design, South China University of Technology, Guangdong, China

Work experience 2014 Guangzhou Automotive Group, intern

Achievements 2015 Land Rover Terra Nova, final team selected 2014 Zyngo Power Breaker, pathway winner SAIC Roewe-MG Cup Design Competition, Global Top 20 winner

Trumpchi2030 This interior proposal is designed for the 2030 GAC Trumpchi sports car. Targeting at Chinese generation Z, by redesigning the classic rumble seat, the interior will not only bring the sporty using experience to all the users, but also create an intimate atmosphere.

Contact email: yihui.guo@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7707 090471

Inside out

Florian Kainz

Austria

Further education 2013 BA Industrial Design, University of Applied Arts, Vienna

Work experience 2014 Citroën, Paris, exterior designer 2013 Sennheiser , Zurich, designer 2012 Magna Steyr, Graz, advanced design

Achievements 2014 Land Rover Terra Nova. selected final team Salon Privé, concours of the future, 2nd prize Hitachi Deep Tube, 3rd prize

LIMBO – Last Journey Dying – the great sin of the 21st century. Barricaded behind our own constructs of science, wealth and freedom, in western cultures we somehow tend to forget what is actually a natural part of life itself. What does DEATH mean in a society of constant progress and lack of time?

Contact email: florian.kainz@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7462 032303 +43 6641141968

Inside out

Tony Lien

Taiwan

Further education 2010 BA, Industrial Design, Huafan University,Taiwan

Work experience 2012 Ra Hwa Group, Publisher, Taiwan: designer 2010 AIM Studio, Taiwan, Industrial: interior designer

Achievements 2015 Land Rover Terra Nova, selected final team 2014 Salon PrivĂŠ, concours of the future, finalist Future City Mobility, museum exhibitor

Simplicity meet Passion Simplicity is not just about being simple. It is a process to reduce complexity. Music is a source of inspiration and expression, visualising the bow of a violin and documenting each movement as the music progressed. During the composition it was important for me to focus on the passion of the piece. The aim is to use this method to develop a new styling aesthetic.

Contact email: tony.lien@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7857 492893

Inside out

Kym Moorhouse

United Kingdom

Further education 2012 BA Transport Design, University of Huddersfield

Work experience 2014 Tata Motors, UK: intern 2013 Land Rover, UK: intern 2012 Reforma Automotive, UK: designer (threeÂ years)

Achievements 2014 Fiat Two of a Kind Project, winner Coachmakers Companybursary, finalist 2013 Sabic VisiCon, 2nd team

Ethical Design: Out of Sight, Out of Mind: In a future where government leaders will call for greater ethical manufacture processes and fair trade standards on products, how will the automotive industry react to such a shift in legislation? This project showcases a three, ten and twenty year proposal for the resulting change.

Contact email: kym.moorhouse@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7885 627932

Inside out

Dr Farhana Safa

United Kingdom

Further education 2005 MBBS, Medicine & Surgery, King’s College London 2002 BSc, Psychology, King’s College London

Work experience 2014 Pininfarina, Italy: intern Jaguar Advanced Design, UK: intern 2005 Medical doctor & eye surgeon (six years)

Achievements 2014 Salon Privé, concours of the future, 1st prize Coachmakers Company bursary, finalist 2012 Lamborghini Uncovered competition, 1st prize

The future of design methodology Kinesis is a concept design tool allowing designers to sculpt and feel design with a non-virtual 3D process. Using a liquid metal that shifts shape when a current is applied, ‘electro-sculpting’ promotes exploration of forms, producing unified structures and surfaces. The resulting design language faithfully reflects motion with a cascade of connected forms, where interior and exterior are seamlessly united.

Contact email: farhana.safa@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7956 984891

Inside out

Yibo Wu

China

Further education 2013 BSc Automotive Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing

Work experience 2014 Hitachi Design, Tokyo, intern 2013 Shanghai VW Design, intern

Achievements 2014 Zyngo Power-Breaker, pathway wionner 2012 GM-Patac CDN Design Competition, finalist Volkswagen PCP Design Competition, finalist

In this final project I am challenging the autonomous car, the next milestone for the vehicle industry. As a designer, I want to look into the passengersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; behaviour and find some interesting differences in a car that drives itself.

Contact email: yibo.wu@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7425 352282

Inside out

Young Han Yoon

Republic of Korea

Further education 2011 BA Industrial Design, Yonsei University, Korea

Work experience 2014 Hitachi Design Tokyo, High Speed Train interior

Achievements 2014 Hitachi Deep Tube 1st Prize

London has the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first underground system, and it is reaching its capacity. The challenge is to provide new solutions. How to achieve comfort in such a fixed area? What if the train interior adapts and morphs to provide maximum space? How can you be connected to the outside when underground? One development will show an outcome that works harmonically within the current underground structure.

Contact email: younghan.yoon@rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7447 037823

Urban flow

Sepehr Amirseyedi

Iran

Further education 2013 BA Automotive Design , Coventry University

Work experience 2014 Karsan Automotive, intern

Achievements 2014 Zyngo Power-breaker, pathway winner Land Rover Terra Nova, final team selected 2013 CarDesignNews 2013, featured in Year Book.

“Innovation is a process that changes the value systems of both producers and adopters”. The further the concept of mobility departs from driving, factors related to driving become less and less relevant. Consequently qualities such as powertrain, handling and acceleration will no longer count towards judging the value of a vehicle. With which factors will the consumers and producers of tomorrow judge the value of autonomous vehicles?

Contact email: Sepehr.amirseyedi@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7736 942693

Tianqin Bao

China

Further education 2013 BA Automotive Design, Coventry University

Work experience 2014 Bentley, intern

Achievements 2014 Zyngo Power-breaker, pathway winner

Design a moving device by using vehicleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old components, as a declaration on elimination of disposable consumerism.

Contact email: TQBAO@HOTMAIL.COM mobile: +44 (0)7796 021351

Urban flow

Ye Dai

China

Further education 2005 BA Transportation Design, Academy of Art & Design, Tsinghua University

Work experience 2013 Shanghai Volkswagen, Design Studio, exterior designer (five years) 2011 Skoda Design Studio, exterior designer 2008 Shanghai Volkswagen, Design Studio, digitalÂ modelling engineer (three years)

Achievements 2014 Land Rover Terra Nova, selected final team 2013 RAC Future Car Challenge, winner

Autonomous cars are driven through various sensors that allow their continual adjustment, even at night, so current automotive lamps would become irrelevant. What will happen to lighting design? With self-driving cars, designers will have many more opportunities to explore lighting possibilities. Instead of the traditional interface, this luminous motion project offers a new interactive relationship between lighting and passengers.

