Russian students Maya Markova and Roman Zenin created visionary sketches for an Opel Iconic Concept 2030 and were rewarded with internships.
A cockpit straight out of a science fiction story, elegant, curved armchairs that allow you to face your fellow passengers inside the vehicle: Up-and-coming designers from the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences presented the Rüsselsheim-based auto manufacturer with their sketches of what an Opel Iconic Concept 2030 could look like.
After all, the future doesn’t come about based on complex mathematical calculations, nor is it shaped by compromises made in conference halls – instead, it is born from ideas in peoples’ heads, set down in creative sketches. The extent to which these ideas become reality depends on the extent to which they can leave the realm of pure fantasy and be successfully brought to life.
Opel of the future: Designed by Erik Saetre from Pforzheim University.
Welcome to Opel: The successful student, Roman Zenin begins his six-month internship at the Design Center in Rüsselsheim.
Fresh thinking: Creative and unconventional designs from Roman Zenin.
Thrilling visions of the future first arise as the exotic designs of today. That was the case here: Opel carried out a joint project with the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences, providing students taking the world-renowned Transportation Design course (the only one of its kind in Germany) with the opportunity to give free rein to their imagination and present the results.
“We continue to build on and develop our signature Opel design philosophy with each new model we create. Now we want to see how young people are imagining how Opels will look in the future, from the customer’s perspective,” says Mark Adams, Vice President Design Europe. Adams and his team had high expectations, and they were certainly fulfilled.
Supported and advised by the Opel team under Design Director Friedhelm Engler and Chief Designer Andrew Dyson, the students created extraordinary initial sketches. “We were extremely excited about the creative, unconventional sketches from the very first glance we got at them,” Adams raves. Adams and his team were highly impressed with the sketches that the Pforzheim students came up with.
This project let the Opel pros benefit from new ideas and suggestions – and discover new talent as well. The visionary presentations by Russian students Maya Markova and Roman Zenin were so impressive that the two were each offered six-month internships. They will learn what it’s like to work in the design studio and find out what it means to truly take part in shaping the future of Opel.
Creative characters: The students from Pforzheim University meet the Opel designers, Friedhelm Engler and Andrew Dyson (the men in suits, from left).