Future Design and Cutting-Edge Technologies
To finalize my creative journey at QUT I was selected from a diverse range of students to be a part of the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy. This journey started with dream-like wonder when I was first notified of my acceptance, I couldn’t stop thinking of all the opportunities that had just been laid out in front of me. Even though I was shocked, I was determined to make the most of my time and now I can reflect upon my journey.
It all started on induction day when, Henry, Elizabeth, Ashley and myself were all introduced to the facility and we got to take a look at the new BMW M8 Competition vehicle. We were then introduced to the project opportunities and as soon as I heard autonomous supercar interior I was captivated. The project consisted of designing the interior form, functions, and features for an autonomous supercar. The design objective was to enhance the driving experience whilst maintaining the functionality and safety of autonomous cars.
During my internship, I started with researching pre-existing hyper cars. I was able to understand important features that enhance the driving experience. Once I had gathered an understanding for hyper cars, I then moved onto scale modelling. Having access to the BMW M8 allowed me to measure and model parts of the car so I could start to build a foundation for my design. All my modelling was done using the latest Virtual Reality software, Gravity Sketch. It is a program that allowed me to model in 3D space, which ensured that my model was to scale.
Initially I was developing a 2-seater coup concept, but after my initial concept presentation I switched to a single seater concept. This put the driver in the middle of the car which would improve the drivers control of the car. Once my model was done, I took it into the Blender software and rendered still images and an animation, this which was the final stage before my presentation.
Overall, the experience was career changing. I came into the internship unsure of where I wanted to go with my career and now I have a strong magnetism towards automotive design. The professional work environment and determination of all the amazing people in the Academy pushed me to achieve my best and I couldn’t be prouder of my project. I strongly feel that my 3D modeling skills have greatly improved, and with the help of everyone during the internship I was able to learn a new rendering program (Blender).
In summary I highly recommend all design students should apply for this program. I didn’t expect to be accepted, but once I was it was an amazing experience. The last thing I will say is that if you have the passion for design and are willing to develop your skills as a designer, you cannot let this opportunity slip by.
Thanks for reading,
Magnus Schultz
BMW Group + QUT Design Academy Intern, Semester 1 2022
