On the occasion of the Salone del Mobile 2012, MINI presents the installation COLOUR ONE for MINI by Scholten & Baijings. This work by the internationally renowned Dutch design duo explores the design of a MINI One by examining its composition down to the smallest details and, in so doing, dissecting the design process.
The upshot is a thought-provoking and inspiring new interpretation that draws on the familiar stylistic devices of Scholten & Baijings – colour and material – to query the rules of automotive design and shed new light on them.
The path is the goal: automotive design redefined.
Fascinated by the principle of concept cars, Stefan Scholten and Carole Baijings set about deconstructing the MINI One. As MINI’s base model, the MINI One inherently and recognisably embodies all the hallmark attributes of the brand, thus presenting itself as the ideal vehicle for tackling fundamental issues concerning all aspects of MINI design.
Scholten & Baijings peeled the MINI One like an onion, layer by layer, while analysing the car as such and its individual components. In doing so, the designers questioned virtually every aspect of design along the way, extracting the essence of each component, whether this was revealed at its core or during the dismantling process itself. The Dutch designers complemented the stripped parts with colour and texture in characteristic Scholten & Baijings fashion. In close collaboration with the MINI design team, this not only gave rise to a very free interpretation of the frame, but also spawned so-called “Art Parts” – components that were extracted as a whole from the car and in their ensuing “autonomy” permit an entirely fresh perspective on car design.
In their presentation, Scholten & Baijings once again take up the theme of MINI’s racing heritage: COLOUR ONE for MINI by Scholten & Baijings is staged in a stylised racing paddock. Since the process of lending shape to objects is the focus of this work, the exhibits are joined by showcases containing colour and material samples along with inspiring objects, images and snapshots from the creative process behind the installation.
Stefan Scholten spoke about the significance of this project for his design studio:
For us this collaboration is the fulfilment of a dream that virtually any product designer would cherish. Being able to apply our thinking to such a ubiquitous product as the car is a fantastic opportunity for our work. The questions we asked ourselves and the solutions we worked out were an eye-opener for everyone involved. We are delighted with this unique collaboration which also reflects, not least of all, the commitment of every individual concerned.
COLOUR ONE for MINI by Scholten & Baijings runs until 28 April 2012 as part of the INTERNI Legacy exhibition at the University of Milan.
The INTERNI Legacy exhibition staged by the renowned Italian design magazine INTERNI presents MINI as one of the main protagonists with the design installation COLOUR ONE for MINI by Scholten & Baijings. As part of the Fuori Salone 2012, the installation will be on display at the Cortile del 700 of Milan University (Università degli Studi di Milano). Other designers represented at the show include Patricia Urquiola for Missoni. The installation can be viewed between 9.00 and 24.00 hrs from 16 to 22 April 2012. From 23 to 28 April the exhibition closes at 21.00 hrs.
Press release courtesy of BMW Group Design.
