What If You Change The Way Something Is Built?: How Design Happens Series

When Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned by The Third Reich to design the People’s Car or Volkswagen he threw out every automobile convention and used every “new” idea and technique he could find. He used an air-cooled engine made of aluminum installed it in the car with independent rear suspension on a body built like an airplane using monocoque construction techniques using stamped metal parts, he hung a torsion arm front suspension on the front and the result was and is The VW beetle a car that should have revolutionized how we build cars, but unfortunately was mostly ignored until very recently, 80 years after the first VW was built, cars are starting to be made using some of Porsche’s ideas.

The VW Beetle’s simple straightforward design allowed the fenders to be replaced with a few screws, the “trunk” was moved to the front of the car and placed over the gas tank. The rearview mirrors utilized the doors hinge pivot. So many simple solutions made it simply a joy to own. Somehow Porsche was able to create a car that “fit” just about everyone’s needs and desires and I’m sure he never saw it becoming a symbol of The 60’s counter culture revolution and turning into Herbie The Love Bug.

#HowDesignHappensSeries [#05]

How Design Happens
Bruce Hannah 2019©