1st semester Master - Umeå Institute of Design
10 weeks
in cooperation with VOLVO Cars
Award
2019 Adobe Design Achievement Awards
TOP TALENT - Digital Products & Experiences
Briefing
"The only real luxury is time"
2030 - Asia - 2 people- 26min travel time
+ integrating one surprising "easter egg"
CONCEPT
“VOLVO WE” is an autonomous car with a renting time of 1-7 days. Asian cities are growing constantly and living space is getting smaller and smaller. Space is rare and wellbeing is highly affected by an increasing sensory overload. People who can afford it move to countryside or to smaller cities close by to get their privacy and life quality back. “VOLVO WE” provides that experience of feeling home and welcomed also during the ride and enriches time spent in the vehicle.
PROJECT
Cities like Shanghai will grow significantly by 2030 (population: 30,8mil). The sensory overload and lack of private space a will be significant problems. People who can afford it move to countryside or to smaller cities close by to get their privacy and life quality back. Thanks to the autonomous speed highways they can still easily reach the city and their workplace in a short time.
BASIC IDEA
The base idea was to combine the cosiness and welcoming feeling of the previous picture. Due to the fact that happiness is spending time with people we love and care about, this interior should provide the perfect environment and atmosphere to create such an experience.
The result is a roundish interior with one imaginary pivot point in the middle, which is the center of all movements happening in the interior. Due to that it allows a flexible seating layout where the passengers can find their preferred seating position. The interior is covered by layers, which generate a cosy and save feeling.
3D development & advanced ideation in VR
(Maya, Rhino 5, Gravity Sketch, VR Vred)
FINAL DESIGN
Additional Features
The appearance of the interior should be as simpel and clean as possible. To achieve that most of the features are integrated into the surfaces. As special feature is the possibility to order coffee or tea at the interface which is integrated in the “smart table”. This helps to create the atmosphere of a coffee/tea house where you normally would meet people.
Layersystem
The main inspiration for the interior was the warm and cosy appearance of the pictures to the side. To achieve this welcoming feeling we introduced different layers, which are covering the interior and providing the feeling of safety. This main feature consists of a blue base layer and two other moving layers. Together they control the desired privacy. For example they create a cover in the crowded city and on countryside they open so that the passenger can enjoy the view.
MOtion Pattern
Another feature is the motion pattern which is located on the inside of the blue base layer. The bio-logic responsive material reacts to the light intensity from outside and consequently adapts its appearance. This “easter egg” creates a unique lighting mood and atmosphere in the interior as the rendering below shows.
controlled by the light intensity of the surrounding
alternative motion pattern for different areas and cultures
rather indicating than advanced steering
The research phase has shown that only in these scenarios during a journey it is necessary to take over control:
1) last mile - I know the area but not the exact place
2) interrupting journey - picking up somebody
3) come to me - steering from outside
Due to those use cases no advanced steering is necessary. The steering unit doesn't get a lot of attention in the interior. Therefore it is integrated in the interior and comes only out when it is needed.
in cooperation with
