Review: Staffordshire University degree show 2024
By Freddie Holmes2024-06-10T15:53:00
Car Design News covers the work of this year’s Automotive and Transport Design graduates at Staffordshire University
Students from Staffordshire University’s transportation design course put on a show last week to celebrate their graduation, showcasing their final year projects in front of friends, family, colleagues and potential employers.
It was a display of the fundamentals of modern design, be it ideation, modelling, prototyping or visualisation – skills which have been built up over the three-year course in preparation for life in a professional studio. “Our Automotive and Transport Design course replicates the dynamic environment of a professional design studio,” Dan Lewis, design course director, told Car Design News, “with students collaborating on live industry projects. The modest class sizes ensure lots of one-to-one support and a truly personalised experience for each student.”
As with most grad shows, industry guests were invited along to see the fruits of this labour, including OEMs like Bentley, General Motors (not far away in Leamington Spa), Mahindra Advanced Design Europe, LEVC and Lotus; plus various design service suppliers such as Kadence, Optic, Contra Moto, Futura, Winch Design, HPL Prototypes and more.
“This year’s degree show was a tremendous success, attracting many visitors throughout the week,” adds Lewis. “Some students have already secured jobs and placements, while others are applying to MA courses at Staffordshire University and beyond. As a teaching team, we are incredibly proud of our students and their achievements. The quality of the visualisations and models, all created by the students, is a testament to their dedication and talent.”
With all that said, let’s take a look at this year’s graduate projects, with descriptions provided by the students themselves.
Jaguar X-Type by Niall Lucas
A design engineered on the predatory anatomy from which the brand derives its name, the Jaguar X-Type offers…