volvo the retreat
- Scandinavian mindset
school project - internship project
duration: 2 months
delivery: 2019
brief: create a type of mobility that reflects Volvo values.
context and intention
When moving from France to Sweden, I was intrigued by the contrast I was experiencing in terms of mindset and culture.
A more relaxed lifestyle in France can mean that you are not productive or efficient, while it is praised in Sweden and in Scandinavia. This “do nothing” attitude is what I chose to work with.
I dug deeper into the Scandinavian values and benefits to find the perfect opportunity to make people experience it in a different context.
I chose to design a urban vehicle, made to relax in this overstimulating environment and called it The Retreat.
cultural analysis
From the different elements in this picture, I laid down the main architecture of the vehicle. This peace of mind also came from the absence of distractions, which proved crucial in the next steps.
design process
The interior was designed to evoke the feeling of being outdoors in a Scandinavian landscape, creating two distinct seating experiences: one protected and comfortable inside a cabin-like space, and another more exposed on a bench at the edge, where users can place their bare feet on a glass surface (reminiscent of sitting by a lake).
