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[Levi68]

I personally am more of a fan of individualized, customized design across the product line ... Not a fan of unified look at all. I miss Bangle era, but I have to live in this unified "Borg world". I'm not alone though. I can only hope for the trends to turn again. If ever ...

Something we agree on. But in the case of Apple, I don't see it a bad thing. Cars and electronic devices must not be treated in the same way IMO. For me cars have, or at least should have soul, smartphones and computers not.

 

[EnI]

But it's not the first time the electronic goods maker has influenced the whole industrial design field ... It happened before. Think: Braun.

 

[Levi68]

But it's not the first time the electronic goods maker has influenced the whole industrial design field ... It happened before. Think: Braun.

About Apple's influence I get it. But about Braun? Could you explain me?

 

[Ultimate Car Guy]

Volkswagen

 

[K-A]

Current generation of bimmers are the best ever. As long as they look good, family resemblance isn't a problem.
F30 is easily to spot the differences from 5 and 7er. 1-series, Z4, X1, X3 doesnt look like any other BMW at all.

C'mon, that's quite a stretch. The E39/E34/E46 generation I think is still the best of its time. The cars had a family resemblance, looked well alike, but weren't as blatantly copy/paste homogenous as they are now. I know a girl who loves BMW and cars, and said that she can't tell a difference between a 3 and a 5 (many, many people say this), and tons of people say how hard it is to tell a difference between a 5 and a 7, therefore aligning the full Sedan lineup in that "sausages" dimension.

I think the current crop is the best looking since the E39 gen for sure, but now that the lineup is so safely homogenized, I actually start to miss the individuality, daring boldness, and hoopla around the "Bangle gen" (even though the current gen is all designed under Bangle anyway). If BMW finds a middle ground in the next generation, I think that would be perfect.

I do think the new 6 Series is the first BMW in some time to rekindle that feeling I got when I looked at an 8 Series back in the day, or an E46 Coupe when it was selling (what a beauty that car was during its time). Being very close to the E39 when it was out, I think the F10 is very close in trying to rekindle that spirit (not driving wise, it can't touch the E39 during its time there), but I loved the E39 so much, it was such a hot car.... I'm not sure if I think the F10 is worthy of dethroning it.... In fact, I know I don't feel it is, but I withhold really fully confirming that to myself because I had E39's in the family and friends circles, and don't with the F10. Maybe if I was closer to it I'd appreciate it more (or less, for that matter).

 

[K-A]

Something we agree on. But in the case of Apple, I don't see it a bad thing. Cars and electronic devices must not be treated in the same way IMO. For me cars have, or at least should have soul, smartphones and computers not.

Well said. Apple proved that it works in the electronics worked, because so many companies put out these gadgets, it's hard to know who's who. Apple figured out exactly how: Make them look STRONGLY unified as an "Apple design". Therefore, if you see someone holding one, right away, you know it's an Apple product, great marketing right there.

Cars are more personal I think, much more dynamic products. They aren't as simple as a consumer electronic device that needs to be as simple as possible. Apple's influence of "simplistic purity" is genius and very welcome in the car world, but cars should indeed bear "souls", therefore focus on individuality within product lines is important.

After all, Apple has just several devices, just one phone, one tablet (so far), a couple different Laptops, etc. BMW has several Sedans, several SUV's, several Coupes, etc. Cars need to keep it more interesting.

 

[EnI]

About Apple's influence I get it. But about Braun? Could you explain me?

Apple's design is heavily influenced by Braun design, which was typically functionalist & simplistic ("form follows function"), associated with (revived) Bauhaus Teutonic aesthetics & design philosophy. Especially in the modern electrified society - with the revolution in the field of electronic goods (home appliances etc). Although the analog (mechanical) ones, not digital. And consequently automotive design was also affected with functionalist & simplistic "form follows function" principle.

It's happening again. In some way.

 

[K-A]

Related, I posted this in another thread. Other than "family likeness", many automotive designers from M-B and BMW's heads of design have cited Apple as their top influence for modern designs. From Gorden Wagener holding up his iPhone during a CLS presentation saying that going forward, that simply purity of the iPhone will effect his M-B designs, to BMW designers being very outward about using Apple's simply-beauty approach immediately within their designs, floating iPad dash screens, etc. Apple also affected how popular colors have changed. I love the "Apple influence", but if homogeny (and the profit margins that follow) truly is an Apple influence, then that one I'm against in the automotive field.

Apple changed the color of cars, says BMW designer
By Philip Elmer-DeWitt August 30, 2012: 7:54 AM
Automobile manufacturers preferred silver before Steve Jobs made white cool

FORTUNE -- In a piece about how brown has become the "red-hot" color for cars and trucks, Motoramic's Brett Berk offers this insight into Apple's (AAPL) influence on the automobile market:
Silver was the most popular exterior car color in America for nearly a decade. But while it remains beloved by automotive designers for best showing off a car's styling, its unstinting argent reign was finally overthrown this year. By white. According to Sandy McGill, BMW Designworks' lead designer in color, materials, and finish, this is Steve Jobs' doing. "Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or the tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable."
Who knew?

 

[Wolfgang]

But he preferred silver in his Benzes?

http://www.foxcrawl.com/2011/11/10/video-find-out-why-steve-jobs-car-had-no-registration-number/

 

[Gianclaudio]

About Apple's influence I get it. But about Braun? Could you explain me?

Besides what Eni told you, I recomend you to google Dieter Rams, the main designer at Braun's most inovative era and one of the most important industrial designers ever, perhaps the most important this side of Raymond Loewy


Regards!

 

[K-A]

But he preferred silver in his Benzes?

If you think about it, Apple products and brand colors are always focused on silver, black, and white.

 

[Wolfgang]

And a black beemer.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs riding a 1966 R60/2 beemer

 

[Kowalski]

And a black beemer.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs riding a 1966 R60/2 beemer

No helmet? That's a responsible biker right there...

Oh and btw, Apple sucks.

 

[K-A]

And a black beemer.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs riding a 1966 R60/2 beemer

Talk about a nice and timeless bike. Not a prolific soul of our time had the eyes for timeless and simplistic beauty as this man. His taste in rolling objects clearly withstanding.

If only I could confirm that he had or at least appreciated 911's. IMO his whole approach to industrial design was akin to the 911 idiom.

 

[EnI]

Another very interesting one.

X2 Sport

Beside the already registered X2.