The Bowser project

(by Jacco Lammers and Modesi)

The Philosophy

 

BOWSER is a ‘car’ that enables people to show-off their environmental consciousness. Green products often make concessions on performance and looks when compared to ordinary consumer products. Agreeing on the fact that this issue will not be solved by technology on short notice, the solution lies in making these imperfections acceptable. In order to achieve this, a metaphor is used that illustrates the way the car should interact with its user: the pet dog.

A pet dog seems to fulfil a need ‘to talk about’ a shared subject and to have something ‘to talk to’. The ‘shared subject’ in this case is often a result of the dog having its own agenda like running away and not getting in the car. It asks for a way of interacting that is indirect: a cookie might convince him to get in the car. These things are common for all dog owners and therefore the dog is a constant subject of discussion and enables a low entrance level for conversation with strangers.

The product

How is this reflected in BOWSER? First of all, the car communicates its environmental friendlyness; suggesting and showing its energy source and power train. Second, an indirect way of interacting is achieved by creating layered and reactive properties. These properties create an adorable feel to the car assuring the accessibility a ‘shared subject’ needs. Third, in order to ‘show-off’ with the car, the car itself is designed to be experienced as precious in a way that it becomes desirable to onlookers.

As a mission statement BOWSER resets the Californian 'see and be seen' scene. BOWSER is not about flexing muscles and shiny chrome; instead it is all about expressing the state of the art in environmental friendly mobility. Show off with your environmental consciousness and impress your friends with the high-tech drive train. BOWSER matches environmental needs to Californian flair. Californication never felt so right...

Special features

The Bowser includes special features like a large front entrance door. The Michelin Tweel tires and the rear-wheel steering for special driving experience. With the interactive front fenders and lighting (eyes) the BOWSER can show of his mood. The water tap in the interior functions as the exhaust pipe of the Fuel Cell.

Project Realization

BOWSER is an internship of Jacco Lammers at Modesi. Modesi is a young Dutch design and engineering agency specialised in vehicle development. Jacco Lammers is an undertaking and promising Dutch designer from the TU Delft (Faculty of Industrial Design). Both the BOWSER design and 1:4 clay model have been created by Jacco Lammers under supervision of Modesi. For the high level finishing of the clay-model the special environmental coating products and support of the Akzo Nobel have been applied.

For detailed BOWSER-information look at: www.bowser.nl.

Special thanks

The realisation for the BOWSER has been made possible by the support of:

• Akzo Nobel (Sikkens Coatings): finishing of the model

• Tutor Ger Bruens of Technical University of Delft