aslightascanbe

What the sHELL !!

2011-02-03T08:19:00.004Z

Try and buy your fuel from the smaller producer ...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12348746

Not millions but billions!!
There s something wrong here.

Graham Hancock- his work

2011-02-02T08:44:00.000Z

Graham Hancock's work is "opening the mind" to possible ways that the human race can conduct itself in the near future.
Whether you believe in all or part of what he is saying is up to you. We all have different levels in what we believe. Having looked at only a part of his material and others like him, I can see there are many unanswered questions about life and all it's aspects. The next 100 years will probably answer many of the mysteries that puzzle us today.

committee disaster

2010-10-14T11:21:00.001+01:00

The problem with many companies and organisation is when "everyone" becomes involved in the decision process surrounding a "product or concept" being developed. Called committee design it can lead to the most bland and uninspiring results. This is sometimes brought about by a lack of confidence and a lack of strong leadership not to trust designers who were employed to create new and potentially exciting products. This becomes an opportunity lost with the risk of being over run by competition. Finally ends in an expensive revise to the failed project.

3rd. stone

2010-10-09T08:27:00.000+01:00

PSSketch Friday eve .....

SAAB missing a target

2010-10-01T18:39:00.000+01:00

At the Paris motor Saab presented some upbeat news about new models and technology based around electric and hybrid models that will eventually filter into our society. Pity was there is no comments in making vehicles lightweight with new and ecologically friendly materials. We need a breakthrough from using the same old manufacturing processes.
I still believe that Saab is the right size of company with it's heritage to take that step.
I live in hope. T :-)

2010-09-27T20:17:00.000+01:00

The trend is to talk and believe that electric vehicles are the future. That might be so, but what would really help is a dramatic change in the way cars are made.
It would be more convincing to look for alternative materials to replace Steel and make vehicles much lighter. That should be a primary goal for all involved in the automotive industry. I guess there is an unwillingness to change when the infrastructure has been in place for many, many years and then its down to finances, once more. In my opinion vehicles today are in general far to complex and heavy and in the not to distant future destined to become dinosaurs.

Welcome to the real World

2010-09-19T18:57:00.000+01:00

I'm impressed by some of the documentary series that I have seen by Richard Dawkins.
Will try and get the complete DVD.
I guess he has to be careful in his presentations with the extremists on all sides.....
http://richarddawkins.net/

Saab not alone

2010-09-12T19:17:00.000+01:00

Saab is not alone in following the wrong path in it's vehicle strategy. Those out in front making hybrids are making "stop gap cars" They appease the environmentalist to some degree. The focus is mainly on electric vehicles. Right now that does not work for the future. What is needed is to "replace steel" with new materials that will be super strong and lightweight. That can be recyclable. The construction of vehicles based on new architectures must be simpler therefore making is easier to change models to suit markets. Then we can talk about the energy source, perhaps organically based.

New 95

2010-09-12T19:00:00.000+01:00

On Friday I had a ride in the new 95. First time in a Saab for 6 years or more.
I must say it appears to be well put together and has a solid feel. Knowing how this business works and the restrictions with committee design I think they did a good job apart from some horrible detailing with fake chrome in places. Having said that it's got big and heavy looking and is not ground breaking in design. It seems that the Saab management wants to join the other dinosaurs in this market segment. The core values of Saab have disappeared. It drives like a tanker and has no feeling of fun to drive. It's made for yesterdays executives. Some Saab design cues have vanished to. The clam hood and the central key has been replaced by a start button. Other cars have this. It's sad. 5 years too late. Well keep your fingers crossed for the next Saab, but I have heard rumours that the next model out of Trollsky will be worse! When and if I get in another new Saab it would be nice if it was really exciting to drive and look at. A head turner. I live in hope. Let's get rid of steel!!

Bridge

2010-08-31T17:59:00.000+01:00

Quick sculpture with metal inserts.

chilli truck :-)

2010-08-05T10:13:00.000+01:00

Working on "secret truck design" while growing "chilli plants" for the first time. Will soon be teaching design again but this time on a broader spectrum. No just vehicles and transport.

RCA grad76

2010-06-18T11:15:00.000+01:00

I just found this old paper on the graduation year from RCA 1976. I remember that Summer was hot!

