Physical Interior Concept
From c,mm,n
The following text is the summary of a graduation thesis by Neele Kistemaker. She graduated in june 2007 on this study about the structure and physical support of the future car interior at the Delft University of Technology. The full PDF will be downloadable soon.
Abstract
This thesis describes the development and design of the structure and seating of the c,mm,n car interior.C,mm,n is a mobility concept designed within the 3TU and Society for Nature and Environment collaboration ‘a car in the future’. The Society for Nature and Environment asked the 3TU to design a sustainable (ecological, economical and social) personal mobility solution for 2020.
This interior is designed using the ViP approach (Hekkert, P.P.M. and Dijk, M. van, 2001). It focuses on the context of mobility in 2020 with all its technical possibilities and user needs.
Current car interiors are incoherent products. Features are added but not evaluated or integrated. People tend to withdraw from their hectic lifes in the cocoon the current car is. The added features emphasize this because they focus on safety and individuality.
The concept of use that is designed for the c,mm,n car interior is based on a vision that is especially developed for this project: We want people to cooperate in mobility through improved communication by supporting, and providing insight into their mindsets; clarifying the strength of the individual in relation to the group on that moment within the community and on the road through communication, both verbal and nonverbal.
A mindset is a state of mind in which a person can find oneself. A person’s mindset is determined by his openness-closedness and whether he is competitive or cooperative at a certain moment. It determines the amount of communication and cooperation.
In the ‘energetic librarian’ mindset, the individual is open to new influences and likes to share his knowledge with others. In the ‘planet hopper’ mindset, the individual is open to new influences and he uses these influences for himself. In the ‘spa queen’ mindset, the individual closes up to his environment and focuses on himself. In the ‘nona’ mindset, the individual closes up to new influences and focuses on a selected group of people.
In the c,mm,n interior concept of use the user’s orientation, posture and movements express the user’s mindset to the interior. The interior supports this user mindset and responds in two ways. First it provides information and the amount of control that suits the user’s mindset. Secondly it communicates the user’s mindset both the user and the environment by means of non verbal communication.
The central theme in the interior is waving and misty, which is derived from the mindset in which the user is open, communicative and cooperative. Within the driver seat, a nuance within this theme can shift towards a closed or individual shaped product. Towards the back seats, the theme shifts towards a closed shape.
The interior is centred on the driver seat, which is placed to the middle of the car and able to turn around. The steering wheel is integrated in the seat so it always has the same orientation as the driver. The steering wheel can be shifted away to lower the amount of control by the driver. The position of the steering wheel determines the degree to which the driver seat can turn around. The co-driver seat is placed to the back and can be used in various directions, just as the back seats can. The back rests in the back can slide and can be taken away to fleximize the use of the interior space.
Together with the exterior design which is open and embodies approachability, this interior enables c,mm,n to establish the cooperation on the road and within the c,mm,nity that the brand envisions.
