Opel Design ‘Live’
A promise is a promise. Opel was the main sponsor at ‘Formula Student Germany’ last August and as part of the event, presented the ‘Opel Style Award’ for the first time. The jurors selected five teams in the final round and invited them all to Rüsselsheim to participate in a workshop. The winning team from the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (UAS) and other students from Darmstadt, Regensburg and Giessen came to experience Opel Design ‘Live’ for a day. Charlie Klein, Vice President Vehicle Engineering Europe, and Wolfgang Schwenk, Head of Opel Product Development, welcomed the groups in the lobby of N20. It goes without saying for Opel that part of its social responsibility is to help students, especially in acquiring practical experience in the development and design of cars. “In our opinion, the styling aspect is rather neglected in German university engineering programs,” adds ITEZ concept builder and jury member Thilo Oppermann. “We would like to use this prize to put more emphasis on this area.”
Group photo: Visitors from four think tanks experience a day of ‘hands-on’ design.
“Successful styling is a result of well-chosen proportions,
a consistent design signature throughout,
and a shape and color scheme to go with it.”— Thilo Oppermann, jury member
Hood scoops? Two students from TU Darmstadt take a closer look.
CLASSIC WORKSHOP: TOTALLY EXTREME
Earlier on, the group of visitors had been driven in the Opel classic bus to the classic workshop, where Friedhelm Engler, Head of the Opel Design Studio, was waiting to welcome them. His tour gave them more than just the chance to understand the history of style through the examples of classic Opel models such as the GT. The students also got a glimpse of studies and show cars less familiar to the general public. These included the ‘Astra OPC Extreme,’ which the visitors from TU Darmstadt found particularly fascinating.
Silver magic: This study of the ‘Astra OPC Extreme’ is a rare sight.
The style of the 60s: The GT in clay and brass.
FROM SKETCH TO 3D VISION
The group spent the afternoon learning how successful styling is achieved in the Opel Design Studio, from the initial sketch to the stunning 3D visualization. “The students really enjoyed this part of the workshop,” said Thilo Oppermann. “Especially since we didn’t demonstrate our design processes on series vehicles, but focused instead on Formula student vehicles. This gave the group a better, more graphic understanding of them.” The visit certainly generated some interest in Opel. Oppermann: “I have already received some requests from participants to write their final papers with us.”
Presentation in the Design Department.
Stand Dezember 2015