Industrial Design: 91-96 GM B Body Sedan Trunk Panel Kit
30" x 20" @ 170DPI
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Using a website known as photopea, which is a free online photoshop, I created a presentation board to display my design for my product. This piece required a lot of research as well as creativity to try and figure out how I could use aspects others have already used, and then modify those aspects to make sure my product has the best functionality possible and goes beyond other models that have already been created. My biggest challenge was taking measurements while trying to account for other items he planned on installing in his vehicles trunk space. I started off with rough sketches that turned into mock ups made out of cardboard. Using cardboard allowed for both I and the client to better visualize the product in the space and get a better understanding for what worked and what needed further modification.
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P.O.V.
Having not received any attention in the last 7 years, I took it upon myself to try my best at "restoring" a 1996 Chevy Impala SS back to its full potential. A key area that this needed work on was the trunk space. After talking with the owner, I found that he wanted to have a custom trunk panel kit like the ones seen in many show cars, but with the ones he had seen, he had issues with either the price, looks, or even both. He explained to me that he wanted something that had clean lines and looked like it belonged with the car. He wanted something that looked presentable while still being able to keep the functionality of a trunk. For this aspect, we brainstormed the idea of these panels functioning as extra storage, almost as a cabinet. He isn't the type of person to keep his prize car full of junk and unnecessary items, but he liked the idea of providing a little extra hidden from plain sight storage. On the aspect of looks and aesthetics, he wanted something that looked clean and sharp that he would feel comfortable taking to shows and showing off to friends and family. One aspect he noted was he did not want to see any sharp corners sticking out where they were not necessary.
See, Think, Hear, Feel
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him talk about how
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Planning Sketches:
This project required a lot of tweaking when it came to making mock ups and rough drafts. I decided the best way to make them would be out of some normal cardboard I found around my house. Using cardboard, I was able to cut and cut away using a knife until the edges matched and sat flush with the body panels. This seemed better than starting off with drawn sketches as on paper I could not depict every curve and cut out that was necessary for the pieces to fit together and fit the space in the cleanest way possible. Using cardboard resulted in many failed tries whenever I would cut away to much material, but I was able to use some of the failed attempts by piecing them together on a bigger piece of cardboard and making the cuts that I was sure were in the right place. This was a long process, but once I had one side done, I was essentially just mirroring the pieces for the other side and then making slight adjustments where needed. This process was a challenge but in the long run left me with very precise pieces that fit better than expected and left me with great templates for the next phase when I begin the rough models made out of plywood. It made more sense to me to test and fail with cardboard rather than have to do this with plywood with is much more expensive and not as forgiving.
Inspirations:
For the process, I referred to Larry Murphy. He is a retired industrial designer who I was given the chance to work with as part of a ongoing art project in partnership with MIAD. Retiring after over 40 years of working for GE Medical, he designed many medical systems that are still in use today ranging from X-ray machines to patient monitoring systems. After 40 years in the industrial design business, he learned a lot of tips and tricks that he shared with my class. Using these tips and tricks helped throughout all of the ideology process of this project. He taught me to try to relate to my client while also thinking about the wider population that could also use the products I design and always have empathy. Having empathy allows for me to get a feel for what my client is feeling and potentially create a better design that better fits their needs. The design process has to be seen from not only the perspective of the designer and client, but also the population this product targets as it may benefit more than just one person. Using all the tips and techniques he shared with me, I was able to design a product that fit my clients wants and needs.
For this piece I found a lot of inspiration in other custom trunk kits that I had seen on pinterest and many online forums revolving around the B body community. I was able to use these previous designs to visualize and discuss with the client what would best suite their needs and wants. I was able to show the client what has already worked, and how I could incorporate ideas from various different previous designs into his perfect kit. Using these as references gave me ideas had not thought of such as the angle of the panels, storage, fitment, and materials. I concluded that for this project, a kit made out of plywood or mdf board would work best based on the clients ideas.
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Simmilarities:
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