Zeta E-1 CONCEPT CAR
Project Concept:
The idea behind this design arose from an interest in exploring and developing in three major areas:
1) Mastering Blender as a tool for iterating form ideas while improving 3D modeling, animation and rendering skills.
2) Gaining a better understanding of shape language for vehicles by designing my own concept car.
3) Developing a classic, aerodynamic sports car, with a touch of modern electric car sensibility.
I also created a focused "Why" to delve into the unconventional world of 3-wheeled vehicles summarized here:
Current production 3 wheelers in the U.S. are primarily a statement, as they capitalize on the providing a unique, open-air driving experience. However, this means drivers are often vulnerable to bad weather, lacking protection, and are stuck stuck with a motorcycle-sized storage capacity, despite often having close to the footprint of a 'real' car. In order to address these gaps, aesthetics should be balanced against practical functionality for daily driving.
This design aims to provide a shape that can enclose drivers, protecting them and their stuff from danger, while still catering to what the 3-wheeler enthusiast is all about - experiencing a head-turning, smile-inducing, deeply mechanical machine.
For the project's conclusion, and as a result of extensive exploration, I developed a form language that I carried from the 3-wheeled concept to a 4-wheeled version:
First CONCEPT
Initially, I believed the design should take inspiration from classically aerodynamic planes and utilitarian luggage.
The element of a domed cockpit in the center of a sheet draped over the internals, barely covering them, was a central idea that I would continue to develop through form and materials.
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 settled on a palette that was understated without fully removing the sense that this was an exciting vehicle to sit behind the wheel of by balancing color with textures.
A muted red with hand-buffed steel and carbon-fiber accents felt at home for a design taking notes from raw, unpainted components and exotic sports 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, "ζ", is the Greek symbol for "Zeta"