Contact email: dai.ye@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7923 638590

Urban flow

David John Harding

Wales

Further education 2013 BA Automotive Design, Swansea Metropolitan University

Achievements 2014 EVO GT-R of the future, 3rd place 2013 RAC Future car challenge, winner

Nano Futures When a conceptual manufacturing process becomes the new standard, increasing the quality of mass production, how does a premium object set itself apart? Looking at the benefits that come from creating vehicles in new ways, we change our views on current techniques, so would we utilise them differently, adding value to a product, the same way that traditional crafts do now?

Contact email: david.harding@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7805 396799

Urban flow

Mark Hinton

United Kingdom

Further education 2013 BA Transport Design, University of Huddersfield

Work experience 2014 McLaren Automotive, Woking, UK 2013 Chaterlec, Mumbai, India 2012 Automotif, Pune, India

Achievements 2015 2014 2013

Coachmakers Company bursary, winner Salon PrivĂŠ, concours of the future, finalist EVO GT-R of the future, finalist RAC Future Car Challenge, pathway winner

This project looks to understand the reason why vehicles, despite being fundamentally inanimate machines, have embodied the emotions of so many people. Focusing on the future of the vehicle with growing acceptance of autonomy, it looks at how this emotional attachment can live on when we lose the connection of driving the vehicle.

Contact email: mark.hinton@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7792 594689

Urban flow

Richard Price

United Kingdom

Further education 2011 BA Transport Design, Huddersfield University

Work experience 2014 SAIC (MG & Roewe) UK: intern 2012 Henry Ward Design UK: freelance designer 2011 Drive Design UK: intern

Achievements 2014 Land Rover Terra Nova, selected final team Salon Privé, concours of the future, 3rd prize EVO GT-R of the future, finalist

As reliance on natural resources continues, we push ourselves closer to an energy crisis. I imagine a future that blurs the lines between reality and fiction, when governments outlaw petrol in personal transport, creating The Network – a clean above-street infrastructure. Then enthusiasts maintain their passion for petrol, creating individual vehicles, from modified up-cycled engine parts, competing on the abandoned streets below The Network. In a world where fuel is in short supply, efficiency of modification is the new vehicle customization.

Contact email: richard.m.price@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7972 373442

Urban flow

Xiaojing Zhou

China

Further education 2011 BA Industry Design, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Chongqing, China

Achievements 2014 LandRover Terra Nova, selected final team

We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars, these moments when we dare to aim higher, to break barriers, to reach for the stars, to make the un-known known. But we lost all that in 2100. Or perhaps we’ve just forgotten that we are still pioneers, and our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, because our destiny lies above us. On Mars, we will find the new answer, and we will change lifestyle on this new planet – how a Mars Vehicle could become purer and ‘urban’ could be the answer.

Contact email: Xiaojing.zhou@network.rca.ac.uk mobile: +44 (0)7842 116511

TEAM 1 – AURORA

Terra Nova

LAND ROVER examines

an all-terrain future world

New worlds demand innovation, for present success does not guarantee fair futures. As a world-leader, LandRover is planning the next generation of all‑terrain vehicles for urban and extreme environments. In October 2014 RCA vehicle design looked beyond those plans to the new markets of 2030, developing concepts with service and textile graduates – 47 students in seven design teams

‘The response was extremely positive’ said James Watkins, LandRover senior designer. ‘Scenarios were presented professionally, visually delightful – an overwhelming number of intriguing and imaginative ideas.’ The cross-disciplinary approach – ‘it was impressive how integrated the teams appeared’ – ‘added enormous depth’ and threw up ‘unexpected and genuine breakthroughs’.

Three teams’ designs were chosen for model development and display, and several graduates considered for placements or even future jobs. LandRover fielded a team of experts to monitor and mentor throughout, led by Visiting Professor and LandRover design director Gerry McGovern.

Team 1’s Aurora targeted Indian urban millennials, and envisaged a complete mobility solution with two vehicle set-ups on a single platform – passenger focus for meetings on the move, or driver focus for family excursions. Aurora reflected Indian personality and artisanal work.

LandRover design studios were thrown open to the teams and the Company presented brand profile, design philosophy, market profile and megacity alongside all‑terrain experience at Gaydon.

For LandRover this was a well thought through rationale and strong business model. Craft integration through defining and inspirational textile input joined ingenious seating design and layout and subtle and well-judged decorative themes.

The challenge for students was to envisage future global opportunities, exploring scenarios developed from today’s markets, or entirely innovative scenarios in new socio-economic contexts. These ranged from mega-cities to new mobility demands in Africa, Indonesia or the Americas. Teams were drawn from the three disciplines, and developed product and service concepts, evolving ownership patterns and vehicle configurations, from which LandRover selected a specific iteration for each team, which then developed these to final proposals.

TEAM 2 – VENTUS

TEAM 3 – SAMERIM

Ventus was Team 2’s event, promoting LandRover worldwide, as a responsible brand giving back to the world. Echoing the G4 challenge, Ventus replaced sporting events at designated stops, offering community help with infrastructure. The participating vehicles showcased LandRover’s advanced technology. Here LandRover saw an ideal opportunity to engage young people with the brand, with an exciting and unique idea through vivid imagery. Samerim from Team 3 realised that rural dwellers globally lacked regular medical access. Mobile care is limited by rough terrain. Equipment carried is nominal, connectivity marginal. Samerim leveraged

tele‑communication to enhance the impact of mobile care – hospital-connected clinics that can go anywhere. LandRover applauded a comprehensive and persuasive scenario based on a clear global need, and an appropriate exterior aesthetic.

