The Shimizu Minoru Laboratory,Department of Department of Living Environment Design Faculty of Art and Design majoring in Production and Design, worked on a project called "The Suzuki of 2035," which aimed to create a future mobility experience from the students' perspective. This project was carried out as a commissioned research project by Suzuki Motor Corporation, and involved students incorporating their ideas for the UX (user experience) of future cars into a design, proposing it through 3D modeling and presentations.
Fifteen second- and third-year students participated in this project. They came up with seven design proposals, which were presented on Wednesday, July 30th, at Suzuki's headquarters in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. The students proposed each proposal using computer graphics created through digital modeling and 3D printed mock-up samples. They received opinions and advice from the company's designers, making this a very valuable experience for the students, who aspire to become mobility designers in the future.
Furthermore, this time, the students also produced a video in which they drove around the mobility models they had modeled, visually expressing a worldview in which future cities and mobility are integrated, and attempting to more deeply convey the experiential value behind the design.
Iwata Kouki (Chikuzen High School), a second-year student who was in charge of everything from four-wheel design to modeling, said, "It was difficult to unify the overall quality, from design to visualization and modeling. I was always questioning my own designs and worked tenaciously to create something better. Through video production and functional improvements, I was conscious of making it seem like something people would actually want to own. Being able to receive direct advice from a current designer at Suzuki was extremely meaningful, and it helped me develop the skills I need to be successful in the mobility industry in the future." Nishimura Ayumu (Kyushu Sangyo University Kyushu High School), a third-year student who was in charge of the exterior and digital modeling, reflected, "It was difficult to align my ideas with those of my professors and seniors in order to get them to empathize with my proposal. It took time to divide up the roles with my team members, but I feel that my design skills have grown by continuing to improve the quality in preparation for our weekly meetings. I was particularly impressed by being able to propose an efficient means of long-distance transportation that enriches the travel experience. I would like to be successful as a two-wheel modeler in the future."
The lab aims to accelerate and deepen design by focusing on "capturing the value of human experience." This project was a valuable opportunity to visualize the students' creativity and technical capabilities, and also produced great results as a practical learning opportunity in collaboration with a company.
We will continue to promote design education that connects with society and devote our efforts to nurturing the next generation of creators.
"I wish there was a Suzuki in 2035" project members
Second-year students: Iwata Kouki (Chikuzen High School), Tsukamoto Mitsuki (Kyushu Sangyo University Kyushu High School), Hirano Kimiyoshi (Imari High School), Matsuura Osuke (Kyushu Sangyo University Kyushu High School), Murata Kazutoshi (Kumamoto Technical High School)
Third-year students: Kawabata Haruto (Tokiwa High School), Aiya Souma (Kyushu Sangyo University Kyushu High School), Nishimura Ayumu (Kyushu Sangyo University Kyushu High School), Hisato Midori (Kashima Asahi High School), Fujita Keisuke (Kyushu Sangyo University Kyushu High School), Yasumoto Yuta (Chikushi High School), Yamashita Haruo (Fukuoka Chuo High School), Ogawa Himeno (Fukusho High School)
Year 4: Takezoe Takeru (Fukuoka Chuo High School/Participating as a design advisor)
We used digital tools for modeling, CG, and 3D printing to improve the quality of our design proposals.
Presentation at Suzuki Motor Corporation (Hamamatsu Headquarters).
During the project, in addition to design guidance from designers at Suzuki Motor Corporation, direct modeling instruction was also provided by clay modelers and digital modelers who are graduates of our university.
[Department of Living Environment Design]
