When car design is museum worthy

I think, aesthetically, car design is so interesting – the dashboards, the steering wheels, and the beauty of the mechanics. I don't know how any of it works, I don't want to know, but it's inspirational – Paloma Picasso.The quote by the French fashion designer and businesswoman, best known for her jewelry designs for Tiffany & Co, hints at how a well-designed object can transform it from being functional to inspirational. The inclusion of sublime design can turn an everyday object into so much more! That’s the beauty of great design and the reason for it being so important – it can literally transform your life.Design in the automotive industry has gone through numerous changes since its inception. The Edwardian Era named for the widespread use of brass lasted from 1905 to the beginning of World War 1 in 1914. The high-wheel motor buggy was a popular car design in this era which resembled the horse buggies in the nineteenth century. The was followed by the Vintage Era which lasted from the end of World War 1 in 1919 to the Wall Street Crash in 1929. During this period front engine cars became the norm which gave us the modern day shape of the car from the buggy type shape that existed earlier. Pre-World War 2 era introduced closed body cars called sedans. The automotive industry experienced its first design revolution in the post-war era with the introduction of the Ponton-style. And as the time went by automobiles went through numerous design changes – adapting and evolving to our needs.Car design, in the modern times, continues to evolve. A new design style has been created recently called Crystalline. This particular design manifests itself through sharp angles and contours of a crystal and has recently been successfully implemented by Skoda Auto in their cars. The inspiration for Skoda’s crystalline design DNA comes from many sources; like a crystal glass. Bohemian crystal glass has been part of a proud history of Czech inventiveness. It also derives its inspiration from historic and modern architecture in Prague.All the edges and lines are clear, precise and sharp; crystalline design elements accentuate the exterior. The interplay of light and shadow creates powerful effects on the strikingly chiselled surfaces.The crystalline design element has also featured prominently on the latest art project initiated by Skoda. The Skoda design project has the carmaker collaborate with various artists across different mediums. The Skoda Design Project aims to create art in different forms such as digital, metal work and fiber inspired by the new Skoda Rapid’s crystalline design. One of the artists Nishikant Palande is an illustrator and visual artist. His area of work lies at the intersection of graphic design, contemporary illustration, and art. He drew his inspiration from the crystalline design to create this beautiful digital painting.You can see the making of the Skoda Rapid Crystalline digital painting right here -Skoda’s Design Project proves that car design is not just inspired by art but it can influence art too. The philosophy of crystalline design is an amalgamation of the rich history of the Czech Republic and its modern innovation resulting in a design born out of passion and progress.Explore the New SKODA Rapid!This is a partnered post.