TEAM 3 – SAMERIM

TEAM 4 – LANDROVER EUV

Team 4’s LandRover EUV (extreme utility vehicle) was multi-adaptable, morphing into activity-space onsite, its extendible structure housed under-doors, extending the footprint of the car. Design language reflected the jewel quality of African solar farms, faceted surfaces reflecting light – attracting a nomadic workforce needing multi-purpose vehicles in extreme conditions. A clear need was identified, felt LandRover, and the rationale presented and explored with clarity of purpose. The material approach was delightful and

TEAM 5 – RANGE ROVER X

drove a distinctive but functional aesthetic. This was a highly innovative solution. Team 5 foresaw rapid population growth across at least 40 mega cities, with movement in and out, to reconnect with nature. Range Rover X would offer an experience extending the spirit of discovery through air and land, beyond the cityscape – a two-part vehicle experience integrating ballooning and off-road exploration. This was the most conceptual proposition and a radical concept with a detailed technical argument, thought

LandRover, adding that it captured the essence of adventure with an attractive balloon design and highly innovative interior material exploration. With Wheels of Change, Team 6 created a sub-brand, targeting social issues and providing business potential. It tackled Kenyan gender inequality for women in agriculture, utilising their handcraft skills in a new manufacturing process, creating a new LandRover for the Kenyan consumer. LandRover commented that the engagement and passion from this group had been tremendous. The

compelling scenario had great scope for further applications, and the essential theme of high tech mixed with tradition was truly inspirational and cleverlyÂ applied to interior, exterior and material development. Finally, superb final imagery successfully integrated all of the ideas, generating desire and excitement. Team 7 focused on Digital Natives, otherwise known as Generation Z, highly connected, and in 2030 buying cars for family use. Building on LandRover heritage, the team envisaged a discovery and adventure vehicle providing an interactive environment stimulating all five

TEAM 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; WHEELS OF CHANGE

TEAM 7 – DIGITAL NATIVES

senses, forming an emotional connection – an interface for memory and communication. For LandRover this offered potentially game-changing connections between behaviour and techology, with huge potential for development and a final exterior design with great surface language for a future LandRover aesthetic. Team 1: Simon Haynes, Seunghwan Young, Bo Pan (VD), Charlyne Lefebvre-Paille (SD), Jeehyun Kil, Hannah Auerbach Georg (TD); Team 2: Tom Henwood, Gareth

Rees, Jung-Yul Lee. Angus Chen (VD), Craig Tomkins (SD), Alicia Nader, Shivani Chavda (TD); Team 3: Tony Lien, Florian Kainz, Yihui Guo (VD), Ed Tam (SD), Jiye Moon (TD); Team 4: Alex Fernandez, Yibo Wu, Farhana Safa (VD), Jong Yoon (SD), Bryony Bushe, Caroline Cox (TD); Team 5: Young Han Yoon, Kexin Pan, Cal Craven (VD), Lynn Chung (SD), Rui Feng, Wuthigrai Siriphon, Sabine Roth (TD); Team 6: Sepehr Amirseyedi, Richard Price, Ye Dai, Xiaojing Zhou (VD), Ra Youn Kim (SD), Yue Wei, Liza Ricciardi (TD); Team 7: David Harding, Mark Hinton, Tianqin Bao (VD), Taeyeon Kim (SD), Antigone Lentzos, Steph Rolph (TD). 61

A fellowship of talent The team of 2015

Delivering the learning experience is a major challenge, especially in times of change, with evolving industry expectations, design needs spreading across the transport spectrum, a recognition of the value of post-graduate vehicle designers in public transport, the yachting market and travel infrastructure. The range of skills, expertise and information required of educators necessarily expands parri passu. RCA vehicle design is fortunate in the range of knowledge and experience spanned by its core team, and enhanced by the multi-disciplinary inputs of visiting academics, professionals and designers. Such is the integrity and loyalty of the programme that increasingly, gifted and successful alumni augment that larger team – in toto, a veritable family and fellowship of talent. Industry commentator, lecturer and research leader, and Dean of the Design School, Professor Dale Harrow leads the team, and the research projects which are fast becoming a major part of the vehicle design programme brand. Research Manager for School and programme is Professor Stephen Boyd Davis. Carman Visiting Tutor, transport specialist, author and publisher Clive Birch mbe assists the Dean with programme planning and project management. The team is headed by Senior Tutor Matteo Conti, an authority on electric vehicles and an experienced academic with 15 years’ university teaching. With students studying in three pathways, brand authority, past Morgan chief designer and watch specialist Matthew Humphries leads Automark, while Cindy Charwick lends in-depth experience of automotive interiors to Inside Out, with a long history in Volvo, and 64

Dale Harrow

a consultant interest in jewellery. Past Ford designer and current motorsport entrepreneur-designer Guy Colborne guides Urban Flow. The core team is complemented by Senior Tutor Sam Livingstone, of Car Design Research Ltd, on professional practice and Research Tutor Joe Simpson, previously of Car Design News. Dr Greg Votolato, Course Director at the V & A Museum, is Dissertation Tutor, while Dr Andrew Nahum, Senior Keeper at the Science Museum, is Research Coordinator. Wanda Polanski administers the programme. Leading the corps of visiting lecturers and tutors are Visiting Professor Gerry McGovern, design director of LandRover, and Parisian academic Patrick Giraud. Miika Haakinen, Michal Vlcek, Jan Barwentewicz and Uros Pavasovic are among the alumni who supplement the team.

Matteo Conti

Clive Birch

Worthy of Note Within College, School and programme, exceptional achievement is recognised and external supporters encourage competition. Scholarships and bursaries, awards and rewards, exhibitions and internships are on offer to those who work hardest and achieve most.

Cynthia Charwick

Matt Humphries

Guy Colborne

Stephen Boyd Davis

Eleven students were considered for internships or appointments by LandRover, following the Terra Nova project. Four were shortisted for internships; Tom Henwood was selected – and Richard Price was offered an appointment, while LandRover modelled three teams’ outcomes for exhibition display: Team 2’s Ventus – Tom Henwood, Gareth Rees, Jung-Yul Lee , Angus Chen (VDD), Craig Tomkins, (Service) Alica Nader and Shivani Chavda (Textile); Team 3’s Samerim – Tony Lien, Florian Kainz, Yihui Guo (VDD), Ed Tam (Service) and Jiye Moon (Textile), and Team 6’s Wheels of Change – Sepehr Amirseyedi, Richard Price, Ye Dai, Xiaojoing Zhou (VDD), Ra Youn Kim (Service), Yue Wei and Liza Ricciardi (Textile). The Coachmakers’ Company annual bursary was won by Mark Hinton, who was a pathway winner in the RAC Future Car Challenge as was Yihui Guo, who won the SAIC Roewe-MG Cup Design Competition. Tom Henwood won the Zyngo Power-breaker award and the EVO GT-R competition, while Simon Haynes was a Zyngo pathway winner and achieved an EVO 2nd place. Sepehr Amirseyedi was also a Power-breaker pathway winner as were Tianqin Bao and Yibo Wu.

