Industrial Design students from Savannah College of Art and Design are sharing their electrifying aptitude just in time for the big race.

The Atlanta-based SCAD team created Tyr, the ultimate vehicle for urban motility. PHOTO COURTESY OF SCAD

As Austin is one of the nation’s top markets for electric vehicle (EV) adoption and manufacturing, often attracting some of the world’s top talent in the field, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is rushing in during the 2024 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix to showcase some cutting-edge student work on wheels.

For the first time ever, SCAD Industrial Design students from its campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, were given a formidable challenge: create fully functioning, innovative EVs designed to entice Gen Z and Gen Alpha. The project required them to sketch unique exterior and interior concepts, analyze the financial feasibility of their designs, and employ user-experience research to inform the driver and passenger experiences.

SCAD, which Red Dot recently named the best design university in North and South America for the seventh year in a row, provided its students with professional-level technology, along with a team of accomplished faculty members and alumni mentors to help them reach the finish line. “We wanted to make sure we brought together a well-rounded group of expertise just like in any company, and had students from interior design, fibers, motion media, graphic design, UX design, game design and advertising all bringing their incredible talents to the table,” explains Rafael Corazza, an industrial design professor at SCAD Savannah. (His resume includes contributions for Lamborghini, Audi and Chevrolet.)

The brainchild of the Savannah-based team is a race car-inspired, open-top creation described as, “an invitation to embrace freedom and forge connections.” Named Aethereal, after the god of the upper atmosphere, the car has an AI companion designed to curate adventures and link to the driver’s social circles, plus it serves as a DJ and composer, creating and matching music that complements the driver’s speed and style.

In sharp contrast, Atlanta-based team created Tyr, the ultimate vehicle for urban motility. Rugged and outdoorsy, this hybrid vehicle is made with repurposed materials and has an oversized interior and a small truck bed. Tyr’s camping capabilities include seats that fold down into a full-sized bed, while the moon roof can inform the driver of constellations and serve as a projection screen for media content. “By prioritizing autonomy, ecological responsibility and cutting-edge technology, the Tyr car becomes an extension of the driver’s home,” explains Owen Foster, associate chair of design at SCAD Atlanta.

Both the Tyr and Aethereal are testaments to the incredible range of skill and talent available from SCAD’s Industrial Design program. And, now that these projects are complete, the students are fully prepared for the road ahead. “We’ve had students go on and work for General Motors, BMW and Ford, as well as design private aircrafts. SCAD graduates are creating unforgettable products and experiences with some of the world’s top companies,” Foster says. “Industrial design is such a versatile industry—there are endless opportunities for our students to follow whatever their passion may be.” scad.edu

The Savannah-based SCAD team introduced a race car-inspired, open-top creation. PHOTO COURTESY OF SCAD