Art Center College of Design Spring Show

This sports car derives from the equipment used in sports such as basketball, snowboarding, and cross-training. On the road it works much like other high performance vehicles, but once off the road the fenders loosen and become dynamic, allowing for an increase in wheel travel. In addition, the wheels themselves widen, increasing their grip and creating an additional channel in the tire to displace dirt and water. This all occurs while maintaining a low center of gravity for stability.

The VW Bucky gets its name from Buckminster Fuller, a pioneer in sustainable product development and environmental-conscious design. The purpose of this car is to present consumers an alternative to the 'bigger is better' craze in the SUV market. This SUV is compact and has a retractable top that emphasizes the inherent fun of experiencing the outdoors. It also utilizes recyclable plastics technology in many of its components. The car was styled to have a strong character and to reference the whimsical nature of the VW Thing and Kubelwagen, yet have the modern proportions of the VW Touraeg and Audi Steppenwolf. This project was completed during an internship at Volkswagen.

The Chrysler Optic maximizes the given size restrictions by utilizing a mono-volume shape. It is targeted at urban youth, who spend most of their time commuting with friends in and around the city. The rationale for choosing this type of vehicle is rooted in generation backlash, that is, when a generation rejects the values and tastes of the one before it. For example, the current SUV market is mainly made up of adults who grew up in mini-vans, and their decisions are often influenced by their desire to differentiate themselves from their parents. Following that logic, first time young car buyers might find that the SUV is the vehicle they see as their “parents car.” The styling is intended to 'look Chrysler' but not directly reference any of its current designs. The aim was simplicity rather than audacity, creating a unique feel. Because of the youth market's appreciation for international design, the vehicle was created to fit in comfortably in both America and Europe. This vehicle was a team project completed during an internship at Chrysler.

LA Shared Commuter - This project explored the concept of shared commuting, and applied it directly to the city of Los Angeles. The vehicle would have to be small, but the challenge would be to develop a way to decrease its footprint when parking. The solution was the vehicles docking into one another, so they take up less space when stored, and also eliminating the possibility of theft. From a logistical perspective, if multiple vehicles are needed in one spot at a specific time (plane landing at LAX), then they could be a vehicular 'tug-boat' that transports multiple vehicles at once. The inherent usability and design of the vehicle is not a typical 'product' look, but more sculptural and referencing tribal markings for identity. The culture of Los Angeles has always been fairly progressive and edgy, and this vehicle captures that. One thing particular to this project was the transient nature of the user’s experience, with no permanent storage space in the car. A rear canopy allows for a separate cargo module to be attached when needed. The module itself could also be mobile, like a luggage trolley at the airport, and be securely parked when not in use.

Lyndon Gale

Infinity Mid-Engine Sportscar - To round out Infiniti’s exciting line up, the G5 will show the world that Infiniti can compete with the big boys. This concept is about a vehicle having an “imposing presence.” When you see this car, you know it’s an Infiniti.

The Jeep 2050 was designed as a vehicle for persons who think and have lifestyles similar to Jacques Cousteau. This vehicle concept is about visibility. It has panels that can be removed to expose the vehicle to the elements of nature. The floors have see-thru areas to observe tire lines on trails, especially on the Rubican trail. The rear seats can extend to a standing position for driving in elevated levels. The vehicle is skateboard platform with electric motors in hubs. In the future when all cars will look like silver speed forms, this jeep “Zeke” will be a breath of fresh air.

ArtCenter Mobility – This vehicle was created to transport students to and from Art Center campuses. It will be a high profile vehicle seen around Pasadena and represent Art Center’s commitment to innovation and design. This vehicle will be on an automated system, and may go offline for field trips. It will have sensors to determine occupancy and need for more buses to increase efficiency of student transport.

The student's projects are largely developed using traditional methodology, taking 2D sketches and drawings to an orthographic 1/5 or 1/4 scale tape drawing, from which a clay model is developed, painted and detailed. Sketches and concept drawings are increasingly generated using computer-based applications such as StudioPaint and Photoshop, while the tape drawing is executed with the help of Adobe Illustrator and the model built and rendered in CAID packages such as Alias|wavefront AutoStudio. Models are also physically generated from 3D data using the school's rapid prototyping facility, which allows the students to have their models milled out using the 5-axis CNC mill. This offers an interesting and promising alternative to traditional model making, and this methodology is being strongly implemented in the school's curriculum.

Art Center, located in Pasadena, has been one of the world's premier art and design colleges since its founding in 1930. The school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Science degree for: Advertising; Film; Fine Art; Graphic Design and Packaging; Illustration; Industrial Design, including Transportation, Product and Environmental Design; and Photography. A graduate program leads to a Master of Fine Arts or Master of Science degree.

The school also offers Saturday High for high school students; extension classes for adults through Art Center at Night in Pasadena, Orange County, San Francisco, and New York; Art Center for Kids for grades four through eight; and a Summer Design Institute for Teachers in conjunction with the Smithsonian and Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Art Center has three graduating Senior Shows each year.

Art Center web site: www.artcenter.edu

Related Stories:
Art Center Summer Show 2001
Art Center Spring Show 2002