WOOD TOY CAR
LIYEMA NTSEBEZA - 223059306
BRIEF
We were tasked with designing and creating a wooden toy car. The toy was to be sanded to a high finish. It was not to be painted, treated or varnished in any way. We were to use solid wood only. The car was to be a maximum of 200mm long, 120mm wide and 120mm tall. We were to use contrasting wood pieces when building and designing the vehicle. We also designed vinyl decals.
RESEARCH
IDEATION
This car was designed with a lot of influences, from different markets and different time periods. I looked for a range of cars which were either new energy vehicles or vehicles designed for maximum efficient. I used a combination of European, Korean and Chinese vehicles. I also used an Audi A2 from the late 90's as it focused on efficiency and size.
Overall, I wanted to design a compact electric vehicle. This is evidenced by the short overhangs and the long wheelbase.
MANUFACTURE
The manufacturing process was quite seamless honestly. I had an issue with the rear drivetrain not moving. The vehicle contains a combination of subtle and severe curves but the whole model is designed to be easy and comfortable to hold. It is a toy, so as much as the model borrows from modern car design trends, it is still playful and youthful due to its small size and dimunutive proportions.
DECAL DESIGNS
With the decal designs, I designed the front headlamps and the rear lights. I also tried to come up with a performance badge design for the vehicle that looked European and looked like it has prestige and history. I went for a simplified clover cross design with shadows and layers.
OUTCOME
The final model contains soft edges and playful, youthful and childlike proportions and shapes. The rear of the model is shaped with prominent side skirts to widen the vehicle and create a sense of high performance. The rear side is sculpted in line with modern design trends, with sharp, angular graphics, in contrast with the rounded forms of the body.
