Trans RINA, Vol 153, Part C1, Intl J Marine Design, Jul - Dec 2011 11. AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN: INTERIORS 11.1 ERGONOMICS
The intuitive placement of driver controls is paramount. It is a dynamic workstation that is designed with the interface being the road around the car. All controls are positioned so the driver can control his vehicle without taking his hands off his steering wheel and the eyes off the road.
A production car has to fit a large bandwidth of the population. The seating adjustments are based on anthropometric data and the interior is then designed to suit and adapt from 5% ile woman up to a 95% ile mannequin.
Product semantics is the study of sensory cues that allow a designer to communicate with users about a product’s function and meaning, often with the goal of fostering an emotionally satisfying experience12.
Automotive dynamic design assists the semantic code and helps the user understand the functionality of an object instinctively. Aboard a yacht, this could contribute to safe operations and ease of use
11.2 DECODING USAGE
Automotive design language helps us decode the usage of products.
11.3 HAPTICS AND TOUCH DESIGN
The car interior should be designed to be intuitively comprehensible, much of the distinction between switches, handles and surfaces are designed to be sensed by changing the materials or textures or giving a warm or cold feel to a surface. Even in the darkness of the night the usershave to operate controls and find their way around the cockpit safely.
“
...the "Touch Design" concept of perfect symbiosis between man and machine. It's a compelling, intuitive new world, where the form and texture of every element and component imply its function, suggest how you use it and tempt you to touch it” 13
A hire car or yacht has to be easily understood for a safe operation. General acceptance, legislation (for example head impact legislation), common sense and logic play a great part in shaping the safe interior.
11.4 ORDER AND TIDINESS: Two Brands,
two different signifieds
The interior of the Fiat Panda 1 sported an open glove box, a fabric hammock with no lid. This was very cheap and easy to produce. The owner’s objects are easily accessible and this practical solution lays bare the contents of the owner’s glove box to full view. Thus the design values of honesty practicality, utility and frugality extend from the manufacturers to the customer, the customer identifies with these values and this contributed to the endearing charm and success of the model.
The philosophy of other manufacturers (e.g. BMW) is to design the interior in order to make it impossible for the customer to leave objects lying around in a visible area. There are no horizontal surfaces upon which to leave objects. Storage is in closed compartments and the upper facing surfaces are slanted in a way that any object placed there will fall down. This emphasises the qualities of purity- this is the ‘ultimate driving machine’, you cannot have objects sliding around and distracting from the driving experience, - seriousness and consistency, - the interiors will always look tidy to an outside observer, that too will contribute positively to BMW brand values.
Figure 19 Hilti Handtool
The direction of the arrow in Figure 19 shows the main dynamic of the tool. This dynamic helps the user position the tool correctly, as well as answering the following questions:
Where do I pick it up? Where does my hand go? Which way do I point it? Which part is best pointed away from anybody? Will it be tough enough for the job?
11.5 COLOURS, MATERIALS AND UPHOLSTERY
The choice of colours and materials is defined by a specialist department. Colour boards are created to support and enhance the brand, the spirit of the car and the quality of the specific product. Trim designers create a colour and material scheme that is tailor made for each model and market segment, this is refreshed more often than the exterior design of the vehicle
signifiers, two different
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©2011: The Royal Institution of Naval Architects
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