Designers at Ford’s European design studio challenged Ravensbourne University design students to imagine the future of autonomous car interiors based on the new Ford Fiesta. Students were tasked with illustrating what they believe the interiors of cars are heading towards as we move away from the requirements of typical dashboard functions and towards an autonomous age.
On May 4th, three of the competing teams were chosen by Ford designers to have their visions showcased at Ford’s design center in Cologne, Germany. A final winner will then be selected and invited out to the design center for a behind the scenes tour of the workshop and a masterclass with Ford designers.
“I was thrilled by the quality of work presented by the students,” says Jens Sieber, Ford of Europe Chief Interior Designer. “Fiesta is very important to Ford and a huge amount of time is spent ensuring that the interiors reflect what our customers desire. The students have helped show workable interiors of the future.”
With car interiors increasingly becoming an important part of people’s everyday lives, the challenge was met by Ravensbourne as an opportunity to allow the students’ creativity to shine through, and an opportunity for Ford to get some PR for the new Fiesta.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain experience about what it’s like to work for one of Britain’s biggest and foremost car brands,” said Course Leader for BA Interior Design Environment Architectures, Idrees Rasouli. “Opportunities like this ensure our students learn the skills needed to thrive in industry, and the chance to transfer their architectural and interior design skills into vehicle design.”
Below are the three projects that were chosen by the Ford team:
Ford Fiesta Dies Nox
Team members: Vincenzo Damato, Meryl Le Fleur
In a world where everything is connected, we wanted to create an interior space that will be memorable as well as an appreciation that bonds us through experiencing the places around us from a different perspective.
Our concept is to propose a flexible multi-functional interior. The new form of the internal space of the car has been greatly inspired by architecture and this vocabulary follows through in this project. The use of space, fluidity, and choice of materials are some of the key elements for the vision of this innovative design.
The Dies Nox Fiesta has three interior modes; each one allows the passengers to enjoy their travels. The vehicle is useful for four passengers and the interior is variable. The driver interface comes alive when touched or pushed, the retractable wheel and column enable the seat to rotate fully. The 270 degrees’ center console is a dominant feature of the interior. It serves as a multimedia console, with mapping, games, music and mobile integrated apps.
We are continuing with plant-based materials within our design. For instance, recycled plastic for 3D printing parts, steam-curved bamboo for structural support and pineapple leather to be introduced in the seats, inspired by the intrinsic characteristics of the pineapple leaf fibers, its textural expression carries unique features such as softness, pliability, and strength.
The future of the car has never been so close, approaching to a sustainable statement which aim is not only into the use of it but in allowing people to get closer to nature, projecting them to the outside from the inside.
Ford Fiesta Nomad
Team members: Thomas Christie, Shpend Pashtriku, Onur Celik
The next generation of Ford will be nomadic, aiming to curve the notion of a domestic car. We aim to thrive ahead in this era using fiber optics and the Neurolink concept to tackle unforeseen problems in health, such as Blindness and Alzheimer’s disease.
Our Aloe Vera sensory technology monitors your body temperature and vital organs to ensure user safety, as well as to the development of the social aspects within the everyday car through ‘Deja View’. We focus not just on the driving experience but what happens within the vehicle when it’s stationary or advancing in autonomous driving.
Future Ford customers are invited take the Fiesta Nomad anywhere, while creating immersive 360-degree experiences and memories to share or relive.
Ford Fiesta Iris
Team members: Cansu Bal, Seniz Veli, Erdi Bal
“I see myself as the world’s oldest teenager because I have such a good time.”
Iris Apfel is a flamboyant fashionista, who despite being a stylish lady at 95 years old sees herself as a teenager. The age gap between how she feels and how long she’s been strutting through life is why we chose Iris as our client.
Understanding that a lot of young people purchase a Ford Fiesta as their first car, we wanted to reimagine the future client knowing that by 2080 humans will live until they are 100 years old, which suggests that those who retire at age 67 have 33 years to ‘relive’ their lives. In this case, the Ford Fiesta will still be known as being a driver’s first car; it just depends on which life is in question.
Our client goes by the name of Ms. Apfel by day, when she enjoys traveling to her lunch dates to enjoy caviar and champagne. At night, however, Iris comes out to play where she enjoys dressing up before heading out to fashion events.
The future Ford Fiesta will mimic Iris’s day and night personas and transform from a seated relaxing environment to a standing fiesta.
See the complete photo gallery of the presentation event on May 4, 2017.
