Mois : avril 2014

Publié le

MICROSOFT PARIS | NEW DESIGN INTERFACE

Microsoft Paris web
Tuesday, March 25th, 2014, MICROSOFT organized a conference on «NEW DESIGN INTERFACE» in its French headquarters in Issy Les Moulineaux.
GEOFFREY DORNE, freelance designer, gave his vision of a simple design based on 5 HUMAN tag lines:
– A better life
– Design comes from others
– A thought of the action
– A vector for relationships
– Turn “how” to “why”
Thus, any act of design is a human act emphasizing leapfrogging technology, but it is not the last word.
ADOBE, represented by its consultant David DERAEDT, has developed the new ADOBE orientation with the availability of a conventional purchase license model called ACC (ADOBE Creative Cloud). ACC is created from individual property sharing or right to use subscriptions resulting in the breakdown of borders between specialists. Each Adobe end-user can grab any software needed, for the time he wants, without worrying about the license or version, because he has access to the whole ADOBE catalog.
For David DERAEDT, the ACC is very well suited to creativity, which is the basis of a designer’s job. However, some large companies remain quite cautious vis-à-vis the cloud and it is still possible to stay with the old system, at least for now…
LudoTIC, a consulting firm in Ergonomics and Human-Machine Interaction, based in Nice, represented by TERESA COLOMBI (expert in cognitive psychology and ergonomics), showed us the progress in the field of visual control interfaces through a solution called EYE TRACKING. Nowadays, the hardware is much lighter and easier to implement with direct integration into a PC, as previewed in 2014. The principal advantages of the pilot are for the development and use of the user interface:
-Visibility of elements
-Understanding of contents
-Emotional and visual impact
This is now achieved in a non-intrusive manner and without the direct action of the user. Many industrial companies will quickly integrate this technology into new HMI environments.
STRATE COLLEGE, the well-known industrial design school based in Issy les Moulineaux, has developed the challenges of future industrial designers in the design of connected objects that will be based on the hybridization of the digital world with the physical world.
To better cover these areas, the school has created a new department « INTERACTION DESIGN » that will allow future designers to better understand both worlds.

Microsoft Conference web

Publié le

GENEVA 2014 | Trends

Because it is on neutral ground, we have come to expect many “world premieres” at Geneva with a lot of new models and concepts.  It is usually a very interesting show. This year was no exception. And most of the concept cars were production preview/teasers.

Geneva2014-2

We were very surprised not to see Bertone on the first floor, but knowing that Michael Robinson has left, this is not a good sign…
From the previous articles you have read, you already know that the main trend this year is an overall reduction in size. Many new cars came in the A-segment, and engine size continues to be reduced…Ecology becomes more and more important and every car maker emphasizes its communication on that topic.
But Geneva is also the place of exclusive cars.
McLaren unveiled the convertible version of the 650S. There is no change in terms of the mechanicals and the design remains very sculptural.

Lamborghini introduced the Huracan. No surprise here. And it is certainly a Lamborghini. Very tight lines characterize this vehicle.

Aston Martin displayed two special editions at Geneva. The V8 Vantage N430 might be our favorite in terms of proportions, very compact and sporty. The engineers have reduced the weight of the car using carbon fiber and Kevlar seats for example.  Many “cosmetic” details are added to give a dark-themed exterior, such as graphite painted forged alloy wheels alongside the black front grille, headlamp bezels, exterior meshes, side window surrounds, textured tailpipe finishers and clear rear lamps with black surrounds. This gives the car the appropriate identity. Inside, as out, the link with automotive competition is clear.
The second car is the DB9. It was displayed with two exclusive finishes called Carbon White and Carbon Black. Both editions include additional carbon fibre side strakes and black window surrounds reinforcing the powerful visual themes. The interior featured a strong ‘black’ styling theme showcasing carbon fibre details and new black hardware  There is a choice of accent colors matching the brake caliper shade….

 

Being Geneva, the show had plenty of exotic and exclusive cars as well — great examples of automotive art and engineering, but not so interesting in terms of design……..
Well, Geneva is usually one of the best Auto Shows of the year.  And in 2014 that is still the case.  The automotive industry is alive and well, no matter how much the economy or politics may impact it in Europe. Competition and the environment continue to drive the car-makers forward, introducing more and more vehicles powered by Hybrid or Electric energy.
It is a good sign. We can’t wait to see more in Paris…

Paris2014-2

Publié le

GENEVA 2014 | AUDI TT MK3

Audi has unveiled the third opus of its modern classic TT.  The TT Mk1 is an icon of design. The TT Mk3 is certainly close to being another one, especially with its interior…

In 1998, the design of the TT was a revolution. Geometrical shape, strong design language.
The Audi Design team ‘lost the plot’  to some extent with the Mk2, which was less interesting in terms of design, very common in its shape and image. But the designers have now come back to their roots.
This Mk3 version is very muscular and stands very low to the ground. The large wheel arches amplify that feeling. The flat greenhouse gives the impression of a cockpit. The car is wide and low — very sporty. The six sided grill appears to be more three dimensional. The lower air-intake line (on the normal version) gives the impression of a floating grill. This nice impression is lost on the TTS, but the side intakes compensate for this loss… The addition of slim headlamps gives a little bit of aggressiveness, just enough…

The interior is very simple, designed with the idea that “less is more”… Pure lines are used giving the impression that the dashboard is floating.
There is no central screen anymore. Everything is grouped in front of the driver with a so called “Virtual cockpit” meaning that the cluster is made of a single customizable screen.
You can choose to have the speedometer showing, the Navigation and/or any function of the MMI.
There is no doubt that this design will initiate a new fashion and new possibilities in cluster design. We are used to the smartphone and smart TV, let’s be sure that we will very soon talk about smart IP’s…
Seen from above, the instrument panel resembles the wing of an aircraft. Designers have kept the round air vents, which is a signature of the TT, now with a turbine-like design. Perhaps most importantly, the center of the vents contain all the controls for the air conditioning system. There are less buttons in the centre area of the panel and the centre console, less controls. And everything seems to be very simplified…We can agree that in such a design, less is certainly more…

With the TT Quattro Concept show car that was also shown in Geneva, Audi wanted to demonstrate what technology can do if used in an efficient way.  Audi also wanted to promote the fact that smaller engines can give a lot of power and sensation to the driver.  Which means that they plan to reduce cylinders and engine size in future production cars to improve fuel economy and emissions without giving away the essence of the automobile…what we call driving pleasure…