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Shapes of Sweden

This project was developed for the Volvo Design Challenge that Lilian won in 2015 and acquired by the Centre Pompidou, Paris in 2017.

YEAR
2015

CLIENT
WINNER VOLVO DESIGN CHALLENGE NEDERLAND

TYPE OF WORK
BIOMIMICRY, RESEARCH

PRODCUTION
FINAL MODEL 3D PRINTED BY 3D SYSTEMS BENELUX
 

For this challenge Lilian dived into the Swedish environment and the brand proposition of Volvo. She merged the essences of these together with the biomimicry approach. The goal was to create an efficient car seat with it’s essential functions; flexibility, resilience and stability from a local resourced and abundant material. 

For this, an extensive material research was done with biobased materials which are abundant in Swedish nature, such as pine wood and pine resin. Together with the help of Yashwant Pathak we tried to make these materials 3D printable.

Nature was also the source of the design. Structures are used for each functionality which were inspired on Swedish nature, such as tree branches, leaf vein structures and pine cone scales.

JURY COMMENT

‘Lilian van Daal was able to capture three topical developments in her Shapes of Sweden: biomimicry (an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies), 3D printing and the use of natural materials. Not only does the concept have a clear vision on the future but also it shows its strong relation with the Volvo brand. Her work is innovatory, aesthetic and provides perspective for the industry.’

JURY MEMBERS

Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe (designers Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe), Edwin Jacobs (director of Centraal Museum Utrecht), Willem van Roosmalen (editor-in-chief/founder of Fontanel), Koert van Mensvoort (philosopher/artist/scientist Next Nature), Mirjam van Coillie (chairman of the Design Management Network) and Corien Pompe (Future Lab & Innovation, manager at Volvo Car Corporation)

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