Hyundai Motor Group and Rhode Island School of Design Collaborate on Future City Design Research

Joint Research in Four Fields: Digital+Media, Industrial Design+Architecture, Illustration, and Textile

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Hyundai Motor Group announced on the 6th that it has unveiled a collaborative project jointly researched with the world-renowned art university, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), on the theme of future city design.

This joint research is a continuation of the design collaboration initiated last year between Hyundai Motor Group and RISD to realize the vision of future mobility, aiming to discover innovative ideas from nature. Notably, this project expanded the scope beyond future mobility to the theme of 'Future City.'

The joint research is being conducted with RISD’s 'Nature Lab,' a research institution established in 1937 that has supported diverse and in-depth research activities on natural life forms and ecosystems.

For this joint research, RISD opened and operated an industry-academia cooperation program again last year. Five RISD faculty members led the project, supported by designers from Hyundai Motor and Kia. Additionally, 32 students from 10 majors including architecture, graphic design, and industrial design participated as researchers. Compared to last year, new designers from Kia joined the project, and the number of student researchers more than doubled.

The joint research was conducted during RISD’s spring semester from February to May, covering four design fields: digital + media, industrial design + architecture, illustration, and textile. The digital + media design research team studied designs that can interact with the surrounding environment using self-healing cells and biosensing. The industrial design + architecture team proposed research models and scenarios to realize sustainable future cities.

Meanwhile, the illustration design team researched various designs that can clearly visualize complex urban information by utilizing audiovisual elements such as media, animation, and sound. The textile design team analyzed diverse human behaviors to design fabrics and structures that create new value.

Jiyoung Jo, Head of Innovation at Hyundai Motor Group, said, "This year’s joint research with RISD not only expanded the theme from ‘future mobility’ to future cities but also demonstrated a higher level of collaboration through broader participation from Hyundai to Kia designers. Through this collaboration, we will explore ways to apply new ideas to actual businesses such as advanced automotive design and smart city construction, and continue innovation to create the future through open innovation."

Dave Pru, Acting President of RISD, stated, "I am pleased to see the results of this collaboration born from RISD’s pursuit of an innovative curriculum and interdisciplinary exchange. We are grateful to Hyundai Motor Group for their full support, enabling artists and designers to spread their wings by utilizing technology."

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