Design for the future

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In collaboration with Visit Umeå and Knightec, first-year students in the master's program in transport design at Umeå Institute of Design (UID) have been given a unique challenge: To find solutions and design concepts for the e-rally cars of the future.

The course is in connection with the Swedish rally coming to the city during February. Motorsport has long been described as consuming gas and therefore unsustainable for the future in its current design. So is it possible to transform a habitual behavior and its concept definitions to develop the rally sport sustainably?

Each year, first-year students are challenged to turn 2D sketches into 3D designs to land in a physical product displayed and presented finally—this year in the form of scalable clay models. It is a comprehensive and challenging course that takes different forms year after year. This time, the challenge was to develop the classic B-rally car from a sustainability perspective. An important question that arises is how we should be able to continue with the rally in a sustainable way and at the same time retain the sound drama that is an essential part of the experience.

One of the most central basics in design is understanding the actual user. In this case, the rally driver, but also the spectators. Engine noise is a vital recognition factor sought after and desired in the sport. So an important aspect to relate to. Jonas Sandström is one of the people responsible for the course, and he believes that the journey itself is the goal in this case.

“It is not often that we work with this type of drama; it is about giving motorsport dynamism. And engine noise is part of that. But for us to meet the challenges of the environment, it is unsustainable for the future to continue with internal combustion engines. For that reason, we chose that perspective “, says Jonas.

A large part of the challenge for the students consists in the vehicle design. A competence that the school-linked through the collaboration with Knightec. The company’s knowledge and experience in vehicle design have come in handy when students strive to develop their sketches.

“Electric platforms, sightlines, and safety zones are parameters that students must take into account. It is important with understanding to succeed in achieving a good level of the design concept, something that we have been able to secure through Knightec’s participation during the course,” says Jonas.

The end goal of the course is for students to be able to account for their design from a technical perspective with dimensions so that they can be translated as an intended user. The actual result will be presented to the public during week eight in Utopia center in Umeå. Here you can read more.

Collaborating with education is essential for Knightec. We want to contribute with our experience towards circular product development, using sustainable materials and design strategies. These are important ingredients in developing a future society that works long-term. Knightec wants to be the driver of positive change for the business tomorrow.

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