London’s interior design students introduced their visions of the future to the Ford design specialists behind the all new Fiesta. Ford’s interior designer, Jens Sieber, and exterior designer, Ivan Telesca, heard the presentations and chose the top three going through to the next round.
Team Dies Nox designed its interior around a 270-degree centre console screen running along the floor, the rear of the cabin and its roof for all occupants to be able to reach, swipe and share digital content. The interior includes steam-curved bamboo, already being researched by Ford as a fast-growing renewable material for future vehicles.
Iris Apfel, the 95-year-old American businesswoman and interior designer, was the inspiration for Team Iris’ entry. Drawing on her “world’s oldest teenager” lifestyle, a pop-up roof and bar stool seating convert the car interior into social space, complete with stools detaching from the car to deliver Iris directly onto the red carpet of events.
Team Nomad chose fibre optics for its interior material to mould to the number of occupants and their desire to sit or recline. Nomad’s concept involves a brain-computer connection, syncing occupant to vehicle. Fibre optics’ data-carrying capability allows the technology to monitor and respond to changes in body temperature, organs and the health of passengers.
Following the display of the three best Ravensbourne projects at Ford’s European design studio, alongside other finalists from France, Germany, Spain and Italy, an overall UK winner will be chosen for work experience with Ford designers in Cologne in autumn and receive £600 prize money.
Jens Sieber, Ford’s Fiesta chief interior designer, said: “Ravensbourne’s students have very successfully illustrated possible future car interiors, inspired by the leap inside new Fiesta. I was thrilled by the quality presented, which took into account customer research to help shape workable next-generation interiors.”
Check out the new Ford Fiesta ST, a 1.5-litre turbo pocket rocket.
Read about the 40th anniversary of the Ford Fiesta, the European-American supermini.
