Automotive Interiors Expo 2011

This Automotive Interiors Expo followed the inaugural event of 2010, conveniently held at the Messe Stuttgart a short stroll from the airport. With a focused approach solely on automotive interior aspects it is comfortably achievable in a day. However, this expo is part of a much larger exhibition with halls dedicated to automotive testing, crash testing, engines, European automotive components and vehicle dynamics.

The three-day event showcased a range of exhibitors with products as diverse as seating (Recaro), leather (Eagle Ottowa), non-woven interior panel solutions using natural fibers – such as flax, from Ecotechnilin – and a variety of felts from natural and recycled fibers manufactured by the Turkish company Siteks. Showcasing their latest research were academic institutions such as Reitlingham and Ghent universities.

Besides the OEM supplier exhibitions was an area called the ‘Styling and Technology Studio”, which featured presentations by high profile speakers such as Paul Priestman (Priestman Goode), Michael Robinson, Design director at Stile Bertone  and Amko Lennarts from PSA Peugeot Citroen. The program of presentations is spread across the three-day event, if your priority is attending these sessions then you will need to factor more time for your visit.

Anticipation when visiting trade fairs always feels slightly daunting, but the atmosphere of this growing event is welcoming. The exhibitors keen to engage and provide samples and information about their products and services.

First port of call was the presentation by Paul Priestman whose design practice, Priestmangoode, specializes in product, transport and environment design. ‘Delivering luxury in small spaces’ related his experience of designing for trains, ships and the aircraft industries by illustrating key trends that can be applied to automotive interiors. Transferable trends are a way for designers to demonstrate and apply new developments to alternative arenas. This is easily made visible if one witnesses the influence of fashion, a fast moving industry quick to respond to new concepts and its application to other slower moving manufacturing industry’s such as automotive.

As the idea for the Automotive Interiors Expo evolved from the very successful Aircraft Interiors Expo – an annual event at the Hamburg at the Messe that has been running for several years – it was interesting to have a designer who has worked mainly in aircraft interior solutions presenting.

Priestman advocates that the future of automotive interiors will follow the trends of aircraft interiors, offering flexible seating arrangements and enabling passengers to reconfigure current seating and space solutions. This will allow the flexibility to face in different directions, providing a more open plan experience of the automotive interior space. Proposing a flexible use of the interior space with swivel and reclining seating possibilities could allow sleeping arrangements to be configured and enhance passenger interaction. It would revolutionize the confined interior with newfound spaciousness. As the world’s highways become increasingly congested, cars will spend more time stationary in traffic, which indicates that the interior space will potentially need to adapt to diverse uses. Priesttman’s work uses lighting to create alternative ambiances as well, which enables flexibility of moods and cleverly defines the space.

Continues →

By Sheila Clark