I was fortunate to be a part of this education, but of course at the time you don't always realise how significant it is. Serious but fun. :-)

92designs

2010-06-02T17:08:00.000+01:00

I have read that maybe, just maybe, Saab will make a new 92. Wow! after all theses years, finally someone has the vision. I remember when we made a model in the mid 90's that would be a show/concept car based on the 92.
Management chickened out at the last moment. I doubt if that model is still lying around in the old studio.
Naturally the design team were frustrated.
If Saab do make a new 92 I hope it's not ALL retro. I hope they take the essence of the old car and make a progressive design. Of course I would dearly love to be involved with such a project. Pity I'm not there any more, but there are some good designers who can develop the project if it happens.

evolving lounger

2010-05-29T17:57:00.000+01:00

it started as a doodle, but I want to see what I could get out of it .... a start ...

loungerist

2010-05-29T08:52:00.002+01:00

Concepts for lounger....

uglyfi

2010-05-08T19:39:00.005+01:00

The design teams at most of the auto makers have restricted creativity due to mainly financial constraints but also caused by the bloated management systems loaded with meetings and over complex processes. So what do they do?? ... add chrome rings to the lamps and other desperate attempts to make something new. In most cases this just "uglyfise" (my new word) the vehicle. The car companies have been running out of ideas. They need to make serious investments in the future.
The company willing to take risks and invest in new materials not just the power source but how a car is made and what it is constructed from will be far ahead of the others. I know it's not easy but someone has to start sometime. This is not the designers fault. They can only show the potential of a product range. They visualise what could be. If management can't or don't want to follow those visions because of various reasons the company is doomed to struggle or worse.
There are so many cars out on the roads "made ugly" in the form of chrome or silver decoration. Just like a beautiful christmas tree covered up with tinsel and chrome or silver, only in the automobile case it's fake silver or chrome! That's even worse.

metalboxes

2010-02-26T19:28:00.000Z

The big auto manufactures are busy developing and producing cars for the Chinese market. Almost everyone has noticed this Huge potential to make profit. In a way it's the old story. When you have exhausted or saturated your current market with the same old uninspiring products, It seems human nature to turn to greener grasses.
Having read this article from wired >>
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/02/automotive-design-for-china/ >>>
I'm disappointed to say the least. Having worked as a car designer it has always been frustrating to try and understand how these big auto company management teams think. They are run by bean counters and paper pushers and designers just have to follow the marketing and business model guidelines and produce a safe, cost effective products.
A few years ago BMW under the design director Chris Bangle started to take the company in a new direction, away from the conservative past. Revolution replaced evolution. It may have only been skin deep, but it was a dramatic change for them.
A risk perhaps, but the foundation of a well established auto company with sporting heritage and quality cars. Still they are cars the same as all others. Made of Steel. heavy and dangerous. All the airbags in the World do not save pedestrians!

In my mind there is no vision or innovation in vehicle design in terms of the future user. The auto shows are supposed to be the place to show the future. It's just bad show business where suits rub shoulders and exchange thoughts while nervously looking to see who is who. But it's the same old configuration of vehicles. A bit more chrome or a bigger grille.
In most cases just ugly boxes.
It's not about designing new "smart designs" for the future.
It's about profit in an old well established safe process which is tuned to what the auto gurus think a market wants tomorrow.
I guess some kind of catastrophe is the only thing that will stop this insanity of making cars complex, heavy, inefficient and really old World. The future generations will look back at this time and wonder at the mess being created. I just hope someone can come along soon and "shake the tree". T

SAAB SPYKER vision

2010-01-26T18:42:00.000Z

The news is good >>> I hope the future model range strategy is more progressive and daring than what happened under GM. It will take time but I hope they don't make the same mistakes. Saab-Spyker take a chance and be brave!
Listen to what design has to say also. T :-)

Modified Aygo

2010-01-26T18:28:00.003Z

If I could refine the Aygo and clean it up, it might look something like below >>>

Just a rough PS workover :-))

2010-01-20T20:03:00.002Z

A group of businessmen led by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone plans to offer GM $1 for Saab.
A consortium led by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is reportedly about to offer General Motors $1 for its (struggling Swedish brand Saab).
THE ABOVE SHOULD READ ... (Struggling GM the owners of Saab Cars, originally of Sweden).

The consortium says the nominal offer, which is $45,899 less than the cheapest Saab car available in Australia, will save General Motors the $145 million cost of shutting down the brand.

The offer is said to be one of two still under offer.
Waiting in hope.

Committee

2010-01-18T17:16:00.000Z

Aslightascanbe is one place where "committee design" does not exist. In today's World there is too much bureaucracy and multi levels of decision making before any action to go forward is taken. I have experienced it. It's democracy gone mad. Somehow it goes back and is linked to when computers became available for all in the workplace. As I remember most people thought we could reduce the amount of paper used when computers came into the workplace. No. That did not happen. The reverse. I'm all for technology and it's benefits, but what it's done is to give very "grey people" control over others.The real specialist and professionals can't make decisions and can't do their job properly. The grey paper pushers have evolved in the past 10-15 years and have the power of computers to make them seem more important than they really are. If fact they are expanding and growing their empires inside of the workplace. Most do not have specialist skills other than planning and arranging others. We need some of them but the greys have grown too big for their boots!

On a lighter note... light material flex object ...

Saab Alternatives

2010-01-17T11:35:00.004Z

Saab cars were originally safe and functional vehicles but during the 90's management with guidance from GM decided in their wizdom to make more sedan cars forgetting those customers who had hatchbacks. The priority was to make sedan cars for the US. The main Saab market. I think it was fine to have one sedan, the 9-5 and a wagon to follow. But to make another sedan the 9-3, which was not really smaller was a big mistake. It should have been a smaller functional wagon or hatchback. More compact. It would have suited perfectly the market which developed from 2000 onwards.
This is what the designers wanted but never happened.

