Chuck Pelly Featured Judge at EyesOn Design Awards 2013

Posted on January 10, 2013 by DesignAcademy

The Design Academy, Inc. is proud to announce that Chuck Pelly will be a judge for the EyesOn Design Awards with a ceremony to be held on January 15 at the 2013 North American International Auto Show.

In its seventh year, the EyesOn Design Awards is famous for honoring the best production and concept cars making their North American or worldwide debut at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

With great respect for the innovative automotive design gurus past & present, the EyesOn Design Awards panel of judges is a collaboration of hand picked active and retired design heads of automotive OEMs, transportation design chairs from top art schools, and designers from other fields. Chuck Pelly is honored to be on the judges panel for the third year.

EyesOn Design is a unique foundation from the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, an internationally-recognized non-profit which accelerates the development of “artificial vision” — technology which will one day allow some blind and visually impaired persons to regain the vision to see the world around them, including seeing the designs of automobiles.

The Design Academy Embraces Peaceful Change in 2013 with a New Location and Name

Posted on January 9, 2013 by DesignAcademy

Centre for BioInspiration – San Diego Zoo Global Hosts Inspirational Luncheon for The Design Academy

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Intersection

San Diego, California not only exhibits impeccable climate & breathtaking landscapes, but it also harbors a plethora of highly respected research institutions equipped with the world’s most brilliant academia & scientists. Therein you will find next-gen intellectuals seeking innovative and sustainable answers to all of life’s current and future problems. Amidst these amazing institutions, stands a unique umbrella organization. Motivated by “the genius of 3.8 million years of adaptations in animals and plants” the centre is focused in forging research and industry partnerships toward building bio-inspired adaptations which harness the power of nature in response to critical sustainable futures for the planet an its inhabitants. The Design Academy, Inc. also known as TDA, shares this vision.

The Design Academy recently entertained special guest Amko Leenarts, who was is now the Director of Global Interior Design for Ford Motors. On his journey to find inspiration for future designs he sought the assistance of TDA, so they organized an accelerated agenda of affairs with the purpose of stimulating creative thinking. The Centre for BioInspiration was in perfect alignment with the ambitions TDA held for the Ford Motors guest as well as investing in TDAs current stable of clients.

TDA was welcome to bring it’s extended team which included an interdisciplinary group of considerable experience drawn from design, architecture and science at the invitation of the managing director of the Centre for BioInspiration Mr. Larry Stambaugh himself a true visionary leader. Mr. Stambaugh has completed several strategic partnerships with Fortune 100 and other companies and therefore the ideal connector to the TDA mindset and vision for strategic partnerships.

The exposure on the visit to animal behavioral issues, and plant, terrestrial creature and sea life research was indispensable toward informing future design brief development in aspects of the natural world and the interdependencies required to strike a balance between natural and built environments and sustainable futures.

This common vision will in no doubt affect those that contribute to TDA through its interdisciplinary-oriented design consulting services and provide further possibilities for the San Diego Zoo to enhance its already significant sphere of global influence as a leading biomimicry research hub. With TDAs expertise the commercialization of biomimetic interfaces for sustainable products and services is/may just/ be the accelerator this relationship needs. Space to watch: science inspired nature. TDA: your partner.

PolyOne, ACCD Students Team-up to Create Advanced Polymer Solutions for Home Healthcare

Posted on August 23, 2012 by DesignAcademy

BOSTON — PolyOne Corporation, a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, recently unveiled highlights of its collaboration with top industrial design students from Art Center College of Design (ACCD — Pasadena, CA). Three standout concept designs for home healthcare were featured at the Industrial Design Society of America’s IDSA 2012 Conference (Aug 15 — 18, Booth #104-106).

Anil Saraf, PolyOne’s director, market innovation, explains, “As designers push the envelope to develop new products, they are often the first to capture critical unmet needs and connect with market trends. PolyOne works with designers to help them develop innovative designs by leveraging our materials expertise and our network of PolyOne Innovation Centers around the world.”

During this recent collaboration, a structured brainstorming process developed by ACCD called a DesignStorm, designers focused on creating new home healthcare concepts for children, active adults, and older adults. The event united PolyOne with a talented group, including noted industrial designers Chuck Pelly, Scott Clear and Chris Lefteri; fifteen outstanding ACCD students from a variety of industrial design disciplines within the school; and Rapid Prototype + Manufacturing LLC (rp+m), a leading rapid prototyping firm.

Together, this group first took part in an idea-exchange symposium that set the stage for an all-day ideation process. Final designs included:

Better Bear — Targeted at pediatric patients, this bear is designed to reduce the fear children with chronic diseases often feel. Polymeric sensors in the body of the bear take temperature and record vital signs when children hug the bear. Accessories include a bracelet that offers reminders when it is time to take medication, test glucose levels, etc.
Go-Let — For the “New Silvers,” or active older adults, a daily exercise routine is reinforced by a bracelet that relies on LEDs that use thermally conductive polymers to manage heat. The LEDs light up to signal when the wearer is due to exercise, but looks like a piece of jewelry.
ReFit — For active adults, a physical therapy system complete with free-form weights overmolded with soft-touch TPE material turns therapy into a game. The system incorporates LEDs, heated pads, and display areas, all of which utilize polymer solutions.

