DUSTBLOOM - Sci-fi vehicle concept design
DUSTBLOOM is an academic vehicle concept design project developed during my Bachelor's studies in Transportation Design at the Stieglitz Academy of Art and Design. The project explores a compact futuristic mobility platform designed around three different occupants: a human pilot, a maintenance robot, and an intelligent animal companion.
The goal was to create a vehicle that feels protective, approachable, and technologically advanced, while combining soft automotive volumes with exposed mechanical elements and organic forms. The design process included visual research, shape exploration, functional zoning, silhouette development, vehicle architecture, mechanical studies, and final concept illustration.
A key part of the project was defining three dedicated functional zones within a single vehicle and finding a visual language that connects transportation design, industrial design, hard-surface design, and organic inspiration. The final design contrasts a smooth enclosed cabin with an exposed rear mechanical structure and a branch-like organic element, giving the vehicle a recognizable silhouette and a clear narrative function.
Alongside the vehicle, I designed three original characters specifically around its architecture and functionality. Asagao is the pilot and an employee of the Center for Environmental Disaster Response, occupying the protected front cabin. Robby is a maintenance and repair robot positioned on the rear mechanical platform, providing technical support during expeditions. Frony Devils is an intelligent animal companion that travels in a hammock suspended from the organic branch structure at the back of the vehicle. Developing the characters and vehicle together allowed me to approach the project as a unified vehicle, character, and worldbuilding design system, where each occupant directly influences the layout and functionality of the transport.
This project showcases my approach to transportation design, sci-fi vehicle design, concept art, character design, visual development, industrial design, and worldbuilding, with a focus on functionality, storytelling, and clear shape language.
Role: Concept Artist / Transportation Designer
Project type: Academic Project — Bachelor's Degree in Transportation Design
Focus: Vehicle Concept Design, Transportation Design, Industrial Design, Character Design, Visual Development, Hard-Surface Design, Worldbuilding