Sam Livingstone

Wanda Polanski

Applicants for the course should contact Vehicle Design, Royal College of Art Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU or e-mail vehicle@rca.ac.uk or phone +44 (0) 20 7590 4352

Ye Dai won the RAC Future Car Challenge shared with David Harding, who secured 3rd EVO place. Farhana Safa won with Florian Kainz 2nd and Richard Price 3rd in the Salon Privé concours of the future. Farhana also won the Lamborghini Uncovered competition. Winner of Hitachi Deep Tube was Young Han Yoon. 65

Power-Breaker a radical ev solution

The electric vehicle has a long past – longer than the fossil fuelled car. From Prius to Tesler, the industry has developed hybrid and all-electric cars, but sales are slow and the charging infrastructure still somewhat sparse. Zyngo, a consortium of engineers, academics, marketors and investors has a radical solution, eco-friendly from well to wheel, with sustainable materials and manufacture, and local assembly. The Zyngo platform has a range of 190km with an extender option, enhanced battery capacity engineered in line with Formula E, and an intended market in the middle income, urban family sector, the childless urban driver or on-campus student, and the urban railhead user, with a price range £22-25k. Last year students were invited to design a sustainable vehicle, based on the Zyngo platform, powertrain and battery configuration, using clean or recycleable materials, with potential appeal for that market. They were invited to include heat retention, information interface and simple access, in designs capable of being delivered to the showroom in CKD form, to be assembled at the point of retail delivery. Automark tackled four seater commuter, school or shopping cars; Inside Out 2+2 sports or student shared cars and Urban Flow urban or railhead pool utility vehicles. Key words were Trust, Share, and Connect. The overall winner was Tom Henwood. Pathway winners were Inside Out – Yihui Guo and Yibo Wu; Urban Flow – Sepehr Amirseyedi and Tianqin Bao; Automark – Simon Haynes. 66

Tom Henwood

Henwood’s design was a student vehicle under contract between university and Zyngo. The interior is a social space for a day out, its construction a large vacuum‑formed tub easy to maintain, and free of intricate parts for low cost maintenance. Variations could include a two-seat, van style Zyngo. Seating in such a small vehicle demands more head room for the front passenger, with a unique characteristic in the form of the front glass. Haynes’ design, Juxta, saw EVs currently portrayed as a replacement for the ICE vehicle, wherein lies the problem: an EV should offer an altogether different solution! Combining goals like ‘EV and Excitement’, ‘Sustainable and Vehicle’ and ‘Eco and Excursion’, his design offered that perfect ‘juxta’ position. For Tianqin Bao and Sepehr Amyrseyedi the solution lay in a one piece recycled coconut interior shell, with individual components orderable online, to personalise the vehicle, a sliding door access and completely adjustable steering wheel.

Tianqin Bao and Sepehr Amirseyedi

Yihui Guo and Yibo Wu felt that, as the technology develops, electric cars would no longer be limited to small city vehicles, so they created a two-seat small electric coupe for young customers. The easy installation design would reduce total cost and to realise that, they made it simple and lightweight, inside and out, using light and sustainable materials, such as fabric and newspaper wood. The specially designed battery also reflected the eco-friendly principle. Elements of these and the other design outcomes form a menu of solutions which Zyngo welcomed as a significant contribution to the evolution of their revolutionary approach to the future electric car.

Simon Haynes

Yihui Guo and Yibo Wu 67

Clive Birch joins

The Year of the Bus

with London Transport Museum In 2014 Transport for London celebrated The Year of the Bus 1914-2014. London Transport Museum recalled the bus in the Great War in its exhibition Goodbye Piccadilly, and Director Sam Mullins gave the Carman Lecture at the Museum to the Worshipful Company of Carmen, where students from vehicle design displayed designs for the Metro Project – Year of the Bus – a project in association with the Museum. Working in pathways, students formed teams to consider bus journey and user and to visualise tomorrow’s public service vehicle. Working individually, they then developed their own solutions.

Matthew Robson

Judged by Museum and RCA, pathway winners were Pauline Mariotti (Inside Out), Jian Chen (Urban Flow) and Matt Robson (Automark), with overall vehicle design gold medal winner, Charlie Purvis. The Museum selected Charlie Purvis and Kate Darley to create models for Museum display, invited Jian Chen, Minwoo Choi and Frederik Vanden Borre to display graphics and chose these, with the two other winners Pauline Mariotti and Matt Robson, to feature on the Museum’s screen wall in video interviews. The winning Purvis design offered a vehicle in pavilion mode, with an airy upper deck and hop-on-hop-off lower deck, the one with a relaxing environment, the other more basic, its aim to create a calming environment for the users of London’s busiest route, No 23. Organic forms were key influences on the overall aesthetic. 68

Mariotti’s concept combined the advantages of private and public transportation in one self-driving capsule. On the road it automatically connects to others sharing the route, whether the user chooses to open it up and be part of a traditional mass transport system or leaves it closed as a private system. To be visually pleasing and maximize parking efficiency, the charging station can be from half to two thirds hidden underground, as the parking rotates and drops free capsules on the ground one by one. Chen’s design for a single deck tourist teaching bus screened the destination en route, connecting worlds old and new. For Robson the aim was to get as far away as possible from the typical ‘red bus’ but still create something

is not just to get from A to B but allows users to be productive and enjoy their time spent travelling in the city. Kate Darley visualised a network to regain London’s villages, with mini-personal six-seat vehicles rising

Jian Chen

that expresses London. Looking at Zaha Hadid’s work as well as the use of glass in architecture, he created a design that reflects the city around it both literally in the glass and in the materials. This is a bus that Minwoo Choi

above the street from the mother-bus below, with space for the bike, the buggy and the bags. Her 2065 vehicle combines bus and cab, collecting people in the same area seeking a similar destination via a Transport for London app. The pod joins a bus platform through a magnetic force field, rising, mushroom-like, hovering beside buildings, the platform following bus routes ‘carrying’ the pods. In a city of then 11 million, and ground space at a premium, this aerial system frees the street for cyclists and pedestrians. Minwoo felt London Eye could be used for future buses. The capsule from London Eye could be detached and loaded on the bus. People would find and

Frederik Vanden Borre

choose where they wanted to go while hanging on the big circle of London Eye. Vanden Borre’s tourist vehicle reflects old and new as London features a great variety of architecture; in his design for all, an autonomous tourist vehicle provides comfort for a wide range of people. The overarching clear dome enables users on the lower deck to look upwards without the limitations of a roof. From specific route solution to a soaring future, these designs were seven among many forseeing London’s public transport evolving and improving, as it has for two hundred years.

