College for Creative Studies Transportation Design Students Unveil Urban Youth Vehicles
DETROIT, Oct. 1, 2003 -- Today's vehicles are sleek and sophisticated. But what happens when you incorporate trendy, cutting-edge, innovative steel technologies and alternative fuels into the package and target it for young automotive consumers in 2010? Three students took the challenge to predict the future of automotive design in the College for Creative Studies (CCS)/American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 2003 student internship "Urban Youth" design challenge.
The AISI program inspired three CCS transportation design students to work towards one goal: design functional, futuristic vehicles marketed to urban youth that integrate environmental responsibility, cost-efficiency and innovative steel materials.
Before an audience of automotive senior executives, steel industry representatives, members of the media, and CCS faculty, the three students unveiled their new concept models and discussed how they met the challenge to design a vehicle that would capture the growing urban youth market.
The AISI interns were CCS students Jeff Hammoud of Windsor, Ontario; Amina Horozic, a Clinton Township resident originally from Sarajevo; and Lawrence Yeung, a Texas native who resides in Detroit. All are Industrial Design majors specializing in Transportation Design.
Project instructor Ken Grant, a CCS alumnus and former faculty member, led the team of student designers. Each student worked with Grant, AISI steel application specialists and professional automotive designers to move through the challenge, garnering rare insights into the actual process of automotive production with tours of the DaimlerChrysler Warren Stamping Plant and Rouge Steel Mill.
"The field trips were a real eye-opener," Grant said. "I was impressed with the new steel technologies, which didn't even exist a few years ago. Advanced high-strength steels are now state-of-the-art in the automotive industry, allowing vehicles to be lighter and more fuel-efficient, yet affordable. Steel has always been known for its safety, durability, and recyclability, but it also can be used innovatively to meet challenges faced by automotive designers. I think that these tours were especially valuable for the students."
The students combined classroom and real-world experience as they designed their vehicles with the Alias computer program, then had them formed into models by a milling specialist. "Seeing my vehicle design go from Alias to a milled model was a unique experience for me," said Amina Horozic, winner of several design scholarships. "This internship has been one of the most valuable opportunities in my education at CCS, as I have had to draw on past knowledge and combine it with steel-intensive design learned through this program. I have been challenged to think creatively in steel and can use this knowledge throughout my automotive design career."
"The AISI challenge epitomizes the spirit of partnerships that exists between CCS and the industrial community," said Imre Molnar, the College's Dean. "In all aspects of design study, but especially in transportation, we work with an array of manufacturers, suppliers, and other professionals to provide students with opportunities to work on projects and face the kinds of problem-solving situations they will encounter when they enter their chosen fields."
"AISI and the steel producers are proud to make this investment in the next generation of automotive designers. It provides us with a unique opportunity to introduce them to advances in steel material and manufacturing technologies for future vehicles," said L. Allen Root, chairman of the Automotive Applications Committee, AISI.
Ron Krupitzer, senior director, automotive applications, AISI said: "The future of automotive design looks brighter with every new project. This is the 15th year of the AISI/CCS program, and we've had many outstanding graduates that have gone on to positively impact automotive design at the OEMs. It's exciting to tap into the talent pool that exists at CCS, and we're pleased to be part of this ongoing partnership."
The College for Creative Studies is one of the nation's leading arts education institutions. A private, fully accredited, four-year college, CCS offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in animation and digital media, communication design, crafts, fine arts, illustration, industrial design, interior design and photography. The college also offers non-credit courses in the visual arts through its Community Arts Partnerships continuing and community education program. CCS is located in Detroit's Cultural Center, where it provides a challenging learning environment in which students explore issues of art and design while preparing for careers in the professional world. More information is available at the College's website: www.ccscad.edu .
The American Iron and Steel Institute is a non-profit association of North American companies engaged in the iron and steel industry. The Institute comprises 30 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view the American Iron and Steel Institute's website at www.steel.org . The Market Development members of AISI have committed to investing and advancing steel solutions for today's market demands. The Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) is a subcommittee of the Market Development Committee of AISI and focuses on advancing the use of steel in the highly competitive automotive market. With offices and staff located in Detroit, cooperation between the automobile and steel industries has been key to its success. This industry cooperation resulted in the formation of the Auto/Steel Partnership, a consortium of DaimlerChrysler, Ford and General Motors and the member companies of the AAC. For more news or information, view the American Iron and Steel Institute/Automotive Applications Committee's website at www.autosteel.org .
