THESIS (2013) : Dandyism - The elegance of essential in a quest for sustainability
My first question was : How, as a designer, can I apply to automotive, a Dandy ethics and aesthetics ? This philosophy defended distinction, refinement, the nonconformity, the revolt, elegance but also the superiority of beauty and art. Art, the ultimate aesthetic experience involving all human emotions, allowing to put men in motion, make them dream, love, shiver of pleasure, as to trouble them, make them cry. Art expresses itself from ecstasy to horror, like automotive.
I wanted to talk about the beauty which can be hiden in mechanics, art and crafts, and a very dandy idea: luxury rather than comfort. The principle of choosing luxury, follow an ascetic to find balance of pleasure. I really liked the parallel with the world’s best cameras Leica, only simple mechanics engineered by high precision machines, with the only idea to support and create art and poetry.
From this thesis, I’ve been working on the automotive archetype, the essential car but not low-cost. Simple with a minimum of function like a Leica, so around the idea of less is more, less but better. In a way it was about redefining what luxury is. Luxury is about rarity, and in our society we’re missing time, things that last and poetry. I decided to look for a timeless poetry serving durabality. A post-opulent type of luxury.
DEGREE PROJECT (2014) : MORGAN - 4 + / less for more
The Morgan - 4 + is a 2+2 coupé. I see in it the future Morgan, an archetypal car which has all the essence of a Morgan, long hood, voluptuous hips, remote cockpit. I wanted to create a neo-streamline design, thinking only about timeless curve and volume but modern reflection and cutting. Playing with symmetry and looking for lightness, refinement, elegance. I wanted to give the car a non-ostentatious charism, kind of an elegant sobriety, and a flowing back.
https://www.victor-braun.com/degree-project
I wanted the interior simple with a minimum of function, like a Leica, for the handiness and to be more focused on the pleasure of cruising. But also well conceived with noble and locally produced materials to offer a more sustainable product. Ash wood, cotton canvas, leather and stainless steel. In terms of shape, some very simple volume, not minimalist but essential to focus the attention on details. As for the exterior, I wanted to show some parts of the chassis, so the customer can feel a little bit what his/her car is made of.