Pauline Moriotti 70

Charles Purvis Kate Darley

Vehicle design leads

User research: driverless cars

reports Stephen Boyd Davis Vehicle Design research is moving fast. While still partly focused on cars, it is widening to reflect public transport change and new research method. With a strongly human-centric approach, it champions user needs, involving them in the design process.

Funding matters External funding is significant to academic research. Vehicle Design has even more applications in the pipeline and has secured the principal university role in the £8m GATEway, one of three Driverless Cars projects funded by government’s Innovate UK and industry.

Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) Another landmark is the Government’s REF2014 census of research quality. The RCA, like all UK universities, submits staff research work for assessment. Under Professor Harrow’s lead, Vehicle Design was part of the RCA’s submission. Late in 2014, results emerged. The RCA was the highest ranking UK specialist art and design institution in terms of 4* (the best) research overall at 37% and 77% of RCA research was classified as ‘world-leading’ 4* or ‘internationally excellent’ 3*, a 12-point increase from RAE2008. In scores for Environment (is the RCA a good place to do research?) and Impact (does its research benefit the non-academic world?), 100% of RCA research was assessed at 4* or 3* in both. Vehicle Design made a strong contribution, with 20 years of vehicle and mobility research enhancing industry’s ability to innovate. RCA funding was held within 4% where others lost up to 44%. 72

Driverless Cars The ministerial launch of the Driverless Cars project in the Greenwich Peninsula, London. The RCA is taking the lead research role in the GATEway(Greenwich Automated Transport Environment) investigation into the viability of driverless vehicles in urban environments, commissioned by InnovateUK. This plans to prove the UK is the go-to place for the development, testing and roll-out of driverless vehicles and their benefits, led by the Transport Research Laboratory, with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and global players, insurer RSA, Shell and Teléfonica. RCA user engagement research will investigate how to drive social change against the preponderance of car owners, with a focus on tackling barriers to development, public acceptance, and insights for legislators, insurers and law enforcers on driverless systems. This will be in partnership with pedestrian modelling by the University of Greenwich and cybersecurity by Imperial College London. User research will tackle both manufacturers and software providers, and those who will use or be affected by driverless vehicles. The RCA will seek social benefit, and robust outcomes to inform regulation and protection. Other road-users will be consulted – drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users, as well

as criminals and antisocial people. The RCA will use co-creation to explore alternatives, and the project will use technical trials and evidence of broader sentiment mapping through project partner Commonplace, to provide in-depth insights towards systems, interfaces, implementation and policy. The project will create a world-leading test-bed for driverless cars. The RCA has a track record of evidence-based design research, developed by lead researchers Professor Dale Harrow and Rama Gheerawo over ten years, including the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design’s ambulance redesign project Cars are becoming increasingly automated. Dale Harrow says ‘Driverless cars are coming in some shape or form, and this project provides an opportunity to get the planning right from the outset. And there are good reasons to want them, when 90 per cent of vehicle accidents are the result of human error, and driverless vehicles can dramatically reduce the need for the city parking that currently consumes so much of our streets. Sustainability is also key, particularly among younger citizens who would use a good driverless car facility in preference to owning a car’. Project outcomes will be disseminated in the UK and on the world stage, through exhibitions, publications and virtual models available over the web, as well as social media and press material. Partners in the project include: Transport Research Laboratory (lead), Royal Borough of Greenwich, RSA, Shell, Telefonica, University of Greenwich, Imperial

College London, Phoenix Wings, Commonplace and Gobotix.

Sentiment Mapping GATEway is one of the projects the department is collaborating with Commonplace, a start-up company specialising in Sentiment Mapping, gathering live data from users using social media and other tools. Last year this included a project

with the Transport Systems Catapult, a government funded organisation designed to accelerate change in UK mobility.

The Advanced Taxi for London The project in collaboration with RCA’s Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design to create the world’s most accessible taxi continues with Karsan Otomotiv of Turkey. A prototype vehicle should be running round the streets of London within 2015. 73

PhD Candidate Sheila Clark discusses

ReRuNÂŠ

recycled, reused and natural:

the design and prototyping of novel material solutions for automotive interiors Designers face the on-going challenge to be sustainable in their material choices, and consider the impact of these on society and the environment, while ensuring economic viability. This responsibility affords them the potential to drive sustainable change, through their power to innovate and suggest alternative ways of making products and using materials. This doctoral research explores the possibilities of sustainable material choice for automotive interiors, through practical experiments culminating in full-scale prototypes. In 2015, a minimum of 85% of an end-of-life of a vehicle must be recycled. To reduce transport costs and facilitate management of the redundant car, it is crushed after hazardous elements have been manually removed. However, compressing the materials together poses a new set of challenges, which has resulted in innovative methods to recover and separate them for recycling and reuse. Could this responsive way of dealing with materials when a vehicle is redundant be approached through more efficient and considered methods, that are economically, socially, and environmentally beneficial? In their seminal publication, Cradle to Cradle (2002) McDonough and Braungart propose that we design out waste, by keeping materials in separate streams, either technical or natural, to facilitate and maximise their potential after the productsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; useful life is over. The

project work set out to demonstrate how this could be applied to a car today. Keeping a non-contaminated technical stream is shown through the use of a mono synthetic, that originates from weaverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selvedge waste and discarded water bottles. These redundant materials have been spun into yarn, and woven in accordance with design and performance specifications, to become a car seat textile and foam replacement, which can be easily recycled to a highgrade material. Alternatively, natural materials that can biodegrade have been selected, for their capability to enhance performance through their inherent properties, such as fire resistance, strength, and low impact availability. These have been used for textile seat covering, foam replacement, door panel, glove box lid and accessories. Critical to demonstrate the feasibility of the ideas, the final prototypes have been made on an industrial scale with industry support. This project has been realised with invaluable support from several material producers and manufacturers, who have shared their knowledge, products, skills and capabilities. The team at Ford continue to be generous with their encouragement, information exchanges and in providing a Fiesta vehicle, which enabled the realisation of prototypes and an understanding at first hand the materials used in manufacturing it, through the process of deconstructing the interior. Weaving wool/nettle textile 2015 (supported by Camira and Schoeller)

Fiesta interior door panel, 2014; inner part bio-resin and non-woven flax; outer part painted original (supported by Bronze Age Foundry, Cambridge BioPolymers, Dove Co Ltd, EcoTechlinen and Mankiewicz)

Mono synthetic woven textile with knitted foam replacement (not visible) 2013 (supported by Ames Europe, Antex and Guilford)

Customer Journey Map

Hertz 24/7

Pros/ Cons

User device

Physical Point

User Action

Customer Journey Map

76 Cars

1b. Understanding of the service

Outside the Car

1. One-way service 2. Rental per minute 3. One-off subscription fee 4. Covering congestion charge and fuel expense 1. Relatively small service area and small number of cars 2. No free mileage

Computer

On-line Website

-Hard to understand and find the key informations

-Clear to understand

Was on-line media easy to understand the system?

