Designing the concept for a creative and transformable camper van: a new challenge for Laba students for the Rimor brand
A design concept for a new camper van: original in terms of internal and external parts, but most importantly, transformable in terms of components. This is what third year Design students at Laba in Florence are working on as part of their collaboration with the Rimor brand. A synergy that began during the previous academic year and is continuing this year, in the spirit of creativity.
The academic “challenge” involves designing the concept for an all-Italian style camper van, featuring innovative and comfortable solutions: a reliable product that optimises space and quality materials, but which also stands out for its fittings and optional extras.
Last 4th December, a group of students visited us at our headquarters in Poggibonsi. The students were able to learn about the different stages of production, observe the materials used in the manufacture of the vehicles and gain information about the company’s approach and the different production lines. Guiding them on the visit was Rimor’s New Projects Development Manager, Simone Santacaterina, who went on to launch the contest to find the best of LABA’s ideas.
The students are working on their own: periodic reviews are entrusted to the designer Simone Santacaterina and to Rimor’s Marketing and Communication Manager, Gaia Frola. The partnership is being managed, at LABA in Florence, by the professor Simone Lucii. At the end of the academic year the names of the winners will be revealed: the best projects, chosen by the company, will be rewarded with an internship experience. Rimor will choose two candidates, one for the Marketing department and another for Production and Design.
The collaboration with the Rimor brand represents an excellent opportunity for our students to see ‘in the field’ how a company operates and how to develop a product that meets the user’s needs” says professor Lucii. “The challenge is definitely stimulating: through this contest, students will highlight their ability to design innovative but industrially developable solutions, following the very best tradition of Italian design and company skills.
As part of the collaboration with LABA, the Rimor brand is offering students its experience and professionalism, allowing them to bridge the gap between university studies and the reality of a company” says Simone Santacaterina. “This will give them the opportunity to learn about both the formal aspects of designing a camper van as well as the development and production processes. The students’ projects – newcomers to the world of “plein air” and the production systems of recreational vehicles – will have to come up with new projects and design concepts. The aim is to develop solutions that are capable of interpreting the needs of living “on the road” in an innovative way, with particular importance given to the ergonomics and sustainability of the solutions.
WHAT IS LABA? The “Libera Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze” – Academy of Fine Arts of Florence – authorised by the Miur (Ministry of Education, University and Research) to issue qualifications equivalent to a degree (Ministerial Decree No. 358 of 30 May 2017), has been active for almost 20 years and offers structured academic courses with the possibility of obtaining diplomas in five different areas: Photography, Graphic Design & Multimedia, Visual Arts/Painting, Design and Fashion Design.