"Inspired by Nature"... Hyundai Motor Group-RISD Jointly Research Future Mobility Design

Design Direction for Hyundai Motor Group's 'Smart Mobility Vision' Implementation
Inspired by Nature... Participation of Hyundai Designers and RISD Faculty and Students

Hyundai Motor Group and RISD's joint future mobility design research 'Graphic Design Team' proposed the 'Future Mobility Hub where Humans and Nature Coexist' design project (Photo by Hyundai Motor Group)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Hyundai Motor Group and the world-renowned design school Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) unveiled a joint research project on the 23rd that proposes a new direction for future mobility design.

Hyundai Motor Group decided to collaborate last year with the 'Nature Lab' under RISD, which possesses outstanding capabilities in related fields, to research new future mobility technologies and designs inspired by nature. Established in 1937, the Nature Lab houses various biological specimens such as plants, animals, and insects, along with state-of-the-art research facilities, supporting diverse research activities on natural life forms and ecosystems. RISD also launched a new industry-academia cooperation program for this joint research with Hyundai Motor Group.

A total of 108 students applied to participate in this joint research. Among them, 16 students from 10 majors?including Architecture, Digital Media, Animation, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Metal Design, Textile Design, Printmaking, Painting, and Aesthetics?were finally selected. Together with four RISD faculty members, they conducted research from February this year for about three months on future mobility innovation across four design fields: graphic, industrial, sound, and textile design.

The 'Industrial Design Research Team' from Hyundai Motor Group and RISD proposed a design project for a 'future city where UAM is the main mode of transportation' (Photo by Hyundai Motor Group)

The graphic design research team utilized advanced technologies such as 3D modeling, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) based on in-depth analysis of microorganisms and symbiotic relationships between different life forms. They proposed ideas that allow experiencing future cityscapes, including future mobility hubs where humans and nature coexist, in virtual spaces. The industrial design team predicted problems of future cities where urban air mobility (UAM) becomes a primary mode of transportation and sought solutions, proposing future cityscapes where humans and nature coexist.

The sound design team collected and analyzed sounds generated by various organisms and natural environments using cutting-edge equipment. They reinterpreted these sounds through a software platform developed at RISD’s spatial audio studio to create a new sound experience that 'makes unheard sounds audible.' They also proposed 'alternative noises' to replace electric vehicle sounds. In the textile design field, an in-depth study of insects (cockroaches) was conducted. Based on the body structure and movement characteristics of insects, they presented biomimetic designs that can enhance the stability of future mobility.

This collaboration was conducted in virtual spaces to freely share ideas beyond physical constraints.

Hyundai Motor Group and RISD officials are discussing joint research on future mobility design. (Photo by Hyundai Motor Group)

Jiyoung Jo, President of Hyundai Motor Group’s Strategy and Technology Division, said, “Through this collaboration, we gained insights that help Hyundai Motor Group’s technological and design innovations,” adding, “Based on shared understanding of future directions, we will continue collaborations for new-level future mobility innovations that align with human-centered future cities.”

Lozan Somerson, President of RISD, commented, “This joint research signifies the realization of RISD’s vision, which has been dedicated to contributing to new knowledge development and enhancing the research capabilities of participants through innovative curricula.”

Hyundai Motor Group and RISD will conduct in-depth joint research on insect lightweight structures and natural purification solutions during this summer semester. They plan to continue their cooperative relationship for future mobility innovations inspired by nature.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.