'Made in China' by Ying Lu
SoBe scooter by Adrian Sellars
Mid-engine SLR by Byung Kang Cho
Roadster by Chee Kwong Siew
'Maximalism and Elegance' study by Frederic Dams
|
|
Chinese student Ying Lu displayed a vehicle that explored Chinese taoist philosophy and how Chinese art expresses dynamic lines. Rather than following the western approach of tightly pulled lines, his design deliberately used spiral forms and swirling lines, which follows the way that traditional Chinese art expresses both speed and energy.
|
|
|
Adrian Sellars took the brand values of the SoBe beverage company as a starting point for his scooter project. The vehicle aims to appeal to both young, active riders and their parents with its combination of cool image and a safe, healthy lifestyle. The fuel cell powerpack is based on Honda FCV technology, allowing a 400km range, while the 3WD chassis incorporates an expanding front axle to allow the bike to stay upright when coming to rest. A games console type controller, using drive-by-wire technology, replaces conventional handlebars.
Other projects included:
- Byung Kang Cho's mid-engined successor to the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR
- A roadster inspired by Japanese artist Hokusai's 'The Great Wave' by Chee Kwong Siew
- A study in Maximalism and Elegance by Belgian student Frederic Dams
- A new proposal for a Fiat 'Otto-Vu' Grand Tourer V8 by Balaji Rengarajan, from India
- A sedan with form language taken from flamenco dance forms by Isabel Diaz Rodruigez, from Spain
Results of a collaborative project from the Spring semester, run in conjunction with Renault Design, were also on display. The project, entitled 'The Next Big Thing', comprised a twelve-week group project with a final presentation to Renault design staff, including scale models and computer animations of the concepts. Other participating schools included the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and Strate College, Paris.
The Coventry MA Automotive Design programme, now in its twelfth year, is designed to appeal to former Design undergraduates who would like to further advance their skills or acquire new ones, especially in the use of digital software and clay modelling. From late 2004, the MA Automotive Design course has been repositioned as a 15 month, 4 semester, course with a deeper emphasis on advanced concept thinking and computer-aided design. Around 60% of students now come from outside the UK, especially from China, India and Korea, but also increasingly from USA and South America. The course may also be taken on a part-time basis, taking around 27 months, to allow practitioners already working in industry to take part.
Coventry University School of Art and Design website: www.coventry.ac.uk/csad
Related stories:
Coventry MA students prepare for the MA Degree Show
Coventry MA Design Degree Show 2003
Coventry MA Design Degree Show 2002
|
