CCS Detroit January 2019 Degree Show

In life, the only constant is change, and for the car business this truism has never been more relevant than it is now. No one is exactly sure how the future of transportation will take shape, but if the CCS Winter Exhibition is any indication, it should be a transformative and compelling shape.

Walking through the Valade Gallery on the first floor of the Taubman Center, one is struck by the sheer variety of visions being offered – and the thoughtful consideration behind them. Where others look to the future and see the end of an era, these young minds see exciting opportunities, and it clearly shows in their work. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the more thought-provoking concepts on display.

Alijah Dillard | Fall ’18 BFA Graduate | “Apple Interim”

If there is one recurring theme in autonomous exploration, it is the car as a lounge space. Alijah Dillard’s ‘Interim’ concept explores this dynamic with a theme that is both restful and social. “To design an interior around a person, one must consider what people need and hope to get out of the space,” Dillard says.

“The design cannot be a simple vehicle interior, because this vehicle marks a movement from being a driver, to being a passenger in your personal space, or nesting ground. The shape facilitates both being social and being alone in the vehicle.” One has the option of shutting themselves off from the outside world, or interacting with it via a display system.

Min Sung Kim | Fall ’18 BFA Graduate | “Nori”

In a future where autonomous vehicles chaperone our young from A to B, the notion of a design catering exclusively to a child’s sensibilities seems quite possible. Min Sung Kim’s Nori concept approaches everything from this perspective, right down to the ingress/egress: A ‘hi-five’ hand print system replaces the traditional exterior release handle.

Aesthetic choices cast the car as a fun play space, rather than simply another motor vehicle. A pop-up skylight allows children to view their surroundings as an adventure that awaits them.

Nicky Chan | Fall ’18 BFA Graduate | “GAC Micro SUV”

The surging popularity of SUVs in America has forced OEMs to refocus their product portfolios on this segment. The problem is that SUVs are not ideal in every type of environment – most notably, the bustling city. Nicky Chan’s GAC Micro SUV aims to redress this imbalance.

“My goal was to create an iconic vehicle based around functionality and utility, but in a small package,” Chan says. “With car buying trends leaning towards SUVs and an increase in city centres, a manoeuvrable small SUV is perfect for a wide population.”

The vehicle’s main feature is a roof space where passengers can relax in fold-out seats with privacy walls. An integrated step ladder makes accessing this feature easy and adds to the functional appeal of the theme.

Jill Dougherty | Fall ’18 BFA Graduate | “GAC Ripple”

Sometimes, a shared geographic interest can provide the perfect starting point for a concept. 2018 graduate Jill Dougherty was born in Southern California – the same location as sponsor GAC’s new studio.

“California is a unique state because of its versatility of destination areas,” Dougherty says. “The Ripple is an electric adventure crossover designed for the professional that enjoys play. In today’s culture we need an escape. We want to have the versatility of a car that can be used for all our activities.”

The spirit of this versatility is clearly reflected in her exterior theme; a collection of forms inspired by moving waves, but with a thoughtful synergy between style and function. “The ribbon on the body side is not only sculptural but is used as a step to access the roof rack with ease,” she says.

A flush roof rack, that can be exposed when in use, offers smart panels that lock into positions to cradle different objects, like kayaks or surfboards.

Conner Stormer | BFA Senior | “GAC Flux”

Through the exploration of flexible body structures, Conner Stormer has arrived at a decidedly Bauhaus-like theme, with the form following the function. “My unique vehicle architecture enables users to switch between different driving modes,” he says.

“In SUV mode, the cabin and body are raised for a higher ground clearance and viewing angle. When lowered in CITY mode, the vehicle becomes sleeker and more aerodynamic. The interior enables another level of adjustability with a pivoting dashboard, sliding seats, and a multi-level user interface.

Ben Koopman | Fall ’18 BFA Graduate | “Iris Yacht”

The CCS yacht studio has produced many thought-provoking concepts as of late. Fall graduate Ben Koopman’s Iris Yacht is a zero-emission motor-sailing craft, with an emphasis on sailing over motoring.

“The two-mast cat-rig sail design carries over 1500 square metres of solar power sails, which can absorb the sun’s energy even when not in direct sunlight,” Koopman says. “Each sail has five spars that furl the sails downward into the boom on a single track housed in the mast.”

The eco-friendly theme continues throughout, with the composite material Esthec substituting for teak wood decks.

Yanghaobo Marc Wang | Fall ’18 BFA Graduate | “2027 GAC E-SUV”

It’s refreshing to see a future SUV concept that eschews machismo in favour of more graceful, organic imagery. Yanghaobo Marc Wang’s GAC concept is intended to be a sort of ‘moving pavilion’, capturing the American spirit of exploration.

“The Chinese define a pavilion as always being in an organised scenic spot,” he observes. “This vehicle is more than just transportation; it is a nature observation deck that is also part of that scenery.”

