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College Exhibition: Institut Superieur de Design 2009

Valenciennes in northern France might not be the most glamorous of French towns but it's been quietly turning out transportation design graduates for over 20 years. The Institute Superieur de Design (ISD) isn't as well-known as Strate or Creapole in Paris, nevertheless it has a growing reputation as one of the most focused design schools in Europe with an enviable record of internships and employment of its graduates. Last month CDN was invited to join the final assessments of this year's graduate cohort.

Electric wire eases closing of Corvette Stingray hatch

A single piece of wire makes closing the hatch on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray easier. Tucked behind the rear fascia, the alloy wire changes shape when an electric current heats it up. The wire returns to its previous shape when it cools.

Huntsman U-Box concept explores use of carbon materials

If you attended our Car Design Night at this year's Geneva motor show, you may well have seen the U-Box concept vehicle parked outside the entrance. Developed by Huntsman Advanced Materials, this 'last mile' delivery vehicle is a showcase of the company's composite materials expertise. "The D3 Group [based in Paris] designed the car and also came up with the idea of 'last-mile delivery'," explains Harald Wiedemann, Vice President of Huntsman Advanced Materials (EMEAI).