Form_Y
2019.04
Form-Y is a fully functional bicycle prototype made of wood that has gone on to win the INDUSTART International Design Award. This product was created by a team of designers who were passionate about going beyond simple concept design and creating something different. Form-Y is a culmination of multiple design skills and product manufacturing. Using beautiful handmade elements made of wood combined with custom-manufactured parts, Form-Y stands in stark contrast to every other bicycle on the market.
With engineering at its core, this concept is not only able to ride without any issues but also uses a completely different geometry than a regular bicycle. This separates both the middle section and frame to bring attention to the hand shaping of the wood. This bicycle is not only a different product but it incorporates a handmade element into a sporty frame. It allows the rider to feel connected to the craftsman while still riding and feeling confident on a smooth belt-driven system.
An early experiment into true product design from conception to execution covering concept designs, engineering, and material finishes.
Design
Can mass-produced transportation be made with renewable resources while maintaining or elevating the user's experience? This brief drives Form_Y and completes its mission by providing a fully functional design that is quieter and naturally more shock-absorbant than traditional bicycle frames. Made entirely out of ash and using wood lamination techniques, this platform is capable of conventional bicycle cable routing and high-end hardware. The design started from early drawing concepts, blue foam shaping to figure out form lines and finally planning of the lamination techniques required for the mechanical strength required to be a fully capable bicycle system. Ash was chosen for its light appearance, great shaping characteristics, and strength.
The entire design cycle was completed in one and a half months and the engineering cycle was completed in two and a half months. With limited time and designers, this project was an incredibly efficient use of resources. It demonstrates what is possible with great designers and talents properly channeled.
The Form_Y platform slows down and looks at what is possible with materials and techniques that have been around for thousands of years. Bringing these into a modern age with novel bicycle geometry and shaping proves a point in the ability to use renewable materials for otherwise largely scaled transportation products.
Form_Y is a bicycle platform that prioritizes ride quality and uses traditional wood joinery techniques to create a piece of functional art. The concept is the brainchild of a dedicated team made to expand on materiality in transportation design while enhancing a traditional fixed-gear bicycle riding experience.
MOODBOARDING FORM_Y DESIGN INTENT
PRILIMINARY SKETCHING
Concept
Taking the difficulty of creating a design that has been thought out for hundreds of years and coupling it with woodworking, we are able to design a platform that is not only performant but challenges the way we address mass producing bicycle designs.
Form_Y. A beautiful experiment into transportation materiality.
