Max Troicher’s thesis project began from the premise that autonomy will provide new opportunities for vehicle design in the future. With autonomous vehicles navigating the roadways, the main purpose and functionality of vehicle lighting will change and engine sounds will be gone completely.
BMW Duality is a concept that focuses on the exterior interactions of future vehicles. These interactions use multiple human senses to create a unique exterior experience that changes the sensual perception of vehicles when approaching them.
The car’s physical shape is inspired by the simplicity of 80s and 90s design to offer a clean canvas for the layer of rich digital impressions which will be added on top of it. Sound design, haptic feedback, and visual feedback, in combination with a modern appearance, create a totally new way for BMW to set itself apart in a future where every brand will offer its own shared mobility service.
These exterior interactions are not just beneficial for the brand but will enhance the daily life of users as well as the society around it.
Development of the BMW Duality project started with a general research phase analysis of the future world, with a focus on technologies that work together with human senses. After the concept was set, the design process began with thumbnail doodling and rough ideation sketches. Selected themes were further detailed with digital 2D tools or modeled as rough 3D volumes.
The CAS modeling phase was structured by constant VR review sessions to get a real feeling for the volume in space. This simulated a real-world process, where multiple models are built in full-scale. To finalize the project and tell the complete story, Troicher also created a physical model and a virtual animation.
The outcome is a compact autonomous EV, which uses multiple ways of communicating with its surroundings. Light, sound and haptic feedback are combined in countless situations to create unique experiences on the BMW Duality’s exterior.
The car can express its character by peripheral feedback through multiple senses and simultaneously communicate directly with individual users. The car will bring users or potential customers on a journey towards the car before they even enter the cabin.
Check out our extensive photo gallery of all the projects at the UMEA University 2019 Transportation Design Degree Show.
