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20/20 project
Harish Kumar
This was the most abstract project on display, and explores how forthcoming haptic displays and interfaces might be used in an interior. "It aims to include blind people into the design team and gives sighted people an alternative experience of how to interact with the surrounding space," says Kumar.
Projects from the graduating BA students included:
Status Quo
Bastian Baudy
This complex, highly-finished model comprises two cockpits separated by a solid membrane, with seats integrated into the tub as a series of faceted surfaces. The deeply recessed doors and roof appear as transparent frosted ice cubes and the steering column develops out of the windshield on an elongated tube. The rear is concave with a series of fragmented cubes to suggest the technology breaking out of the surfaces.
Opel Kite Surfer
Ji Won Jung
Another beautifully detailed exterior/interior model, designed for an Asiatic ecotown. This three-seater hydrofoil sports a center driving position, plus a sweeping cantilevered glass roof with exposed rear deck.
Opel FLEXscha
Dennis Brings
Another concept for southeast Asia, this resembles a giant two-seat Segway that can take alternative rear modules for different user needs. The model showed an interlocking rear module for two further passengers, sitting lower and wider than in front.
Elementar Racer
Dennis Kosik
This two-seat racer features a center body broken into strips that flow up the hood and disperse around the glasshouse, progressing into separate vanes at the rear. The resulting reptilian look to the face of car and surfaces is set off by big diameter wheels, with a strong negative camber.
Audi Desert Offroader
Khalid Hadad
Hadad's saucer-shaped body with high ground clearance and separated chassis is said to express lightweight and sportiness. The design took inspiration from solar racers, manta rays and the Desertec solar mirrors energy project in the Sahara. The idea is that water could be collected in the rear fenders to feed a turbine. "It's simple in the surfaces, very iconic, no gimmicks," he said.
VW Metropolis
Edwin Mailänder
This is a four-wheel tandem bug with separate drivetrain and close-coupled rear wheels. The idea is you buy the car and rent the technical parts with various power units available: a narrow rear track for a small engine, wider track for GTi power. The central driving seat can slide back to nest into the surrounding two rear seats to create a chill-out lounge area.
VW Katana
Cemal Kurus
The Katana is another plug-in drivetrain concept where the customer buys a bodyshell and rents the powertrain, like a mobile phone contract. Kurus also displayed a VW Up! model with similar front face. Both were painted clay models.
The Bachelor course covers the Transportation Design program in seven semesters, with students embarking on specialized transportation projects in their second semester. Bachelor students are encouraged to continue on the Masters Course, which comprises three semesters. The Masters course is taught in English and involves training in digital design workflows, running alongside the project work.
Related Articles:
Pforzheim University Summer Show 2009
Pforzheim University Winter Degree Show 2009
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