Household-textiles designer from JAB
Anstoetz and car manufacturer throw conventional design wisdom
overboard
A robust sportscar with “soft elements” is
a blatant contrast for the majority of automobile experts. The
world’s leading textile weavers JAB Anstoetz and the Karmann
automobile developers have put exactly these contrasts on wheels in
the form of a Chrysler Crossfire design study. “
The design team under Ralf Anstoetz was the
catalyst for the ambitious project. The Managing Director of the
world’s leading weaver of household fabrics and carpets was eager to
fashion both the exterior and interior of a vehicle for the first
time. The designer chose a Chrysler Crossfire as ‘canvas’ for the
project since the expressive Coupe forms an ideal base for unusual
colors and interior styles.
.
The textile specialists initially
busied themselves with sifting through an endless choice of
almost 3,000 items in approximately 20,000 colors and
developed a color and fabric concept from the findings. The
designers concentrated their gaze on more masculine shades
to suit the predominantly male target group. Brown shades,
which create a comfortable homely atmosphere, are used
increasingly in living areas. The team transferred this to
the car and used, from the industry’s point of view, a
rather un-usual “chimney brown” color combined with the
soft-blue shade “Kitamiblue”. In doing so the courageous
designers proved how such different colors can complement
one another harmoniously in a car. They united the velour
fabric “Santa Barbara” with the other two facets of the
color concept “Egyptgold” and “Navajoecru” on the seats.
After the fabric designers had created
their color and fabric concept guidelines, the experienced
automobile developers from Karmann took over the Chrysler project
reins. “Fabrics used in a car are subject to entirely different
demands than those in living areas”, explains Joerg Steuernagel,
Chief Design Officer of the Karmann Design Studio. In addition, the
material structure and thickness must also be taken into account
when covering door trimmings or the dashboard. The car designers
allowed small parts such as switches, handles and trim to be painted
in a matching color to further enhance the harmonious overall
impression.
With the material “Croco”, the JAB team
created an interior-highlight visible from the outside. The brown
artificial leather in crocodile-look is used on the dashboard’s
upper surface and as door trim. The shiny surface attracts curious
eyes into the styled interior, where the steering wheel, door inner
surfaces, dashboard elements and “Kitamiblue” center console flanks
exude a modern sporting finish. A deep-shag pile carpet in the
trunk, also in “Kitamiblue”, rounds-off the color concept.
The JAB Anstoetz living-room
specialists also left their unique signature on the
Crossfire’s outer skin. The classical JAB-meander winds its
way through the “Chimney brown” car color below the doors.
The distinctive shade of brown is even found on the wheels.
“Kitamiblue”, “Egyptgold” and “Navajoecru” add flair to
striking hood and side air intakes.
This design study gives
manufacturers unique impulses, which do justice to every
aspect of the customers growing desire for individuality.
“It’s clear to us that such a car will probably never see
the showrooms. However, such a project is a great deal of
fun and brings a new freshness to the thought process when
projects like this one are approached from a completely
different angle”, says Joerg Steuernagel who is convinced of
the creative thrust. Car designers invest a lot of time
designing the body. “However, many of us spend more time in
the car than outside.” After all the creation of living
areas and the car interiors are not poles apart. Joerg
Steuernagel: “The courageous use and combination of both
material and color can also set new automotive trends.”
