ID [PNW]

It looks like Nissan will beat the major automakers to the market with an affordable fully electric car, the Leaf. You can read more technical specs at the Wired blog. Design Critique The challenge for designing a new car that has unique technology inside is whether to make it look different and unique or not. The GM Volt takes the approach to look like a modern muscle car with a large bonnet signifying a giant powerful motor within, even though it may not require such space. The Prius has a distinctive look that is now associated with being a "green" vehicle. Even the new Honda Insight looks like a Prius at a glance, although the original Insight was quite different and more aerodynamically efficient. The Nissan Leaf resembles other new 4 door hatchbacks like the Honda Fit or Yaris, but with a few slower reverse curves as surface creases. The front hood slopes down to the bumper almost tangentially to the windshield. The allows for great visibility, but also implies th...

This September is the IDSA International Conference: Project Infusion in South Beach Miami, FL. I will be presenting a paper on design education: Swapping Students: The Cross Disciplinary Education of Design and Engineering Students. Here's the summary: The problem: Engineering students have difficulty thinking creatively and don't value the contribution of industrial design. Conversely, industrial design students lack understanding of materials, processes, and the importance of engineering. Animosity, misunderstanding, poor communication and disrespect. Is this how the relationship between industrial designers and engineers is fated to be? A solution: As an attempt to remedy this, an industrial design professor and an engineering professor decided to switch students for one quarter each year, each teaching their contrasting discipline and perspective. The engineering students are exposed to creativity techniques, user empathy, and visual communication. Industrial design st...