Sketch01: these sketches show initial idea such as the attempt of applying soft material into the vehicle exterior.
SHELL – T
The key scenario targeted by the design brief is to design a private-owned vehicle that can provide rescue services during nature disasters, such as floods. The key feature of the design is to consider how HUAWEI mobility technologies could collaborate in providing a shelter to the community within difficult times. Smart skin on the exterior could be helpful in communicating with people in need of help that the car is here for you, the car is sealed so that it is capable of floating during floods happening. Also, there are multiple features that help people climbing onto the top of the vehicle provide them safety during to get out of the floods.
Lasting Expressions: digital technology informing tomorrow's car design aesthetics
Sponsored by Huawei
The course focused on creating innovative, intelligent, and aesthetically pleasing vehicle concepts for the year 2035, emphasising creativity, advanced technology, and collaboration with Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA). The course aimed to address the evolving demands of the automotive market, driven by electric vehicle (EV) powertrains and digitalization, while maintaining high-quality, aspirational designs.
Students worked on vehicle exterior designs that aligned with keywords such as intelligent, unconventional, aspirational, joyful, digital, meaningful, China, and EU. The course encouraged a balance between rational and emotional values, fostering creativity and integrated technological solutions. The majority of the concepts targeted the Chinese market, with some also focusing on the EU.
The course was structured into several phases:
- Information Gathering & Concept Formulation (2 weeks): Students researched the brand and target users, dissected the project brief, and presented a concept description with an image board.
- Technical Definition & Ideation (3 weeks): Students generated basic 3D representations of technical constraints, developed at least three unique design themes, and presented a progress gateway.
- Project Development (3 weeks): Students focused on visualizing their vehicle concepts in key views, supported by rough 3D models, and received internal tutoring for design refinement.
- Presentation (1 week): Students produced an oral and visual presentation summarizing the concept, vehicle attributes, context of use, and value added to users
Deliverables included 2D sketches, renderings, rough 3D digital models, posters, and a personal reflection paper. The course emphasized collaboration, with students working both individually and in teams, and included checkpoints with Huawei for feedback. The final presentation was concise, focusing on essential information and results.
Xuelin Chen
In collaboration with:



Sketch02: through experiments on trying different proportions and surface treatments, a design language of ‘A rounded cube’ was chosen as a base for further development.

Final Side: shows the final design on an orthographic view.

Final F45: Shows the final design on a front 45 view, the volume of the wheel arch as well as the smart material that can interact with the passers-by are shown more clearly.

Final R45: this sketch puts the product into the using context. Through which we can see clearly how some parts could move to help people access the vehicle through the top side.