SaabPocket 9-1 alt

2010-01-16T16:34:00.005Z

SaabPocket 9-1

2010-01-16T16:29:00.004Z

The Saab Pocket 9-1

2010-01-16T16:21:00.003Z

Following the frustrating and sad story of Saab under GM control, I thought I would post a few things I believe in. Having been a part of the design studio during the 90's I have a knowledge of what happened and a vision of what could have been. Here are some of my thoughts and ideas. A Saab should be smaller not bigger. Lighter not heavier with development in alternative materials. Smart design solutions that understand human needs in the future. Form and function in parallel. The Saab Pocket 9-1 is a concept that should have been reality years ago.

end of the decade 09

2009-12-23T10:59:00.006Z

Well it's almost the end of the year and it's been a weird one for me. Not bad, just weird/odd. The first half of 09 I was in Norway trying to see if it was possible to work in a non design environment and build a creative one. I soon realized it would take more years than I have left on Earth. Still it was an experience and I met some interesting people.
In the past Months I have been tracking over some old ground, but in a positive way.
In general the year has felt slow as if I had weights on my mind and actions. I can see that everyone is moving and acting with caution. The combination of depressive economics, the constant discussions about global warming and the conflicts in the Middle East have been compounding the gloomy picture of the past decade for most people.

Still, I'm sure we are due for better times.... and it will take time.

My view through the window was of a rain shower over frosted ground. Then the cars started to slip and slide. Chaos within a few minutes. People walking like penguins and almost falling over.
It just brought into focus the lack of innovation with vehicles when it comes to variable weather conditions. The resourceful but still vulnerable human race.

RainInTheBrain

2009-12-05T15:29:00.002Z

Well, it did snow but turned to rain very quickly. mmmmm. I just was thinking how much crap there is on TV in the UK and elsewhere. Looking at Scandinavian TV it appears to pick up almost all the crap TV from US and UK. Having said that there are a few good documentaries from UK. Luckily the net still gives diversity and choice. For how long before we are controlled on the web. Everyone is being watched even if you don't think so.

Northernlite

2009-12-03T18:58:00.003Z

I'm here in Norway and would like to see some snow ... It's been frosty but not really a Winter yet. I like the cold which is not everyone's taste. Still I will head North East on Sunday into Sweden and it should be colder and snowy there.

Wheels not moving

2009-09-30T16:41:00.000+01:00

The Frankfurt motor show 2009
What is going on? Who is fooling who at these shows.

Although I have been out of the car industry as a designer/manager for a number of years I can't understand why the management in car companies are allowed to spend vast amounts of money on producing dull, uninspiring and completely unimaginative creations. In most cases, I'm sure it's not the designers who make the decisions.
It's the same every year, whether it is a concept car or a new model. What a waste of time, money and energy.
First of all we have the Citroen Revolte(ing) The name is almost right. Where is their heritage? They miss completely the values that made great cars in the past.
Then there is Renault with a "Twizy" What on Earth is that! A toy, A quick snak from McDonalds. The next automotive joke is the Peugeot BB1. Another insult or embarrassment to car designers and the public overall. How can they make the decisions to go ahead with this?
At the other end of the scale you have the Bentley's and Rolls. Dinosaurs making no design statements. Aston Martin, what's new?
Saab 95. Understated and some years out of date, but well executed. Maybe the BMW concept was getting nearer to what should be on show.
I thought it was time to let my thoughts out.
Especially after spending most of my professional life in the car industry and in "promise land" by management to do something more challenging in the future projects.
It seems that in the automotive industry as a whole doesn't want new designs and don't listen to designers.
It as if marketing and product planners have taken control.
Well, that will give you today and tomorrow, but not the future. Of course I am generalising. It's not the same everywhere. It's my view just now and I can live in hope for some real cool and meaningful vehicles in the future.

the xmas tree

2009-09-20T10:50:00.007+01:00

You might wonder what aslightascanbe is about or is. Well I just liked the words and they flowed plus I think it connects to my design thinking. Creativity within Industrial design and product development should be about smart solutions and optimal concepts. "Reducing the fat" is the way I see it. Minimalistic designs but with character and focus on human future needs and desires. We still can have cool products but they should not be covered in "bling" or other grotesque decoration. Just honest use of materials in design. Unfortunately, the automotive/ transport industry is in a sad state, but that's something I'll go into later. But it affects us all.

Begin

2009-08-05T22:29:00.001+01:00

Now I'm going to use this Blogger for my web presence. It may take some time to get going as I have to optimise and minimise a number of locations. Too much experimentation have spread my connections, but I have learnt many things.
I like the flexibility and options on Blogger. We shall see how it goes.