What Future Design Did Hyundai Motor·Kia and US Design School Create?

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia unveiled a joint research project with the world-renowned American art college, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), on the 23rd.

This project is conducted in collaboration with RISD's Nature Lab. Established in 1937, Nature Lab is a research institution that has conducted diverse and in-depth studies on natural organisms and ecosystems.

Since 2020, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have been operating a regular joint research program annually with RISD to discover future design concepts inspired by nature. Now in its fourth year, this joint research focuses on "a future life of coexistence," conducting design studies inspired by nature and living organisms. Previous collaborations explored future mobility, future cities, and sustainable futures.

Design idea of 'Interior Panel Responsive to Humidity and Air Using Pinecone Structure' proposed by the furniture design research team in the Hyundai Motor Company?Kia-RISD project
[Photo by Hyundai Motor Company·Kia]

This joint research project was led by two RISD faculty members and involved 24 RISD students majoring in various design fields such as architecture, furniture, and industrial design as researchers. Hyundai Motor Company and Kia designers supported the overall research. For the first time this year, engineers from the research and development division also participated, providing technical feedback.

Karim Habib, Head of Kia Global Design Center, said, "As sustainable development becomes increasingly important, we aim to discover design concepts that will change the future by closely observing the complex yet efficient systems created by nature and drawing wisdom from it."

Crystal Williams, President of Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), stated, "RISD continues to generate infinite ideas and innovations based on curiosity about the world in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia. Such creative activities are research toward the future as well as seeking new solutions to the problems we currently face."

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