Dennos Museum Center > Education > Teacher & School Programs > Lesson Plans Revised 7/24/07

Webquest: Designing Concept Cars

Introduction

The Art and the Automobile exhibition at the Dennos Museum Center explores the relationship between automobiles and fine art by presenting the work of modern and contemporary artists alongside concept cars from the Buick Gallery of the A. P. Sloan Museum.  The goals of this Webquest are to:

  • Integrate art and images as primary resource material.

  • Provide resources so that students can focus on using information instead of looking for it.

  • Build and support students’ inquiry, critical thinking and analysis skills.

This lesson: Designing a Concept Car

First things first: What is a concept car?

A concept car is a car prototype introducing new ideas that is made to showcase a new vehicle's styling, technology, and overall design before production. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced.

Your Quest

Your task is to design a concept car.  To do this you will first research existing design features from past automobile models and modern and contemporary art featuring automobile imagery to spark your own ideas.  Your job will be to persuade the Board of Directors of the Motor Company that your design should be put into production.  Make sure to consider the following and include them in your visual (poster board), oral, and written presentations: 

  • Style
  • Aesthetics
  • Ergonomics
  • Aerodynamics
  • Environmentalism/Fuel Efficiency
  • Innovation

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Resources

Part One: Researching Concept Cars

Before you begin, review these sites to get an over view of concept cars. 

When you look at the explanations of the concept cars, what is new and innovative about the designs? 

Record innovative features that you might want to incorporate in your own design on your research worksheet (doc)(pdf).

Part Two: Artists exploring the automobile

Review these sites to see how modern and contemporary artists use imagery of automobiles in their work.  Be sure to fill in your research worksheet as you go along.

Artists featured at the Dennos Museum Center:

Other artists and work:

Part Three: Designing your concept car

Now it is time to take your research and make some educated decisions about how you want to design your own concept car.  Review your research worksheet.  What were the innovative design features you liked in the cars and art pieces viewed online?  What features would you incorporate on a concept car and why? Discuss with your teammates what features you will include on your concept car. Is there anything you would incorporate that you didn’t see online? Narrow your features down to 3-4 features.  As a team, create a visual representation of your concept car and write a persuasive paragraph defending your choices.  You will present your design to the auto manufacturers (your classmates).

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