-Fares -Key rules(Parking, Fueling and congestion charge)

Did you get sufficient information about the service?

Awareness and Register

Visiting

CAR2GO Office

Looking

Posters

-By other CAR2GO cars on the street

-By Poster

-By Media (Facebook, Web page)

How did you know or hear about the this mobility service?

1a. Awareness of the CAR2GO

Awareness and Register 1c. Applying the membership Where did you apply your membership?

Smartphone

On-line Website

1. No sign of logos of CAR2GO at the office 2. There was no additional info or explanation about CAR2GO

1. Customer can collect the membership card on the same day by registering at the office

Computer

CAR2GO Office

-At other CAR2GO office

-From on-line web-site

Outside the Car

Visiting

Membership Card

Was collecting membership card easy?

-By visiting CAR2GO office

-By Post

How did you collect your membership card?

1d. Collecting the membership card

exploring user’s perspective on

car club design

with Jae-Seung Roe

Car sharing has been regarded as a positive mobility solution in the metropolis area, for solving chronic problems such as traffic congestion, Co2 emission and insufficient parking space in urban area. The total number of car club members worldwide is expected to grow from 2.3 million in 2013 to 12 millon by 2020. According to the Frost & Sullivan report, in London specifically, it is estimated that the approximately 2,000 vehicles in car club fleets in 2013 are expected to increase up to around 10,000 vehicles in seven years. (Frost & Sullivan, 2014).

qualitative research methods such as in-depth personal interviews and participant observations. As a result, those interview outcomes have been tested with car club operators (Zipcar) and key findings shared, to identify and explore the adaptability of existing car club services.

RESEARCH WORKFLOW Sharing Economy

Ownership VS. Accessing

01. CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH

In consequence, major car manufacturers have responded in various ways by introducing shared mobility services and meeting with car club operators to expand this flexible mobility scheme. Moreover, the participation of three German companies in the car sharing industry with their own brands, and the success of Autolib, the electric car sharing service in Paris, which is expected to launch in London in spring 2015, supports these predictions.

Exisiting urban mobility scheme

On-site Car club Research

02. CASE STUDIES

It is intriguing to see how this car sharing approach, which is a relatively new trend in mobility, was previously perceived as a minor market for the automotive industry, but has now become more and more competitive. The aim of this research is to enable an enhanced car club from the users’ perspective. The main research methodology is to explore key insights from customers, who are using car clubs in London, through

Collaborative consumption

User observation & Analysis

03. OBSERVATION & ANALYSIS

Timeline

2011

2012

Autolib

User In-depth Interview

Participiant observation

Expert Interview

2013

2014

2015/2016

Helen Evenden on

Using auto archives some tips from a researcher

Starting to feel something of an archive exhibit myself, I have spent over 25 years, rummaging in archives, working in library stacks and knocking on doors of designers recording their stories. Since being awarded the Friends of the Victoria and Albert Museum scholarship, graduating with an MA in History of Design from the Royal College of Art/Victoria and Albert Museum, the South Kensington museum quarter has been my stamping ground and I spent over a decade teaching there at the RCA. Specialising in automotive design history, I was thrilled when the AHRC awarded me a grant to research British car design. While there are shelves filled with accounts of engineering achievements and histories of individual car brands, not enough attention has been given to recording the evolution of car design. The way in which car bodies are visualised and subsequently created requires a range of expertise, from craft skills to computer graphics.

Lesson 1: Be nice to the archivist Understanding new archives takes time and archivists know most about the content and structure of their collections. My first port of call was Coventry Transport Museum, where archivist Damien Kimberley provided invaluable help, directing my attention to unused materials, including the archive of Walter Belgrove, Chief Designer Standard Triumph. I also consulted Beaulieau Motor Museum, having used their extensive archives before. 78

The Royal Automobile Club also accommodated me in their salubrious surroundings. But best of all, Dame Anne Griffiths at the Royal Archive, Buckingham Palace, has kindly assisted my research into the history of Royal patronage of carriages and car builders.

Lesson 2: Identify your sources Andrew Nahum suggested the Science Museum’s Hooper Archive. It was intriguing to visit the Wroughton archive, housed mysteriously in the rolling fields of Wiltshire. Being allowed to go beyond the security barriers and driving down the disused RAF runways, one felt as though the material inside the closed hangers must be secret or toxic!

Lesson 3: Be organised Curating exhibitions and writing articles and books requires masses of diligent research, all of which has to be recorded – and organised – before it can be disseminated.

Lesson 4: Develop your specialism After my MA petrol station thesis, I focused on the history of car design, as this enabled me to unearth some more materials that had not received much attention. For example, for the Design Museum’s Flaminio Bertoni exhibition, I persuaded Citroen to lend the 2cv prototype designed before the Second World War and then buried in France to hide it from the Germans.

Lesson 5: Make it interesting The Hooper archive not only provides information about the history of cars, but also records the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Customer lists of top end coachbuilding companies included HM The Queen, HM The King, Captains, Colonels, Duchesses, Earls, Lords, Majors, Mayors, Maharajahs, Princes and Viceroys. The Order Books preserved in the archive reads like a Who's Who of fashionable society during the twentieth century.

Lesson 6: A picture tells a thousand words The Hooper Archive is not only an important record of British motoring history, it confirms the veracity of the cliché ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. For me, the most valuable parts of the archive are the drawers and folders full of design drawings, ranging from beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and paintings, that were used to show design ideas to prestigious clients, and the technical drawings that were used to communicate between design and engineering departments.

Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, driving a Fiat, one of the first cars in use on the roads in Greece (c1919–22). (Illustration courtesy of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh)

Lesson 7: Don’t get distracted by dead ends With archives as rich and interesting as Hooper it is easy to get distracted from the main focus of your work, so stay on the main road and don’t be tempted to follow every highway and byway, or you may end up in a hedge! The author’s PhD supervisors: Dr Andrew Nahum, Senior Keeper of the Science Museum, Professor Dale Harrow, RCA Dean of the School of Design, Head of Vehicle Design Dr Sarah Teasley, Course Director, RCA History of Design

Triumph Gloria by Walter Belgrove, recorded as the first British car modeled in clay 79

Inside Out went

Messing about in Boats

with Cindy Charwick

With the Boat Show fresh in mind, students from Inside Out pathway went Messing about in Boats across a range of options for the second-home owner who prefers water to terra firma. The emphasis was on interior design and the only restriction that the yacht be no longer than 14 metres. This allowed the students to really explore, use their imagination, experiment in 3D and led to some ingenious outcomes, from boats that cleverly expanded

Bo-Chia (Patrick) Huang’s design demonstrated a new exterior aesthetic, utilizing a unique material that would draw across the sides of the boat, providing shade and privacy with a high-tech interior. The range of ideas that the students developed was startling. Sangmin Lee designed The Turtle Boat, inspired by the deep sea turtle, that comprised a floating hotel with all the interior luxuries as well as remote controlled sailing to various destinations.

Yixuan Peng

in width (Pauline Mariotti), to a millionaire’s extreme underwater exploration craft complete with submarine orb (Ni Tao). Other ideas included a family leisure boat aimed at the older generation (Paul Piliste), a day sailer that could counterbalance when being sailed single handed (Armin Peters), and a lifestyle surfer boat that could get close to the big waves and provide alternative entertainment with a skate park incorporated into the top deck (Javier Garcia Gallardo).

Kate Darley’s Thames student share riverboat was designed with three floors and inspired by the interconnection of grasses and wirework, complete with designated interior areas for sleeping, studying and relaxing and, at the same time, creating a sculptural visual on the river. Yixuan Peng’s inspired Org Fanta Sea was designed for living on the sea with a fresh water condenser, and terrarium-style tubes for growing plant foods and ‘living’ furniture from organic material. One way and another, the design work that the students created had all the hallmarks of RCA vehicle design ingenuity and creativity.

Ni Tao

Bo-Chia (Patrick) Huang

Sangmin Lee

Guy Colborne considers

Pleasing Cities, Busy Hum in tomorrow’s city vehicles

For those who live in the city, the car is a luxury – expensive, hard to park, slow to move. Governments struggle to regulate traffic, reduce congestion, contain pollution. Technology offers new temptations, but somehow the pleasure is gone. Cars are a means, not an end. Is there a future for the city car? Urban Flow students looked at future users, their needs and desires, and sought a new dynamism, appeal and visual identity, a new mobility for pleasing cities, with the busy hum of people. Minwoo Choi

As Guy Colborne says, when you hear the term ‘city car’ the temptation is to think of a car that’s small, efficient, cheap, seats two to four people and, in design terms, risks being a worthy, bordering on dull, product. The term ‘city vehicle’ however has a much broader definition and, as the basis for a design project, offers far more opportunity for new scenarios and design interpretations.

Ari Nikulin

In the Urban Flow pathway the course seeks to move away from the traditional views of what transportation in the built environment should and could be. For the students, this core project allowed them to start pushing at the boundaries and challenging the existing conventions of vehicle design. From a simple premise, to design the appealing city vehicle for busy cities, the pathway students have created six very different and highly compelling concepts:

Tianye Zhang 82

Jian Chen

• Tianye Zhang: a car constructed from bio‑engineered

Thomas Ellis

wood and plant material that can generate its own power through photosynthesis • Ari Nikulin: a lightweight one person commuter electric trike for Helsinki, based on a traditional kick‑sled • Jian Chen: a single person autonomous vehicle/delivery van, that can both operate at street level but also link together with other vehicles in the far larger network of an underground metro system • Frederik Vanden Borre: Taxi Nico – a small footprint, three person city taxi inspired by tuk-tuks, rickshaws and the Uber app. • Minwoo Choi: The Room – a combined autonomous vehicle/mobile office/meeting space that takes its influences from domestic architecture and airline seating • Thomas Ellis: a fast personal transport system that takes its cues from snowboarding, extreme sports gear and exo-skeletons. In these six different ways, designers offered solutions both private and public, for individual or collective movement in tomorrow’s urban context.

Frederik Vanden Borre 83

Matthew Humphries

Travels fastest alone with Automark

In today’s traffic, the motorbike is the fastest way to travel and for some, the most fun. The British motorbike has an illustrious past, today outsold by Asian imports and the motorcycle is perhaps more a lifestyle choice than a cost-effective necessity. Yet in the modern world, and developing societies, the powered two-wheeler suits low wage earners and offers something extra to the well-to-do. Automark considered existing ‘bikes, their heritage market and appeal and, breaking free of conventional motorbike format, created quality branded, must-have, fast travel two-wheelers. For Matthew Humphries, the project was sufficiently open to encourage students to think creatively while still keeping in mind the challenges of the Automark pathway. They considered new markets, brand identity and the influence on the user this had, while making sure the design language was fresh. Their final conclusions spanned an urban ev bike, that introduced riding to a new demographic, and a multipurpose business and pleasure bike for the Australian outback. The designs considered new materials and process for manufacture that were appropriate for the brand, location in the world and the end user. It is clear that personalisation, while keeping to a brand identity, was a key factor that all students identified in the project and that the ‘bike’s position in the global market is vastly different from east to west. At the moment manufacturers are not producing products that cater for this. 84

Matthew Robson’s new customisable electric riding experience created a brand-inspired two wheel vehicle that the user could customise and change for different uses, exploring the advantages of a more flexible drivetrain. David Martelo’s design offers two different positions – one for people who work and live in big cities and the other to disconnect from urban stress – inspired by the organic architecture of Calatrava. James Owen looked at the multi-use of the motorcycle in India where Jugaad looks to solve problems with innovative methods and available materials. Enabling and encouraging users’ ingenuity were simple ideas, like a socket on the motor, a storage system, the mono‑form aesthetic, featuring object- tieing ‘notches’ in the saddle, the folding front wheel and suspension, and the light weight and aerated alloy frame – multi‑mobility and portability. Ben Hogan conceived a disaster relief biped for scenarios like earthquakes, tsunamis and other acts of God. The biped seats a driver, and can carry medical supplies into a danger zone to provide aid. When the bike cannot provide aid, a counterbalance stretcher folds out from the side. With the weight of driver and the injured, the ‘bike can balance and act as an ambulance. It can access environments that a four wheeled vehicle cannot, is faster than a doctor on foot, and is the medical vehicle of the future. Charlie Purvis realised that each year, the number of young adults gaining their motorcycle licence was

