Cleveland Institute of Art recently held its annual spring design show, bringing together the work of over 100 student designers from its transportation design, product design, graphic design and interior architecture courses.
In the most-recent academic year, the transportation design programme conducted two projects, each sponsored by major carmakers. General Motors set students the challenge of designing a Cadillac four-door coupe for the year 2030, while Fiat Chrysler Automobiles asked students to create a Dodge performance vehicle for 2030.
Project participants included both senior and junior students, and each student had to submit a research report, sketches, tape drawing and a 1:5-scale clay model. In addition to setting the briefs, the GM projects were reviewed by director of Buick exterior design, Holt Ware; GM design manager Chip Thole; lead interior designer Jeff E Nasca and GMC designer, Jose Gonzalez.
The FCA project final presentations were reviewed by head of Dodge and Ram Design, Joseph Dehner; head of advanced design, Tim Anness; senior design manager, Scott Krugger and chief interior designer, Ryan Nagode.
Matthew Braun
Cadillac Se7en
Braun's Se7en concept is designed to offer an ‘expressive sense of arrival’ through its proportions and overall aesthetic. The project is inspired by the end user, who is identified as being obsessed with high-end goods – most notably tailored suits with their overlapping materials that inspired the surfacing and two-tone colourway of the final model.
Dodge Convertible
In recent months there's been a distinct trend towards rather cold, digital aesthetics as we continue on a path towards fully-autonomous cars. This project is resolutely old school, however, offering a simple, open-top drivers' car designed to expose its passengers to the elements to the benefit of the driving experience.
