Miika Heikkinen - RCA - Vehicle Design -2010

WindRider

2010-10-07T23:58:00.000+01:00

Aero Coupe

2010-10-05T20:07:00.002+01:00

Two Wheeler

2010-10-05T18:28:00.001+01:00

One Wheeler

2010-10-05T16:19:00.001+01:00

Fiat 500 - Water Colour painting

2010-10-03T11:42:00.001+01:00

scar

2010-09-23T12:49:00.003+01:00

This started of as a normal, small city car, but it didn't really do anything new in terms of design so I ended up turning it into something more sculptural and raw.

Nissan concepts

2010-09-17T18:23:00.003+01:00

Spent a few hours Photoshop rendering a more aggressive Micra. After that I really felt like doing a cleaner design, so I ended up designing the electric "Micro" concept.

Bentley?

2010-09-11T13:34:00.000+01:00

About five days a week I do tight rendering at work, so I really felt like doing some looser stuff on the weekend. I ran into this Japanise artist called Dice Tsutsumi while browsing through the Toy Story 3 book the other day and was really inspired. He's technique is out of this world and the characters are simply awesome. While wondering through the book store I also ran into this book called "the rules of simplicity" which got me thinking, what are the real essentials in vehicle design? It sometimes that we're just adding features to provoke or to be different, but can this trend be aestheticly sustainable...

Ford

2010-08-30T11:42:00.002+01:00

Audi

2010-08-29T18:05:00.000+01:00

Bikes

2010-08-29T13:13:00.001+01:00

buggy

2010-08-28T13:56:00.000+01:00

BMW

2010-08-19T22:58:00.002+01:00

Time to dust off the old Vacom

2010-08-14T13:58:00.001+01:00

Had a great few weeks of holiday in Finland after the hectik final year in the RCA. I've also started working at McLaren in Woking and doing some freelance work on the side. So things are looking good and there's even time to do some random renderings...awesome.

Three days after the Private View

2010-06-27T11:33:00.001+01:00

Three days and +30 hours of sleep after the Private view night I'm starting to feel partly re cahrged again.

The Private view night was a great experience. A lot of interesting talks with Designers from different companies and journalists as well.

Here's a few images form http://blog.vladimirantonov.ru/?p=1285#more-1285

Next step is to modify the design based on the feed back for my protfolio and start looking for some work.

12 Days to the Private View

2010-06-12T01:56:00.002+01:00

Nearly there. 12 days to go and still a lot to do. Next week is going to filled with model building.

24 days left to the Degree show!!

2010-05-31T20:41:00.000+01:00

A bit more then three weeks left untill the Degree Show, and things are getting hektic but also happening. Still most of the model building to do, but most of the parts are on their way. Exciting times! :)

New Bentley rendering

2010-04-30T01:26:00.000+01:00

yep.

AlterEco new images

2010-04-30T00:55:00.000+01:00

While working on my new Portfolio I decided to do a few new abstract renderings for my summer internship project.

2009 // Opel flow for 2049

2010-04-30T00:39:00.000+01:00

The Flow is one of the more conceptual projects I've done. The brief was to design a vehicle which would represent Opel in 2049.

The Flow is a single seater zero emission vehicle, that allows the people to navigate the city in a relaxed way. When not in use it integrates to the infrastructure to provide resting places and to recharge itself.

Because of this project I was privileged to get to visit the Opel design studios in Rüsselsheim after which I spent the summer there working as a intern.

Quick Marker Audi renderings

2010-04-22T19:28:00.000+01:00

"I'm designing an interior, I'm designing an interior, I'm designing an interior..." Yes, I've managed to stay away from designing an exterior for my final project since in the beginning of the project I decided to focus on the interior. Most of the project's I've done so far have been exterior driven, but I really feel that the interior is the part that needs much more problem solving.

So every now and then (really occasionally) I've had to give my self a brake and do some "pure styling - no thinking" exteriors. :) Here's a few fast old school marker renderings.

iRonic - After gym

2010-04-22T19:19:00.000+01:00

Quite often after many, many hours of marker renderings I start feeling a bit sarcastic...

This time I decided to use the mood to create a series of gyming robots for my iRonic series (somehow it doesn't seem funny anymore..).