The JCB branded Multi Bike from Patrick Carton views the Australian farmer as a working commuter, the journey to work often long and solitary over many featureless miles and rough terrain. Today there are different modes of transport, such as a tractors or quad bikes. This is the median between utility and leisure for the motorcycle enthusiast, a vehicle that can be used in either scenario without the cost of owning two separate vehicles. Work by day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; play by night. As Matthew Humphries notes, these designers have generated future options that could make a difference.

James Owen, Charlie Purvis, David Martelo and Matthew Robson

steadily declining, due to increasingly harder tests and higher costs. VOLT aims to bridge the gap between cycling and motorbikes, and to act as gateway product for new young riders into motorcycling.

Above: Patrick Carton; below: Ben Hogan 85

The view ahead

with Pilkington automotive

With the Pilkington-RCA mid-year mini-project now established in year 2 of the vehicle design programme, a team of Pilkington personnel once again came to London to collaborate with students, exploring the untapped potential that glass and glazing technologies can offer in vehicle design This year the key technology drivers that will shape the way glass is used in future were discussed. With such a wide range of possibilities for glass as a design, construction and technological material focus was given to the areas with the biggest role. Students learnt about connectivity, environmental developments, and styling. Today, enhanced vehicle connectivity uses the glazing as an integral component in camera safety systems and head-up displays (HUD). With the use of glass in touchscreen and display applications and the ever increasing ability to laminate thin electronics, glass has a big part to play in improving the human machine

interface (HMI) of the next generation of vehicles. With technology on the verge of achieving vehicle autonomy, HMI will be a large factor in vehicle differentiation. As vehicle manufacturers strive to meet CO2 emission regulations, innovative solutions are being researched. Glass is an ever-increasing part of the vehicle body, so it is vital that glass manufacturers take responsibility for reducing emissions. This is being addressed by Pilkington through solar control glass, lightweight glazing and glass technologies adapting to greener vehicle architecture, eg: the development of higher voltage heated windscreens that avoid excessive use of air conditioning and provide lower current draw than traditional systems. Glass manufacturing techniques and shaping ability are constantly evolving. With the future focused on autonomous vehicles, current shape and design barriers could be removed. Pilkington recognises this and stays at the forefront of glass shaping technology ‘The quality of the student presentations given as part of the mini-project exceeded our expectations and demonstrated just how much both organisations are continuing to benefit from this relationship’ explains Rob Lunt, European Product Manager at Pilkington Automotive.

Pilkington Vehicle Design Awards 2015 Daimler F015 “Luxury in Motion” research car 86

Pilkington has a rich heritage in the glass industry and recognises the importance of combining tradition with

‘Based on previous experience and the exceptionally high quality of concepts seen earlier in the year I am excited to see the vehicle designs on offer at the awards’. Dean of the School of Design, Professor Dale Harrow has supported the Pilkington-RCA relationship throughout: ‘an excellent example of our vehicle design programme’s interface with industry, educating, encouraging and enabling students, through exposure to advanced technologies and opportunities’. Last year’s “Best Use of Glazing” winning vehicle design from Jannis Carrius featured glass as the main design material. The theme focused on luxury items being passed down through generations of a family. The vehicle also featured glass as an innovative material in piston head housing

innovation. This could not be more evident than in its long-standing affiliation with the RCA. Over the past 28 years Pilkington has developed this relationship, celebrating the forward thinking of budding designers through the annual Pilkington Vehicle Design Awards: Best Use of Glazing and Best Design Interpretation, with former winners securing design positions at prestigious manufacturers like Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Nissan and Bentley. The judging panel consists of Pilkington senior R&D and commercial roles as well as judges from the design industry which include David Wilkie, Design Director at CNH Industrial, Earl Beckles of Jaguar Design and a guest judge from Daimler Design. Mike Greenall, Global Automotive R&D Programme Director for Pilkington is a member of the panel:

Best Design Interpretation Winner 2014, Alexander Ibbett

Pilkington Automotive, a member of the NSG group, is one of the world’s leading glass manufacturers, supplying all major vehicle manufacturers globally. Under the brand Pilkington, it provides glazing solutions for a wide range of vehicles, including cars and light trucks, ‘buses and lorries, off-road, rail and marine. Pilkington Automotive operates 31 fabrication plants in 16 countries and is also the leading supplier worldwide of automotive glass replacement products for the aftermarket. 87

Class of 2015 Amirseyedi, Sepehr �� 38, 67 Bao, Tainqin �� 40, 67 Bo, Pan �� 6 Chen, Angus �� 8 Craven, Cal �� 22 Dai, Ye �� 42 Fernandez, Alex �� 10 Guo, Yihui �� 24, 67

Harding, David �� 44 Haynes, Simon �� 12, 67 Henwood, Tom �� 14, 66 Hinton, Mark �� 46 Jung, Seungwhan �� 16 Kainz, Florian �� 26 Lee, Jung-yul �� 18 Lien, Tony �� 28

Moorhouse, Kym �� 30 Price, Richard �� 48 Rees, Gareth �� 20 Safa, Farhana �� 32 Wu, Yibo �� 34, 67 Yoon, Young Han �� 36 Zhou, Xiaojing �� 50

Class of 2016 Borre, Frederik V �� 70, 83 Carton, Patrick �� 83 Chen, Jian �� 69, 83 Choi, Minwoo �� 69, 82 Darley, Kate �� 71 Ellis, Thomas �� 83 Hogan, Ben �� 83 Huang, Bo-Chia �� 81 88

Lee, Sangmin �� 81 Martelo, David �� 85 Moriotti, Pauline �� 70 Nikulin, Ari �� 82 Owen, James �� 85 Peng, Yixuan �� 80 Purvis, Charles �� 81, 85 Robson, Matthew �� 68, 85 Tao, Ni �� 81 Zhang, Tianye �� 82