Automotive

Ford reinterprets GT styling as a foosball table, sailboat and other concepts

Ford reinterprets GT styling as a foosball table, sailboat and other concepts
Ford imagines a foosball table that is actually a functional greenhouse with live grass on the playing field
Ford imagines a foosball table that is actually a functional greenhouse with live grass on the playing field
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The Ford GT interior helped to inspire Ford designers' exploration of non-automotive design
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The Ford GT interior helped to inspire Ford designers' exploration of non-automotive design
Inside the Ford GT
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Inside the Ford GT
The new Ford GT debuted at this year's North American International Auto Show
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The new Ford GT debuted at this year's North American International Auto Show
Ford GT
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Ford GT
Ford's table design shows a lightness and minimalism that flows through all its Salone del Mobile design work
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Ford's table design shows a lightness and minimalism that flows through all its Salone del Mobile design work
This artistic speaker design has ambient lighting to accentuate its light, floating appearance
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This artistic speaker design has ambient lighting to accentuate its light, floating appearance
Ford's speaker concept includes a sleek chassis, Bluetooth connectivity and voice-activated functionality
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Ford's speaker concept includes a sleek chassis, Bluetooth connectivity and voice-activated functionality
The piece looks like a high-end home theater speaker, but it's actually envisioned as a standalone Bluetooth unit
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The piece looks like a high-end home theater speaker, but it's actually envisioned as a standalone Bluetooth unit
Ford's speaker vision offers voice-activated weather, time and temperature updates
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Ford's speaker vision offers voice-activated weather, time and temperature updates
Ford's suspended light features an aluminum body
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Ford's suspended light features an aluminum body
Ford's hanging light concept uses two strands of LED lights meant to convey motion like the headlights of a speeding race car
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Ford's hanging light concept uses two strands of LED lights meant to convey motion like the headlights of a speeding race car
The Horizon wall light's dispersed light field is modeled after the rising sun
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The Horizon wall light's dispersed light field is modeled after the rising sun
The Horizon light is shaped like a wing, with the strongest light in its center, dispersing out toward the edges
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The Horizon light is shaped like a wing, with the strongest light in its center, dispersing out toward the edges
Ford's guitar design places more emphasis on the edges, less on the thick heft of the body
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Ford's guitar design places more emphasis on the edges, less on the thick heft of the body
Ford imagines a foosball table that is actually a functional greenhouse with live grass on the playing field
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Ford imagines a foosball table that is actually a functional greenhouse with live grass on the playing field
The guitar uses a mix of wood and aluminum meant to give it a light feel and true tone
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The guitar uses a mix of wood and aluminum meant to give it a light feel and true tone
Ford guitar
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Ford guitar
Ford reinterprets the wall clock as a light, minimal dial
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Ford reinterprets the wall clock as a light, minimal dial
Inspired by the form of a flowing flag with sliced-off edges, Ford's chaise lounge includes a body-contouring seat and integrated storage area that looks perfect for holding magazines or newspapers
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Inspired by the form of a flowing flag with sliced-off edges, Ford's chaise lounge includes a body-contouring seat and integrated storage area that looks perfect for holding magazines or newspapers
The chaise lounge features a wool-blend soft felt surface and hard shell structure
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The chaise lounge features a wool-blend soft felt surface and hard shell structure
Ford armchair
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Ford armchair
Ford's team applies its automotive design skills to the sea
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Ford's team applies its automotive design skills to the sea
Ford's sailboat takes on the form of an aerodynamic teardrop
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Ford's sailboat takes on the form of an aerodynamic teardrop
Ford designers shape the sailboat to convey its light weight and speed
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Ford designers shape the sailboat to convey its light weight and speed
The concave deck of Ford's sailboat is inspired by an F1 race car cockpit
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The concave deck of Ford's sailboat is inspired by an F1 race car cockpit
Ford sailboat design
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Ford sailboat design
Ford FAVILLA light display
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Ford FAVILLA light display
Ford at Salone del Mobile 2015
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Ford at Salone del Mobile 2015
Ford table
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Ford table
Ford's wall clock uses a ring of LEDs to convey time
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Ford's wall clock uses a ring of LEDs to convey time
The wall clock is made from anodized aluminum and 3D-printed plastic
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The wall clock is made from anodized aluminum and 3D-printed plastic
Ford armchair
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Ford armchair
Ford's idea of a greenhouse foosball table is interesting, but the design it shows is just a mock-up
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Ford's idea of a greenhouse foosball table is interesting, but the design it shows is just a mock-up
Ford's two-piece armchair includes a pocket seat and structural support arm
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Ford's two-piece armchair includes a pocket seat and structural support arm
Ford armchair
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Ford armchair
Ford's wall clock over its foosball table; all that's missing is the suspended light
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Ford's wall clock over its foosball table; all that's missing is the suspended light
Ford at Salone del Mobile 2015
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Ford at Salone del Mobile 2015
Ford wall clock
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Ford wall clock
Ford at Salone del Mobile 2015
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Ford at Salone del Mobile 2015
Ford foosball table
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Ford foosball table
Ford guitar
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Ford guitar
Ford's model sailboat on display at Salone del Mobile
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Ford's model sailboat on display at Salone del Mobile
Ford FAVILLA display in Milan's Piazza San Fedele
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Ford FAVILLA display in Milan's Piazza San Fedele
Ford at Salone del Mobile 2015
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Ford at Salone del Mobile 2015
Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
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Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
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Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
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Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
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Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
View gallery - 48 images

