32 Ford Tudor Hot Rod design language
Designing for the future of the past is difficult because we always think of the future of now. What was the future of the 1930's!!??
I was tasked with realizing the form language of small detail elements of a hot rod that is currently being built. The car has been designed, but the details have not. So designing the gas cap, dome light, engine air filter, and dash knobs were still up in the air.
Bellow are radio knobs from the 30's and 40's for inspiration.
Initially you have to think backwards to get the mind set of 80 years ago. You would be surprised how hard it is to do that, to match a decade specifically that you never lived through or experienced. Just a little bit off and its too modern or too 20's.
Initial conception took the longest. About a month of sketching and rough cad models followed. My only guidance was a local hot rod guru that I work with that only either said "it just doesn't feel right" or "that's not it".
Pure emotion was the guide, no real solid reasons.
After about a month of throwing spaghetti against the wall, googling old air cleaners and visiting the antique store 5 times, we sat back and hated everything still. Then we looked closely at the tiny little knob bellow, got my pencil out and re-drew lines all over it.
This was the mark of a complete restart.
Currently this is where the form has landed. We are under way for CATIA cad models to get fine tuning for the design and get it ready for 3D printing. Ultimately these elements will be printed in metal and polished.