Helsinki Winter Olympics 2030

2010-03-25T12:49:00.001Z

My concept is based on the scenario that Helsinki would get the winter games in 2030. The rationale here was to imagine a new way to promote Finland, The Finnish way of Design and also the Design Heritage. Based on the dream of having a Finnish vehicle design company, these vehicles would be produced in Finland with Finnish materials and know-how. The traditional Finnish design is heavily influenced by the demands/possibilities/appreciation of chosen material and by the needed functionality. That's why it's common to leave the material "raw" instead of trying to hide it with pain etc.

After doing some research about the way the athletes operate during the games, I realised they're not really getting a real idea about the surroundings they're in. During the games they're so focused on the task in hand, that the days are spent travelling between the venues and accommodation. After the games it's typical to head of as soon as possible. So why not offer the athletes a way of seeing the a bit of Finland while recharging after their performance.

The vehicles would offer the athletes, staff and audience a possibility for a guided tour around some particular areas. While in the vehicle they would have the option to choose what information to gain via an intelligent gps/info system. The interior would be calm and revitalising, while reflecting the Finnish ambient.

After the games the vehicle would modify into a micro rental system, having a strong influence on the common day to day commuter.

I've designed the supporting transportation system around the Helsinki and Tahko venues, based on the present future possibilities. Next step is to design the actual promotion vehicle.

Abstract model CNC'd

2010-03-25T11:55:00.001Z

Finally, the abstract model for the show is out of the CNC machine. The dimensions are 89 cm x 58cm x 14cm and it's milled out of Birch. Pretty happy with the result, just need to do a bit of sanding.

The idea with this sculpture is to reflect the Finnish nature and -elements through it's abstract forms. Hopefully once at the show, it will strengthen the Finnish feeling around my actual model.

The sculpture is actually two sided. Will post some ideation sketches with the counter side soon.

As for now, it will work as inspiration for the design of the vehicle ->time for some actual design work!

Ultima Thule by Tapio Wirkkala

2010-03-14T20:28:00.000Z

This week I finally get to mill my wooden sculpture! Getting the birch was quite a challenge itself (my initial sculpture design weighed 320kg…). Hopefully everything goes well so that I can finally start hacking on some actual design work.

A huge inspiration for my sculpture came from Tapio Wirkkalas “Ultima thule”. Apparently his inspiration came from the finnish river rapids.

I’ll post some images my sculpture next week…assuming all goes well.:)

2009 // Kei Car - Barcelona

2010-03-14T20:17:00.000Z

Our second project was sponsored by Suzuki and Daihatsu. The brief was to design a Kei Class segment vehicle for the European market, especially looking at female customers, for 2020.

The key idea was to create a vehicle witch would allow maximum visibility. The interior features are integrated to the organic support structure, which eliminate the need for A-,B- or C- pillars.

2008 //AutoCare Ambulance project - Our first project in the RCA

2010-03-14T20:06:00.002Z

Our first project in the RCA was to design an Ambulance for 2015. Based on a few years research we were informed that in most cases the patient could be treated onsite, which would cut the transportation cost (-> fuel) substantially.

The Boxfish concept is based on the fact that every case is different as is every patient. The morphing interior allows the paramedics to morph the interior individually for every patients needs.

In most of the cases the paramedics don't have a clue what they're up against when heading for the scene. The storage design which allows the paramedics to accesses the storage from the inside and the outside of the vehicle speeds up the working situation.

Green Dot Awards

2010-02-28T12:11:00.009Z

We won two Honorable Mentions with the London Garden Concept in the Green Dot Awards 2009 (transportation & concept)!! Thank's for a great project Mårten and Dave!

http://greendotawards.com/2009/

Bentley Project Final 3D Renderings

2010-02-08T12:44:00.001Z

Done!! ☺

Finally the Bentley project is done and I feel like the design improved by miles from December as did the Cfd.

In a nutshell, great project, learned a lot about aerodynamics and also about Bentley as well.

Here’s some final renderings of the Ten11.

55 hours to Final Bentley Presentation - nearly there

2010-02-03T11:17:00.004Z

A long, exciting and honestly quite draining project is close to the end. 55 hours of intense rendering, Photoshoping and presentation building ahead...Wo-Yeah! õ..-
AutoBlog article

Will be adding more images and explanations next week.

eFerrari - Coachmakers award entry

2010-01-25T12:28:00.001Z

The brief for this years Coachmakers Award applications was "your dream car"...

I designed an electric Ferrari. The idea was that my dream car would have the brains of a Tesla and the passion of a Ferrari - simple. I Decided to do something I hadn't done before (water colour/ink renderings) and also for someone important.