Translating car design into furniture and other consumer goods is all the rage this month. For Milan Design Week (Salone del Mobile), Mazda highlighted its Kodo Design language reincarnated as a sofa and bicycle. Ford got even more diverse, unleashing the styling of the all-new GT supercar on a varied selection of designs, from pieces of furniture, to a foosball table, to a sailboat, to a guitar.

Ford opened up 2015 by absolutely blowing away North American International Auto Show visitors with its all-new GT, a 600+ hp aero-optimized tour de force of automotive engineering. Though we haven't even reached the halfway point of the year, it's safe to say that the GT will stand as one of the defining car designs of 2015.

Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)
Ford debuts the GT at NAIAS 2015 (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)

Not content to let the GT tantalize only sports car lovers, Ford decided to treat Design Week attendees with a look at how its most cutting edge design could influence various other products. While the car's body seems like the obvious styling jumping off point, it was the interior design that informed Ford's non-automotive works. Specifically, Ford designed the GT cabin and the Design Week show pieces with three guiding principles in mind: innovation, function-forward "clarity of intent," and connection with the user through more compact, intuitive forms.

In addition to the aforementioned sailboat, foosball table, guitar and furniture, designers from Ford's global studios prepared several other creations, including a wall clock, a wireless speaker and lights. Head to the photo gallery to see each design and learn a bit more about how the collection ties into Ford's three-point design philosophy.

Beyond models of consumer goods, Ford also showed a much larger Design Week presentation in the form of its "FAVILLA, Every Light a Voice" exhibit erected in the heart of Milan. Prepared with architect Attilio Stocchi, in collaboration with Federlegno Arredo Eventi, the multi-part installation unfolded inside two large boxes. The first explored the science of light with a reflective show, and the second took a look at how Ford design shapes both form and function.

Ford FAVILLA light display
Ford FAVILLA light display

"A successful design requires more than pleasing aesthetics – it needs to connect with consumers, speak to their aspirations and pleasantly surprise them," said Moray Callum, Ford’s vice president of design. "This installation takes visitors through an unexpected discovery process that perfectly reflects Ford’s philosophy that design is an emotional journey orchestrated around the customer."

If that all sounds like abstract, pseudo-artsy corporate BS to you (it does to us), you can just ignore it and enjoy the impressive light display in the video below. It's worth a watch, even if you don't feel like contemplating how it all ties into the Blue Oval's product and marketing strategy.

Source: Ford

Animation of the Ford GT Light Sculpture in the heart of Milan

View gallery - 48 images
2 comments
2 comments
BG59
I can't wait to see the GT in real life!
Buzzclick
Man! Ford design is breaking fresh ground. In car design, they are shamelessly appropriating style elements from other car makers like Aston and Audi, but the new GT definitely has some brilliant curves...
Still, they should at least offer a small twin-turbo V8 option as well. A car of this caliber doesn't seem serious enough in a V6 format, even if it does produce gobs of horsepower.