You are at a meeting of designers who are showcasing their concepts
for a new car to company management. The company has said that they want to
target an audience that really wants to make a statement with their car --
to be different -- without compromising safety and comfort.
A member
of your design team stands up and presents your ideas for the new car, the
Starline Groove. "Design is all about communicating," says George Speirs,
a car body designer and engineer. "You have to be able to go to meetings and
communicate what you are doing. You have to keep in touch with others to get
your ideas across and to make the car as a whole work."
Below is the
presentation your design partner makes. After the presentation, management
has a few questions about your ideas. What do you say to them?
"Picture the Starline Groove. Think of
soft pastels -- light yellows, lavenders and powder blues. Then imagine these
colors covered with chrome and silvery racing stripes, like delicate strands
of spider web twisting from the hood to the back of the car.
"The idea
is: yes, you want to drive an economical family car, but you don't want
to lose your individuality. You've got a baby seat, but you're still
young at heart.
"The interior will be decorated with more strands of
silver twisting over the seats and the dash. Of course we'll have the
standard dual airbags, a lockable 60-40 rear seat and rear heating ducts.
We'll add some nice touches like a coin holder, a few cup holders and
adjustable front seat belts.
"Mark my words, this will
still be an economical family car. Under the hood, we'll have room for
a 1.6-liter overhead cam four-cylinder engine that develops 106 horsepower
at 6,200 rpm.
"On the Starline Groove Plus, expect more racing stripes,
power windows, cruise control, a tachometer, a better stereo system and heated
outside mirrors.
"We've got a new generation of drivers who want
to be safe but don't always want to look sensible. We think our design
will help drivers who are often bogged down by practical family concerns get
their groove back!