2009 Intership project - Opel/Advanced_Rüsselsheim

2010-01-25T09:59:00.004Z

During the summer I got to do my interndhip at Opel’s advanced studio in Rüsselsheim, Germany. Very cool experience and really nice people.

After a few weeks of normal design tasks I was very lucky to be given compleatly free hands and work on my own project. I decided to do something I back then felt like a part of my degree project – zero emission vehicle powered by an compressed air engine.

In a nut shell - AlterEco is a four seater emission free vehicle. It’s fuelled by compressed air, which is stores in it’s body structure and compresses while parked. The main design idea is to imply the powering method through the organic structure growing from the front compressor, which devides the ”fuel” equally through the vehicle and at the same time creates the needed support frame for the vehicle.

(Project duration 8 weeks)

Bentley Aero-Ace project – Round II Sketches

2010-01-23T14:25:00.003Z

13 days left on the Bentley project, getting quite intensive... The 3D model and the aero testing is one round from being done. The Cd has so far gone down from 0.313 to 0.296 but the greater gain has been achieved in the CdA.

Most of the work at this point is done on 3D, so every chance I get to Photoshop some details and do some loose rendering feels quite...therapeutic. :)

iRonic - Dance

2010-01-21T16:44:00.000Z

Citroen II...

2010-01-18T22:46:00.001Z

Got a bit excited about doing these crazy Citroen renderings...good family fun_

Quick Citroen Photoshop practise rendering

2010-01-18T15:17:00.001Z

Every now and then I realize that the best way of analysing what needs to be done next, when working under pressure happens while doing something completely out of the context...While the Bentley project is getting nearer and nearer to the end, and the Interim show opens in two weeks AND the final degree project is almost in square one, I decided to practise my poor Photoshopping skills with some quick, fun & crazy Citroen concepts...

Quick Bike Sketch

2010-01-12T21:56:00.001Z

Never really sketched a bike before, so I thought this might be the right time to give it a go.

Local Motors - Alaska Race 2013 - entry

2010-01-01T12:42:00.000Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Decided to do a quick one-two day sketching project for this competition organized by Local Motors, "just for the shits and giggles". The brief was to design a vehicle that could handle the most extreme weather conditions thrown at it in a imaginary race in Alaska in 2013.

LUMI is an agile, light weight, two seater vehicle (passengers sitting in one row). The main feature is the double wheels in the front and back, which allows it to overcome is some seriously steep obstacles. In case of some deep powder the front wheel sets can be changed for skies..

Bentley Aero-Ace project – Round I

2009-12-17T13:50:00.002Z

The brief was to design a Bentley Continental GT for the mid-century taste. On this project, we also collaborated with EXA, a company specialising on virtual air tunnel testing. Their job was to help us enhance the aerodynamics of our vehicles and by doing so, help us create more efficient models.

The name “TEN11” originates from the logo’s history. The Bentley logo wings have ten feathers on the left side and eleven on the right side…I thought this little detail expresses well what Bentley is mostly about – Extreme details.

TEN11 runs on four electric hub motors located in each wheels. By having a conventional Bentley proportions (long bonnet …), I’ve managed to create a big luggage space in the front of the vehicle, even though the over all dimensions are quiet a lot smaller then the current GT.

The final dead-line for this project is in the beginning of February, so I will be adding the new, more refined version then…

iRonics - Recharging

2009-12-17T12:50:00.000Z

Everyone needs some recharging every now and then..

Final Degree Project Process

2009-12-07T15:15:00.000Z

I’ve started a blog to record the process of designing my final degree project here in the Royal College of Art. I have about six months left until the final degree show and the process is still really in its first stage: trying to define my concept.

Other reason for this blog is to save my relatives and friends from my marathon e-mails concerning my latest creations and designs – now they’ll have an option. On this blog I’m also planning to present some of the other designs I come up with on the way, while practising new techniques like with the iRonics, with some illustrations of my older projects from the way.

iRonics

2009-12-07T15:01:00.000Z

With the background on Industrial Design, I'm quite interested on the relationship between the mechanical- and sculptural design.

I designed the "iRonics" series to practise a new technique (classic ink and watercolour) which I'm planning to use in actual vehicle concept presentations. The other reason was to criticise the cliché of the ultimate fighting robot illustrations of the future, which you run into every now and then.

More resolved and detailed illustrations to come.