Graduate students from the Vehicle Design department of London's prestigious Royal College of Art tare imagining, and prototyping, the future of automotive design in plastics during a three-month program and competition called PLASTicon which began in December.
To explore the potential of such GE innovations as thermoplastic glazing, plastic body panels, and lighting technologies in futuristic vehicles, approximately 20 students are participating in PLASTicon. They are researching, designing, and building models of 'blue sky' vehicles aimed at the needs of different markets, from SUV owners to Gen-Y consumers, and competing for prizes and prestige. 'We've eagerly anticipated this collaboration with some of the world's most talented automotive designers-in-training on solutions for the vehicles of tomorrow,' said Geert Jan Schellekens, principal automotive designer for GE Plastics. 'GE innovation is giving PLASTicon participants a wide range of materials and capabilities to use in creating concepts that meet future needs,such as environmental compliance and new aesthetic directions.' The PLASTicon program divides students into teams of three for research into specific scenarios, including emerging generations, emerging markets, auto segment redefinition, formal freedom, and function integration. Once the groups have completed an analysis and reached conclusions, each team member designs and models a personal interpretation of the scenario. In addition to automotive exteriors, students may be expected to design interiors or subsystems. GE advisors are working closely with RCA staff and the students to provide guidance and resources. PLASTicon is expected to run approximately three months and will culminate with judging by GE experts. The winner will receive a weekend in New York and a chance to present their design at GE's design council. The Royal College of Art is the world's only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, specializing in teaching and research and offering the degrees of MA, MPhil, and PhD across the disciplines of fine art, applied art, design, communications, and humanities. The RCA's Vehicle Design curriculum trains students to pioneer new approaches for private and public transportation, including addressing such concerns as traffic congestion, safety, and environmental issues. GE's Plastics business is an industry leader in automotive technologies representing body panels and glazing, exterior components, trims, and accessories, lighting, structures and interiors, and underhood applications. Innovative GE materials expand design freedom and creativity vs. traditional metal and glass while helping to give manufacturers many performance and aesthetic benefits, including weight reduction for improved fuel economy, noise reduction, parts integration for lighter weight and cost savings, and unique colors and special effects. |