Concept designs for home healthcare: Better Bear (left), Go-Let (middle) and ReFit (right)

“We appreciate the dynamic and iterative approach taken by the students to discover unmet consumer needs and pair them with innovative designs using advanced materials,” adds Saraf. “These designs get to the heart of market needs while also improving the experience of end users.”

About PolyOne

PolyOne Corporation, with 2011 revenues of $2.9 billion, is a premier provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions. The company is dedicated to serving customers in diverse industries around the globe, by creating value through collaboration, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Guided by its Core Values, Sustainability Promise and No Surprises Pledge^SM, PolyOne is committed to its customers, employees, communities and shareholders through ethical, sustainable and fiscally responsible principles.

Source: PolyOne

This document was provided by SpecialChem’s editor. If you want to share your press release, please send it to chief-editor-om@omnexus.com. SpecialChem reserves the right to refuse any article or news item.

Michelin Design Challenge

Posted on July 23, 2012 by DesignAcademy

With anything but a lightweight challenge to cut excessive weight in materials, this prestigious student competition sought innovative architecture for a family vehicle. Three illustrious designs were selected with the help of Chuck Pelly and other automotive veterans. The winners will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show next year, but the following link will bring the curious to the 2012 Michelin Challenge Design Finalists:

http://www.michelinchallengedesign.com/MCD_2012/mcd_participants_2012.php

Still not enough innovation for the automotive design lover? Don’t forget our own Los Angeles Design Challenge is just around the corner…

Written by: M. McQueen

Cattiva

Posted on July 3, 2012 by DesignAcademy

The custom sailing catamaran designed by Chuck Pelly has extensively sailed the South Pacific. She is now in Mooloobola Australia ready to sail the Great Barrier reef. Contact us if Interested in buying her or seeking a new yacht design.

Chuck Pelly on Changes and Challenges for Design

Posted on March 21, 2012 by DesignAcademy

In an interview with Kristina Goodrich of Design’s Voice, Chuck Pelly discusses the changing world of design.

The Hollywood Racer, Lace Reventlow

Posted on August 30, 2011 by DesignAcademy

Lance’s race car is called the Scarab, it was fast and won many of the races it entered.

The Scarab sports cars were very successful and dominated United States racing in the late 1950′s and early 1960′s and were the best of the best sports race cars. Not only were they great race cars beating Ferraris, Maseratis and Listers but they were beautiful too.

Lance Reventlow was the leader, and funder, of the team that built and raced these cars. One of the important keys to his success was the team that he assembled. Bruce Kessler, who raced with Lance in the United States and Europe, was the first member of this special team.

Together they toured some of the racing factories in Europe and were influenced by what they saw there, in particular at Lister in Cambridge, UK. Reventlow decided that he could build a better chassis so rather than buy a chassis from Lister he struck out on his own with his company, Reventlow Automobile Inc. (RAI), to design his own chassis.

RAI chose their engine – the Chevrolet small block V8, starting at 283 cid, they went to 301 cid and soon were at 327 cid and later 339 cid. With fuel injection they produced around 360 hp. They used aluminum Borg Warner T-10 transmissions. The beautiful Scarab body was designed by Chuck Pelly and built by Emil Deidt who had experience making Indy cars. The paint scheme was a pearl blue with white stripes and was pinstriped by Von Dutch himself.

Read the whole article.

Art Center Alumni Chapter co-chaired by Chuck Pelly and June Rubin, June 23rd 2011

Posted on June 30, 2011 by DesignAcademy

Chuck Pelly has been recently appointed co-Chair of Art Center Alumni – San Diego Chapter.

June 23rd 2011 from 7pm to 10pm, a party was organized at Nissan Design America, attended by more than 50 people, including The Design Academy team, Nissan Design Art Center Alumni and a lot of other Art Center Alumni from San Diego and Orange County.

After a welcome speech from Alfonso Albaisa (VP Nissan Design America), Chuck Pelly (Art Center Prod’ 58) and Stewart Reed (Art Center Transportation Design Chair), explained why Southern California is so attractive to car design studios and what Art Center transportation design program now offers to students.

Then, Art Center President Lorne Buchman presented his recently unveiled strategic plan for the famous school.

The speeches were followed by a private and very privileged visit of Nissan Design studio by Robert Bauer (Art Center Alumni, Trans’ 95). It was a great opportunity to mingle and to meet local talents.

For more information about this event and other to come, please contact Pascale Bauer or Alice Poulos at 858.490.0063.

7th Annual La Jolla Motorcar Classic, April 3rd, 2011

Posted on April 12, 2011 by DesignAcademy

For the second year, Chuck Pelly, founder of the Design Academy, was invited to be a judge at La Jolla Motorcar Classic, in the Special Interest category. With his passion for cars and his expertise and notoriety in car design, especially as the founder of BMWDesignworks/USA, Chuck was happy to contribute to the 7th edition to the Classic, celebrating this year German cars!

Other TDA members and TDA strategic partners or friends were also present at the Show: Pascale Bauer, Executive Producer of the Design Academy, was La Jolla Motorcar Classic Co-Chairman in 2010, and was judging this year; Jennifer Luce (Luce et Studio – strategic partner), Brenda Parkin, Robert Bauer and Richard Plavetich (Nissan Design America – strategic partner), Freeman Thomas (Ford Advanced Concepts – former student of Chuck and now friend) were also judges.