Kyeong-min (Calvin) Kim | BFA Junior | “Bee Share”

No matter how creative a mobility concept might be, it cannot exist in a vacuum. It must take its surrounding environment and local culture into consideration. Enter Calvin Kim’s Bee Share, an autonomous bus system aimed squarely at Los Angeles. In a city with limited parking space and thousands of private vehicles vying for the same strips of concrete, Kim recognised the need for a shared-space mobility solution.

He found the inspiration for his solution in the physical characteristics of honeybees – specifically, the how they work together to create a shared space. “Bee Share allows people to build relationships and make memories within their groups,” Kim says.

By using a Bee Share app, a group of four people can book a shared-space bus that accommodates four smaller private vehicles. These individuals can then board the bus in their private vehicles and use the remaining interior space for group activities. Privacy is offered by a body shell that appears transparent from the inside, but opaque on the outside.

Andrew Gombac | BFA Junior | “Bright Shadow”

It has been well documented that people often view their cars as an extension of their own personality; a sort of aesthetic avatar they present to the world around them. Andrew Gombac’s Bright Shadow concept explores what this driver/car relationship might look like in 2040 China.

“I created a character that would be the manifestation of this future, representing echoes of the past, as well as core aspects of this new age,” Gombac says. “Named Guang Ying (translated as Bright Shadow), this is a reference to the duality of his persona and, by extension, a metaphor for the digital age. Crypto broker by day, Crypto dealer by night, Guang Ying is provided a creative outlet to personify, visualise and contextualise this vision of the future.”

The resulting design is, at first, disarmingly simple in its form language. When one explores the theme from different angles, the dramatic interplay between light and dark, positive and negative, is both striking and seductive. Gombac is currently interning at GAC in China, and will no doubt further expand his creative reach with this international experience.

Scott (Si Jian) Guan | BFA Junior | “GAC Encapsule”

It’s funny how some manufacturing configurations can come full circle. Back when owning an automobile was reserved for the very affluent, motorcars were often a marriage between a bespoke coach and the functional carriage. Scott Guan’s GAC concept suggests that a not-so-dissimilar two-tiered approach could make an autonomous vehicle more functionally flexible.

“The Encapsule is based on the concept that the cabin settles inside the main body, similar to how an egg settles into an eggbox,” Guan says. The outside volume is designed as a sort of digital capsule, featuring an interactive touchpad that wraps around the entire vehicle at arm-level. This enables user interface on the exterior as well as the interior.

With the cabin removed, the vehicle enters a ‘service mode’ in which the centre space functions as a dedicated storage tub. A tambour door structure then rolls over the centre space to protect loaded cargo.

Ben Treinen | BFA Junior | “Diecastal Lotus”

Students are always looking for new aesthetic influences for their work, but this search doesn’t always start with the visual. Increasingly, new aesthetic directions are being launched straight from the inspiration of a driver profile. Ben Treinen’s Lotus concept is intended for a youthful age group of self-motivated engineers, specifically biomedical engineers working for a Silicon Valley biomedical startup, looking to the future of human prosthetics.

“This led to a concept for inspiration. Artificial anatomy will have ability to enhance a person with advanced technology and organic materials without altering what makes that individual unique,” Treinen says. “In the same way, the vehicle was designed to show the skin and bones have been replaced with modern, unconventional technology, but the heart and soul of the Lotus brand remains.”

Junyoung Choi | BFA Junior | “BMW ASMR Project”

One of the obvious benefits of an autonomous car is not having to concern yourself with the stress of driving. Instead, you could spend your time in transit resting, and even escaping into more pleasing sensory experiences. As Junyoung Choi points out, people rest in different ways.

“There are many elements for rest, and I divided these elements into four sections: texture, posture, sound and smell,” he says. “These four elements are most important to provide relaxation. Sounds in particular can have a lot of influence on our relaxation, typically with music.” Add to this the overwhelming online popularity of ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response), and the potential for a totally new automotive experience starts to take shape.

“ASMR is a feeling of well-being combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck, as experienced by some people in response to a specific gentle stimulus, often a particular sound,” Choi explains. “It is triggered by things like whispering voices, paper tearing, and scalp massage.”

Not only can passengers take in soothing sounds as they recline in Choi’s BMW concept, they can also capture natural sounds from the outside via strategically placed microphones. Appropriately, the car’s sinuous structure takes inspiration from sound waves – specifically alpha waves, which have most effect on human relaxation.

Of course, this is just a fraction of the work shown by CCS students during the Holiday Season. Prior to the January Exhibition opening, three students received scholarships in the 30th Annual Michelin Design Competition, the results of which can be found here. Click on the gallery to see the full January Exhibition, taking special note of the creativity throughout – creativity that will be vital in determining how the future of transportation takes shape.

Jason White is an Associate Professor of Transportation Design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan and a Contributor to Car Design News.