Zeta E-1
Project Concept:
The idea behind this design arose from an interest in exploring and developing in three major areas:
1) Learning Blender as a versatile tool for iterating ideas while improving my 3D modeling, animation and rendering skills with a single project.
2) Gaining a better understanding of shape language for vehicles by designing my own concept car.
3) Searching for the look of an aerodynamic sports car, with a touch of electric car futurism.
With these goals in mind, I went on a journey to make my concept electric coupe sport car.
First CONCEPT
Initially, I believed the design should take inspiration from planes and utilitarian luggage.
The element of a domed "cockpit" in the center of a sheet draped over the internals, barely covering them, was an idea that I would carry with me as I continued to develop the form and materials more.
REFINing
I attempted to solidify the design aesthetic with a retro inspired, streamlined look.
Here, the rear wheel starts to become more accented, to draw a connection to the car as having more purely utilitarian, geometric internals, under the sleek surfaces.
Animating the hard top cover movement was fun to help imagine getting inside, but there are still no doors yet.
final 3 wheeled design
I found a color pallet that could be understated without fully removing the sense that this was an exciting vehicle to sit behind the wheel of.
A muted color with hand-buffed steel and carbon-fiber accents felt at home for a car taking design notes from raw, exposed motorcycles and minimal, future-leaning electric cars.
4 wheeled version
In the four-wheeled design the internal components became more enclosed, but still visible from specific angles.
Once I felt the shape conveyed a sense of flowing speed, I added the parallel line headlights (referencing stripes appearing in other areas) and made a detail for the model number.
Model number design:
the leftmost character is the Greek symbol for "Zeta"
