Porsche Exhibit

For this studio project, my team designed an auto show exhibit for Porsche, to highlight their 718 Boxster. Our design goal was to emphasize the many years of Porsche racing heritage and engineering that led up to the Boxster's 2016 release. I worked with classmates Julia Brooks and Caitlin Schumacher to design this exhibit.

Research

To better understand the brand, we visited a Porsche dealership, as well as the Porsche Experience Center (pictured below). Throughout the facilities we noticed an exacting attention to detail, as well as constant references to Porsche's long, illustrious history. We also discovered what makes the 718 Boxster different from its predecessors: a lower price point, which makes the car accessible to a wider range of customers.

Ideation

Our initial concepts explored different ways to guide visitors through the exhibit, while providing a compelling narrative. Through feedback from stakeholders with extensive knowledge of the Porsche brand, we discovered that the visual language of concept A was the most appropriate for the Porsche brand, while concepts B + C were a little too "out there" but provided great narratives. With this in mind, we began brainstorming, sketching, and combining ideas to create our final concept.

Exhibit

Our final design is simple, elegant, and intuitive. We wanted to communicate the Boxster's long, proud racing history without filling our exhibit with boring informational placards, so the back section of the exhibit is designed to provide a fully visual learning experience. At the entrance to this platform is an aerially-suspended vintage Boxster RSK (the precursor to the 718 Boxster), which will draw in auto enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about the car's history.

As visitors move through the space, they will see videos of Porsche racecars projected onto the wall, giving them a sense of the immense pride and accomplishment that is associated with Porsche motorsports. Finally, they come to the end of the racetrack, where a 718 Boxster is poised as if it's about to drive off; the newest in a long, proud line of historic cars. The positioning of the Boxster on the ground floor of the exhibit, as opposed to on a platform or stage, symbolizes its accessibility and lower pricepoint - an opportunity for those who dream of owning a Porsche, but previously could not have afforded it.

Interior

When our team visited the Porsche Experience Center, as well as a Porsche dealership in the Atlanta area, we were impressed by the carefully crafted aesthetic that was consistent throughout every part of their facilities. Most auto show exhibits include VIP reception areas, as well as offices for executives, and so we used these areas as a chance to bring in some of the interior aesthetics we had observed.