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| Autocar July 22nd 1987 | ||||
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For 20 years now students have passed through the Royal College of Art's Automotive Design Unit and into the motor industry to help decide the shape of the cars we buy. Ten students graduated this year, bringing the total number who have passed through the college on one and two-year courses with Masters, diploma or non-degree qualifications to 125. A blend of the RCA's reputation, industry backing in the form of sponsorship for students – Ford sponsored the first two in 1967 – and the use of industry tutors has put the Automotive Design Unit on a ranking with the world famous Los Angeles Art Center. Tom Kern the Ogle Design Chief and the first tutor of the RCA course was our guide for this year's preview… Karen felt Alex Padwa's driver-only hi-tech three-wheeler also bucks normality. "I think all his drawings are very exciting. He's a great thinker. It is refreshing to see his work. I hope he can introduce that sort of thing into studio and not come down to earth with to much of a thump. His work has a fresh, free thinking feel to it." Padwa's three-wheeler follows the Reliant layout with a single front wheel. He envisages a gas-turbine engine and totally unconventional drive system. Padwa was at pains to point out that his 'trike' is an attempt at producing form rather than function. He was looking to produce a vehicle which has a 'human' element in it rather than being another tin box. Padwa also displayed his project in the form of sculpture, which Tom Karen considers an important element of the RCA's work. "I am pleased that many of the students made a piece of sculpture. It shows that the best designers know how to use materials well. |
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