Umeå Institute of Design degree show 2011
by John O'Brien    10 Jun 2011
 
Mini Packman by Niklas Palm focused on packaging to create a genuinely small car. Click for larger images
Seating arrangement is not fixed allowing maximum flexibility
Sauba by Daniel Frieg utilizes natural materials to grow over the cars lifespan
Owners then prune the car akin to a Bonsai tree
Volvo Eco-Identity 2025 uses a GPS-information system to automatically tailor ride settings to terrain
Hyoungsoo Kim's electric Silk uses cymatics to alert pedestrians to its presence
Wing by Saekyoung An aims to give senior citizens more mobility and fun in their daily life
Spotify Box by Jordi Parra, one of the many interesting non transport porjects from Umeå this year

Mini Packman
Niklas Palm
Based on the assumption that the typical family of tomorrow will be smaller in size, but bigger in numbers, the Mini Packman is a vehicle that aims to appease the trend of urbanisation and dependence on fossil fuels whilst offering a genuinely small car.

Designed from the interior out, the Packman draws inspiration from compact living environments, offering limited space but ensuring that none is wasted. The layout - consisting of hub-mounted motors and under-floor batteries - ensures that the Packman's diminutive size is not further encroached on by the drivertrain.

The focal point of this project is its interior. With no fixed seating arrangement, the seats can gather around the 'fireplace' central entertainment icon or simply converted to suit children through to adults.

Palm's intricate model shows the flexibility of Packman interior
Sauba utilizes the 'cradle to cradle' mindset
Eco-Identity is tailored to each journey to allow for maximum efficency
Modular system allow for easy customisation
Hyoungsoo Kim's boards at the degree show
Three seat Silk is no bigger than current SLK

BMW Sauba
Daniel Frieg

Daniel Frieg says that the Sauba draws inspiration from everything, with car design being a blend of disciplines. The concept car is aimed at people who are living in a society that has a strong awareness of sustainability and a healthy lifestyle.

The Sauba is constructed from "genetically modified natural materials" that are integrated into the vehicle using a ‘cradle to cradle' mind-set. The front section of the car is constructed of genetically-engineered plants that are grown in industrial moulds over a four-month period. These moulds are integrated into a society by placing them on streets and rooftops.

Once on the car, the panels continue to grow and are ‘pruned' - a process akin to that of maintaining a Bonsai tree - by way of a specially-crafted tool kit that comes with the Sauba. Once the car's lifespan is over, it is able to be composted and return into nature's lifecycle.

Volvo Eco truck
Young-Jun Byun
Young-Jun Byun's Volvo Eco truck is based on the idea of integrating ‘eco-mindedness' into the haulage and heavy construction industries.

Byun's project introduces a vehicle management system billed ‘Volvo Share'. This modular system allows for the trucks to be tailored to their prospective jobs, ensuring that the trucks are as light, yet ideally suited for purpose, as possible.

Using a GPS-information system, the trucks can continue to adapt once out on the road. The GPS system allows the truck to alter chassis, wheel and bumper clearance depending on the terrain that the truck is travelling on.

Mercedes-Benz Silk
Hyoungsoo Kim
Hyoungsoo Kim's Mercedes-Benz Silk concept aims to improve road safety for pedestrians that come into contact with an EV. Inspired by the folding of the natural fiber by the same name, the Silk is a vision of future electric Mercedes-Benz cars, whilst displaying a clear evolution of the current Mercedes design language.

The three-seat Silk uses cymatics to perturb pedestrians who may not be aware of the Silk's presence. A burst of visible sound and vibration from the concept's DRG makes passers-by aware of the car.

Wing concept

Saekyoung An
As the earth's population gets gradually older, Saekyoung An asks: "Are we ready for that?" Having worked in close conjunction with the demographic that the Wing concept is targeting, An says that the biggest inspiration for her was the senior citizens themselves.

The concept is essentially a four-wheeled mobility aide, which allows greater flexibility for users and aims to "keep seniors waling, moving, driving, interacting and above all, have fun in life". The Wing concept is currently patent pending, making further details of the mobility device confidential.

Away from the MA Transportation route, there was a heady mixture of projects from the Umea's BA Industrial Design course, MA Advanced Product Design and MA Interaction Design courses.

Projects worthy of note were a heart touching project that enabled children to play during IV Therapy by Martin Hanberger; a project called Acuity by George Peravantes, which looked at interaction between mobile devices and in-car infotainment systems; the Spotify Box by Jordi Parra, which handed a physicality back to digital music; and the a powerful handheld speaker called Enjoy your Music by Melker Molin, which uses a 'gecko-like' material to affix to any surface. Other concepts included the Sunrise Solar Airship by Metin Kaplan, a 100 percent solar-powered airship designed to complete long flights over an extended period of time; and the Vebri translation tool by Karin Persson, which allows for seamless communication across language borders.

For more information on any of the projects from the 2011 show, check out the following link:
Umeå Institute of Design UID' 11

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