Adidas sneakers and ceramic... on a dashboard?
Simon Lamarre, the 38-year-old Quebecer who works as a designer for Volvo, couldn't believe it: during his last stop in Montreal for the holidays, he found himself stuck in monstrous gridlocks. So much so that he took three hours to drive the 40+ kilometers between downtown and his parents' house, in Sainte-Therese (North Shore).
This goes to show you how much time is lost inside our cars, day in and day out. Automakers know this very well, which is why they invest more and more in the design or car interiors.
They also know that the exterior styling attracts people but that the interior layout makes them stay -- or go. The whole thing is almost (mainly?) subliminal.
Consequently, new trends are emerging, new materials are being used and the lighting is more important than ever.
What should we expect from future cockpits? Simon Lamarre (Volvo) and Anne Asensio (director of design at GM) agreed to look into their crystal ball for us.
Interior design: well-deserved care
Not so long ago, car interiors were the great forgotten. Promising designers were asked to work on the exterior, while the less talented ones had to create a decent cockpit that would meet the financial costs of the project. Yet, the exterior of a vehicle only features about forty base components. The interior? Over 250...
Fortunately, things have started to change near the turn of the new millennium. Long neglected, uninspiringly designed and budget-oriented -- even if it meant sacrificing space and build assembly -- interiors are now in the midst of a major revolution.
And consumers are a big reason why.
They have become increasingly demanding; they require versatility but also comfort and style. "What was once a mere transportation mean or the pure mechanical expression of power and speed has become so much more nowadays, Mrs. Asensio told me. More than just a driving cockpit, the automobile has morphed into a friendly environment on wheels where comfort, liveability and functionality take center stage.
Simon Lamarre, the 38-year-old Quebecer who works as a designer for Volvo, couldn't believe it: during his last stop in Montreal for the holidays, he found himself stuck in monstrous gridlocks. So much so that he took three hours to drive the 40+ kilometers between downtown and his parents' house, in Sainte-Therese (North Shore).
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| Dashboard of the Volvo C30. |
This goes to show you how much time is lost inside our cars, day in and day out. Automakers know this very well, which is why they invest more and more in the design or car interiors.
They also know that the exterior styling attracts people but that the interior layout makes them stay -- or go. The whole thing is almost (mainly?) subliminal.
Consequently, new trends are emerging, new materials are being used and the lighting is more important than ever.
What should we expect from future cockpits? Simon Lamarre (Volvo) and Anne Asensio (director of design at GM) agreed to look into their crystal ball for us.
Interior design: well-deserved care
Not so long ago, car interiors were the great forgotten. Promising designers were asked to work on the exterior, while the less talented ones had to create a decent cockpit that would meet the financial costs of the project. Yet, the exterior of a vehicle only features about forty base components. The interior? Over 250...
 |
| Dashboard of the Ford Thunderbird 1957. |
Fortunately, things have started to change near the turn of the new millennium. Long neglected, uninspiringly designed and budget-oriented -- even if it meant sacrificing space and build assembly -- interiors are now in the midst of a major revolution.
And consumers are a big reason why.
They have become increasingly demanding; they require versatility but also comfort and style. "What was once a mere transportation mean or the pure mechanical expression of power and speed has become so much more nowadays, Mrs. Asensio told me. More than just a driving cockpit, the automobile has morphed into a friendly environment on wheels where comfort, liveability and functionality take center stage.