Hyundai Design: 30 students develop new mobility concepts

Hyundai also conducted a design competition, in this case together with Munich University of Applied Sciences. The competition was accompanied and supervised by an interdisciplinary team of designers as well as Hyundai's design chief Thomas Bürkle and Prof. Dr. Othmar Wickenheiser, Professor of Transportation Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich. The focus of the design considerations was the expectations of young people for individual and public mobility in the future. Inspired by an initial event at the Hyundai Europe Technical Center in Rüsselsheim, each project participant gradually defined their vision for the future for the Hyundai brand.
The four prize winners, who finally presented their future models to the Hyundai Design management team in Rüsselsheim, bridged the gap between the present and future mobility without restrictions.

Modular Mobility Study "Coup-e" Offers Current Approaches

The modular mobility study "Coup-e" by Paul Anker outlines how Hyundai envisions public transport. While the propulsion is designed to be autonomous and emission-free, the traffic participant can determine and design the passenger cell themselves. Do they want to travel in company or rather alone and with distance from the other passengers? A modular concept offers various options. The quickly exchanged flexible seating modules cater to people's needs and currently provide a relevant approach under the prevailing distance and hygiene rules of the Corona pandemic. Depending on passenger volume, the study can be individually extended or shortened between the front and rear drive modules, and the distance to other humans can be regulated.

The Autonomous Passenger Drone "Kibun" Adapts to the Individual Personality Profile

In the future concept "Kibun" - the Korean word "Kibun" stands for the character traits of every person - an autonomous passenger drone not only offers individual space in increasingly crowded large cities by utilizing the airspace with its hydrogen-powered mode. The exterior also adapts to the personality profile of the drone subscriber, enabling a new level of user experience for the passenger. Based on each person's personality profile, an individual pattern is graphically projected onto the sides of the drone - creating an individual artwork. The concept by design student Sümeyra Yalcin also underscores that Generation Z will value pure driving experience more than ownership. Hence, the drone is subscribed to rather than purchased and is customized for each subscriber individually.

 "Cyber Race" Satisfies the Longing for Speed

But it was not only the future mobile needs that were highlighted by the students. With the project "Cyber Race" by winner Youngdo Kim, a virtual reality race spanning all generations, the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds are crossed. The race driver steers an electric racing car that moves along a track with integrated wireless charging function through magnetic levitation technology. The game character is displayed through a holographic system. Since it is a small car, one can start as a race driver immediately without prior knowledge or training. With "Cyber Race," the longing for the thrill of speed is satisfied in a playful manner.

Transportable rest zones "Urban Flower" as relaxation spaces from urban stress

The fourth winner, Etienne Sabarth, aims to make future mobility solutions more social with his project "Urban Flower." Based on the gesture of handing someone a flower and thus giving them joy, the Hyundai Urban Flower is a sculpture moving within urban spaces that serves as a meeting point or a retreat. At the same time, the Urban Flower takes on an active role by being able to empathize with people's moods and thus helping stressed or troubled individuals.

What does it mean?

In all projects, the focus has been placed on the human being, which also forms the basis for future mobility in Hyundai's philosophy and holds an increasingly important place in the emerging Generation Z. The advantage for young designers: they still have all the conceptual freedom and do not have to concern themselves with costs, implementation, and corporate identities. This leads to fresh, sometimes wild ideas and new approaches.