On Friday, July 31, Professor Minoru Shimizu's laboratory in the Department Department of Living Environment Design Faculty of Art and Design, held a presentation of the results of a commissioned research project with Suzuki Motor Corporation at the company's headquarters in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
This project, which was carried out again this year, uses the keyword "Wouldn't it be nice to have a Suzuki XX?" to consider the future of mobility, starting from changes in the social environment and people's values, and explore the new experiential value that mobility will bring in 2040. Fourteen students from the second and third years participated in the project and created seven design proposals for 2040.
This year, we considered not only the evolution of technology, but also how people's lifestyles, values, and interactions with society will change, and proposed new mobility experiences that are in line with these changes. In the idea generation process, we carefully analyzed future living scenarios and user behavior, and translated new experiential value that goes beyond the mere act of "transportation" into design.
Furthermore, we further advanced digital modeling and rendering using 3DCG, and also focused on realistic, life-size design studies using clay models. By combining precise digital visualization with intuitive verification through manual work, we implemented a design process that comprehensively examines future mobility.
This design process, which involves moving back and forth between digital and analog, provides a valuable learning opportunity that is also relevant to product development practices in companies. As part of mobility design education in collaboration with actual automotive companies, students experience a series of processes from idea generation to digital representation, clay model creation, and presentation, gradually improving their practical design skills.
Furthermore, opportunities were provided for students to hear from graduates of this department who are active in the company about the design skills and knowledge they have cultivated in the business. This exchange, where graduates share their experiences with current students, also contributed to improving the students' career awareness and motivation for design.
This department has produced graduates who have studied mobility design and gone on to work for many companies, including automobile manufacturers. Moving forward, we aim to cultivate designers who can envision the future of mobility and thrive in society through practical learning in collaboration with industry.
"Wouldn't it be great if there was a Suzuki..." Project Members
Second year students: Ryo Ishimoto (Seiho High School), Ruma Kuroki (Chikuyo Gakuen High School), Nico Taniguchi (Setouchi High School, Hiroshima Prefecture), Kyoga Horikawa (Shuri Higashi High School), Fumika Yuki (Hita High School)
Third year students: Mitsuki Kyoku (Kyushu Sangyo University Affiliated Kyushu High School), Kosei Hirano (Imari High School), Osuke Matsuura (Kyushu Sangyo University Affiliated Kyushu High School), Kazuhisa Murata (Kumamoto Technical High School), Maina Nonoshita (Tsurusaki Technical High School), Hikari Fukuda (Kyushu International University Affiliated High School), Yasunori Maruyama (Tobata High School)
Project Leader: Koki Iwata, 3rd year student (Chikuzen High School)
[Department of Living Environment Design]
