We were asked by BMW to imagine new scenarios for the Mini in relation to information landscapes. And how the specific character of the Mini could be reflected in its interactions with an information landscape and any necessary devices and services.
Collaboration with Jonathan Bishop and Tom Wynne-Morgan
BRIEF
Cars no longer simply travel across geographic and spatial landscapes, they also traverse information landscapes. The tendency though, is to adapt existing objects like phones, TVs, DVD players, an GPS navigation devices for use in the car without really changing the nature of the experience. What if the car itself became an interface, would this suggest new devices, new uses for the car, or even new relationships between people, cars, and environments?
Think of the driver as a nomad using their Mini to navigate, experience and enjoy the information landscape... what kind of relationship to it would the Mini provide? How would they access it? What tools would they need? How would it differ throughout the day/night and from person to person? How could they do all this in a very ‘Mini’ way?
IDEAS
These are a selection of ideas based on not just their strength, but also the fact that they fall within three areas we identified to be important for the project.
Mini and its environment
With this selection of ideas we took the car as a protagonist within society that is increasingly becoming more nomadic.
Inside/Outside, Mini Scents and Mini Camper reflect upon Mini´s influence on its environment and how people perceive the mini driver.
Real Mini Driver
What people might really use or wish to use their car for. How a persons imagine can go beyond the confines and physical design of the vehicle. They are observations that critique the current design models of mini.
Mini Web
Mini Web is an online and physical communication system for mini owners. It uses GPS to enable minis to become an extension of the web. They are blogjects that offer new activities and services.
Ball Game - A virtual ball can appear in your car at any moment. the aim is to keep the ball for as long as possible before passing over the trails (GPS history) of another Mini (thus losing the v-ball). The tracks of other minis are projected by the headlights which are instigated by GPS information.
Real Virtual Reality - Using Mini Web, a Mini Driver can view live journeys of other drivers while parked up in a boring location.
