CCS 2020 Transportation Design Winter Exhibition

We review the latest work of the BFA Transportation Design students at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies

Jason White

Published 29 January 2020 - 16:45 Modified 2 July 2025 - 15:26

The North American International Auto Show may have moved to June, but industry leaders know that January in Detroit still presents an invaluable opportunity – namely, the chance to scoop up the latest talent from one of the world’s premier design schools, the College for Creative Studies (CCS). This year’s BFA Winter Exhibition features work from twelve Fall graduates, plus several prominent Juniors and Seniors. As you will see in the selections below, autonomy, luxury mobility and high-tech performance are all very much top-of-mind at CCS.

Ben Treinen | BFA Transportation Design | Season Delta

When Lacks Enterprises asked CCS students to explore exterior textures, Ben Treinen saw a unique performance opportunity. Specifically, he envisioned applying textures to the high-drag surface areas of a racing car. “The texture is utilized both as a statement of form and a functional addition to improve speed and manoeuvrability through aerodynamic efficiency,” he says. The result is one of the more striking themes at the exhibition, a Peugeot-branded racer featuring driverless technology. The sharp, computational shapes of the applied texture mesh well with the car’s geometric forms. Treinen postulates a racing scenario called Season Delta, where manufacturers compete via autonomous testing platforms to homologate consumer AI technology. “This incentivises creative innovation through competitive racing venues designed to train autonomous technology,” he says.

Students of racing history will also note the subtle graphic nods to Peugeot’s competitive past – and given that Peugeot’s return to America is just six years away, we should expect to see more CCS students experimenting with the brand’s creative possibilities.

Sijian “Scott” Guan | BFA Transportation Design | Zoox Bay

For the American Chemistry Council-sponsored studio, Scott Guan sought to alleviate the Bay Area congestion caused by heavy reliance on ride-hailing services. “The recent rise of Uber and Lyft has brought the Bay Area new experiences, and at the same time, new problems that need to be addressed,” he says. “An estimated 20% of the miles travelled by Ubers and Lyfts are driven without passengers, causing unnecessary waste of road space and extra pollution.” To address these problems, Guan has created Zoox Bay, a 2035 vehicle-booking concept incorporating three sizes: Zoox Bay mini, Zoox Bay, and Zoox Bay max. “Bay mini operates in mobility hotspots and satisfies most short-distance city commuting,” he says. “Bay operates in areas surrounding hotspots and has customised setups for better efficiency. Bay max operates on routes connecting hotspots and partially substitutes for public transit.”

Zoox Bay also addresses ingress/egress safety, employing sliding doors on the passenger side only. When it comes to the future of urban mobility, it’s fair to say no one has a crystal ball. But Guan’s concept does offer a thoughtful glimpse at what a mobility solution tailored to local geography could look like.

Davis Kunselman | BFA Transportation Design | Bordrin Luxury MPV

The proportional requirements of an MPV are not always conducive to fresh, exciting solutions – which makes Davis Kunselman’s sinuous Bordrin concept all the more fascinating. “Business users want a vehicle that can serve as their mobile office or conference room,” he says. “This luxury MPV allows for improved productivity on the move, all while improving the user’s social and business image.”

Helping to facilitate that image is an exterior shape defined by tension and compression. Kunselman was inspired by the way these two forces cancel each other out, resulting in a neutral balance. Add to this the unlikely choice of inverted tumblehome, and we have a spacious monovolume that, frankly, looks like nothing else. Colour choice is also key to this theme’s success; the yellow-gold lending an almost otherworldly quality, while the white floor highlights the energy captured in the sleek profile.

Bryon Maloche | BFA Transportation Design Graduate | Nature’s Narrative

When Ralph Gilles designed an interior for his CCS senior thesis in 1992, such a choice was almost unheard of. Today, interior senior theses are not only commonplace, but often the most creative part of any student show. Keying off research conducted by MFA Colour and Materials student Yuri Kim, Bryon Maloche explored a design trend termed ‘Nature’s Narrative.’ “My intention was to create an interior for a capable yet luxurious SUV, and to use colour and material to create a sense of connection to nature,” he says. But as compelling as the great outdoors can be, Maloche was also careful to preserve the comfort and security needed in an interior space. “I remembered to not to be too literal with my approach and maintain a home-like, comfortable feel.

The mindfulness of this process is evident in the final design: pure, uncluttered interior volumes that contrast beautifully with raw, natural materials. Inspired by spaces that are traditionally intimate (kitchens, bathrooms and the like), Maloche explored ways to incorporate natural textures into a typical interior layout. Parts of the interior that are traditionally forgotten or recede into the background are now rich with detail – and the overarching theme is all the better for it.

Alexandra Nowicki | BFA Transportation Design | 2040 Ferrari Concept

Confident, exuberant and fearless. All apt descriptors for Alexandra Nowicki’s Lacks-sponsored Ferrari concept. Appropriately, this is the model that welcomes you at the door of the exhibit. I say appropriately because this design takes full advantage of the prime space it occupies. The exhilarating forms make you want to walk around the model, taking it in from all angles – almost as if sculptor Henry Moore’s career had taken a detour through Pininfarina.

