Drive is celebrating 20 years since it was established in September 1997. To mark the event we had a Drive Design Studio at the Goodwood Revival.
The Goodwood Revival is a fantastic event caught in a nostalgic time warp encorporating the best of 1940s, 50s and 60s motor racing meetings.
A chance for visitors to take themselves out of their modern world and watch rare and classic cars racing flat out with no quarter given around the classic Goodwood circuit, as well as simply taking in all the surrounding period attractions.
For Drive it was an opportunity to celebrate our anniversary and acknowledge the support we have had from design and engineering colleagues, clients and suppliers.
Over the weekend we were pleased that everyone visiting Drive’s revival Design Studio, entered in to the spirit of the event, both in their vintage attire and the Designer activities.
Thanks and see you all soon.
The Royal College of Art vehicle designers were showing off their degree projects this week eager to explain the thinking behind their concepts.
Following on from last year, the demise of the steering wheel continues as most of the concepts looked to the autonomous ‘driving’ future.
The devil makes work for idle hands …… so what are we going to be doing as we recline in our vehicle.
Well, everything from looking after our new born baby to the wellbeing of our mental health. At this time reflecting on the evening, there was a positive message coming from the designers – very specific ideas, in-depth research and with an optimistic view for the vehicle’s future and its role in society.
For the Drive design team the talking point was Ken Zheng’s striking concept, not because of the type of vehicle, but the bold statement created through controlled lines and complex surfaces that appear deceptively simple.
If you have time get along to see the show, as well as the other course work – it is certainly worth a visit.
RCA is open to the public from June 23rd to 2nd July.
Drive were invited to attend the National Transport Design Centre opening ceremony, with a private viewing of the Coventry Automotive Design Degree Show being arranged before the event.
At the degree show the quality of the student’s design work was very high, with the diverse range of transportation projects catching the eye. I truly believe that the quality level overall was the best in recent years and a tribute to the designer’s hard work and the course tutors’ support.
The limited time available to view and be able to talk with the students before being transported to the NTDC, means a return visit will be required to fully appreciate everyone’s efforts. For those we didn’t get the chance to speak to on the night I apologise.
Meanwhile on the other side, as the day entered the twilight zone, Jaguar’s Ian Callum and Jodie Kidd cut the ribbon to officially launch the National Transport Design Centre – NTDC. The vision of the facility is to be recognised as a world leader in understanding the factors which influence transport design. Quite an ambition, but with the centre’s facilities and attendees from industry that included, Martin Darbyshire of Tangerine, Geely’s Guy Burgoyne, Pratap Bose and Martin Ulharik from TATA and Anthony Kenny-Williams from SAIC amongst others all making the right noises, hopefully an achievable one.
I would like to thank everyone involved in the event for inviting us and making the evening such a success.
Aeronautical engineer-turned-artist Brendan Walker the creator of VR Playground, involved Drive in the building of the environments that he then programmed into a virtual reality experience. You put on a virtual reality headset and start to swing, the motion detection matches your inputs and you are transported through the virtual world.
Walker, is one of the worlds created in his VR Playground which you can currently experience at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
The diversity of the public enjoying the experience shows the empowerment of Virtual Reality technology.
“The worlds I have created are going to challenge your body and mind,” commented thrill engineer Brendan Walker.
Brendan has taken the forces of the swing and re-engineered or reverse-engineered them create four new virtual worlds where you believe that your body is doing four very different things other than swinging. As a spectator you will think people are just on an ordinary swing but the experiences for people include bouncing like a shuttlecock across buildings, feeling like you are inside a giant wheel rolling through the street and propelling yourself like a jellyfish undulating upwards in the water.
This has been a fascinating project to be involved with. Drive are building on this experience, and hoping to take some of the learning and applying it to the automotive and transportation industries
Brendan Walker – http://www.aerial.fm
Ripley Soapbox Challenge is being held today on the 5th August 2017 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Meeting at Ripley Court Meadows, the event has seen local businesses and residents propel their machines around the purpose built track.
With a large crowd enjoying the racing, entertainment and refreshments it is a great credit to everyone involved with the organising of the event.
Get along to enjoy taking part in one of the local scouts’ 5 ready to race chassis, it really is a fun packed event, with a raffle, auction and bouncy castle.
For more information please go to the official Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1474672985900654/
1pm Saturday 5th August 2017 – Ripley Court Meadows