Nowicki calls her form language ‘tactile dynamism’ – “It causes a sensation that has the outcome of a thought or signal, turning into a response,” she says. Like the Peugeot highlighted earlier, this design also experiments with exterior texture. The aerofoils and rear deck are adorned with a radiating diamond pattern. “This pattern encourages airflow along the surface where the texture is applied,” Nowicki says. “Using technology similar to dynamic texturing from MIT, this golf-ball like pattern can appear when it is needed, and disappear when it is not needed.” The irony of the Ferrari branding is not lost on this writer; ‘Il Commendatore’ was notoriously slow to adopt new technology. But given the brave new world we are anticipating, who knows? Ferrari in 2040 could potentially have more in common with MIT than Maranello…

Chanwoo Park | BFA Transportation Design | Medic Bay 2035 Concept

Most experts agree that the aging segment of our society will benefit greatly from autonomous vehicles. Loneliness, isolation and lack of access to medical care could all be significantly reduced – even, dare we say, eliminated. Chanwoo Park’s Medic Bay concept offers a compelling look at how an autonomous vehicle could address these important issues. “Many elders need nearly daily medical attention and social interaction to keep themselves both physically and mentally healthy,” he says. “Medic Bay’s main feature is its ability to evolve from a vehicle into a safe, welcoming space for elders to receive health screenings and rehabilitation. With features targeted at elders with limited mobility, the vehicle is able to lower its body and give easy access to those in wheelchairs.” One part of the vehicle remotely connects a patient to their doctor for routine checkups. The second part functions as a lounge area, where patients can socialize or make use of physiotherapy equipment installed in the vehicle.

In addition to a well-executed digital model, Park produced a three-minute video featuring animations, stock footage of prospective clients, and even a professional voice-over. Despite the lack of a physical model, this presentation gave Park’s concept remarkable tangibility – and showed how simple online resources can be leveraged to promote a great idea.

Ryan Schlotthauer | BFA Transportation Design | Cadillac Atrium Interior

Digital interior deliverables are becoming a very popular choice for students and sponsors alike, thanks to the ever-expanding sophistication of rendering software. Ryan Schlotthauer’s Cadillac-sponsored Atrium is an excellent example of just how convincing a luxury interior design can be, without the aid of a physical model. Unsurprisingly, much of this is accomplished through exquisite detailing. “Revealing crafted mechanisms were incorporated to elevate the technicality of this interior and provide a visually immersive experience,” Schlotthauer says.

One particularly inventive detail allows for privacy while ride sharing; an unobtrusive curtain that runs north-south through the interior, creating a ‘visual wall’ between users. The overall theme conveys a modern luxury ambience with high-contrast upholstering and polished metal finishes. Paired with the mechanical details, it almost reads as a reboot of the “art and science” theme Cadillac used to trade on. More broadly, Schlotthauer’s theme has a lean proportional feel to it that is quite refreshing – especially considering the heavy, land-yacht lineage of American luxury cars.

Lichen Zhang | BFA Transportation Design | Cadillac Hexagram Crystal Interior

Also benefiting from the latest digital rendering software is Lichen Zhang. His Cadillac-sponsored Hexagram Crystal mixes high-end detailing with rounded geometric surfaces. In the past, digital interior models have come up short in terms conveying material softness. This is definitely not the case here, as you almost feel like you can reach out and touch the quilted grey leather. Zhang chose to render his interior at dusk, lending a rich colour contrast to each scene. The blue shadows are very well paired with the polished rose gold accents, while the addition of familiar items like a latte and a flower vase make the theme seem even more plausible.

The interior features a business mode, with the seating placed more upright, and a family mode that reclines the seats and brings them together in the middle. Further validation that the luxury flagships of the future will be expected to accommodate multiple facets of our busy lives. Thanks to the realism of Zhang’s work, that future seems like it could be just around the corner, as opposed to further on down the road.

Siddhartha Shah | BFA Transportation Design | ACC Mobility Sponsored Project

A common fear about the rise of shared mobility is that aesthetics will not be a key part of the equation – leading to a sea of ownerless vehicles, devoid of personality. Thankfully, not everyone shares this outlook, and Siddhartha Shah’s American Chemistry Council project should resonate with them. A combination of clean sculpted forms and bold graphics, it’s a theme that would be instantly recognisable from a hundred feet away. But Shah’s consideration is more than just skin deep. He envisions a scenario where customers can earn carbon credits for using the car’s mobility service. “These credits can later be sold to energy companies for monetary value, or saved in the car subscription model,” he says.

Lighting is also a key part of Shah’s design. “These vehicles will have an exterior lighting function that allows for customers to easily spot their vehicle,” he says. When viewing the final model, this writer is reminded of iconic designs that qualify as shared mobility – the Checker cab, the London Taxi, the double decker bus and others. These vehicles all share one commonality with Shah’s design: they look like nothing else, and therefore, are very easy to spot. Clearly, aesthetic appeal is a key part of their functional viability, and by extension, their personalities.

Shubham Singh | BFA Transportation Design | Bugatti Cygne Concept

Finally, we would be remiss in not mentioning the most over-the-top design at the show. With its overflowing purple forms and baroque detailing, Shubham Singh’s Bugatti concept refuses to be ignored. Inspired by the grand entrances at events like Met Gala, Singh’s design process was laser-focused on visual impact. “This project merges fashion, art and the automobile to create an exterior that leaves an exquisite impression,” he says.

The impression may be so overwhelming for some, that the more subtle aspects of the vehicle’s forms will go unnoticed. Singh’s thumbnail sketches reveal a gown-like body with flourishes around the edges. Appropriately, one of the final renderings shows the owner wearing a matching outfit, ready to ‘win the entrance’. While this design will not suit everyone’s sensibilities, it definitely zeroes in on a key Generation Z value – namely, that first impressions matter. Something to consider as aesthetic tastes continue to evolve in the new decade.

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As well as the projects mentioned above, there was much more to see at the degree show. Here are some galleries of the rest of the graduates: