We Are Well Into the "Uncanny Valley" Generation of Car Design

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind) 01/09/2017 at 22:54 • Filed to: Design

8

18

Of all the cars that could use vents, this is the one you toss the most obvious fake vents on. I feel like we are at the awkward “High Definition/Uncanny Valley” transition in design. Like how 1080p is extremely off putting to view so now we need to wait for design to hit 4k in order to clarify the field depth without exaggerating motion. Every car looks like a computer generated image even in the actual pictures. Nothing looks natural any more!

I’m done until 2020, excuse my language but fuck the MY 2016-2020 design generation. I know everyone is working hard to create great designs but it’s very obvious that designers are heavily leaning on computers over their pens. I’m saying this as a composer because it was very obvious when I started hearing music composed mostly on computer rather than at an actual instrument.

But music moved on and is growing again with the new tool taking it to places it could have never reached before. I think design is going to skyrocket once we get out of this trench. We’ll be better once we get through this, but right now I feel like I’m getting sporked in the eye by someone that would be very attractive if they would stop sporking me!

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Wobbles the Mind 01/09/2017 at 22:59

2

1950's design is best design.

Wobbles the Mind > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/09/2017 at 23:03

2

We all know it was late 60s, but I appreciate your humor.

I’m just kidding! Kinda...

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Wobbles the Mind 01/09/2017 at 23:04

1

Piggybacking on yours I also feel like this is where integration in terms of infotainment systems. Like attempting to put AI assistants in cars is sorta awkward at this point

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Wobbles the Mind 01/09/2017 at 23:21

6

The problem with a lot of car design is that every designer wants every car to look like it is more and it really is. The new Camry tries to look like a crazy sports car. But it’s not. It’s doesn’t need a big grill it needs a tiny slot for cooling, it doesn’t need heat extractors on the rear. It not a wide body car with 305 tires.

So you end up with a bunch of black plastic because some one drew a concept with real vents, and no one stopped to think about how stupid it would look in real life.

Frank Grimes > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/09/2017 at 23:26

1

at least the fake vents in the 50's were metal.

Frank Grimes > Wobbles the Mind 01/09/2017 at 23:27

1

you just said something I felt in my soul for a long time but could not express. Car design these days is ugly just so egregiously ugly as those plastic fake vents. Textured black plastic is the new chrome except no one likes it.

I want to see reactionary design countering this “every molecule of air is needed and will be channeled into the bodywork” design language every performance car seems to follow.

Amoore100 > Wobbles the Mind 01/09/2017 at 23:56

0

The ‘70s were best.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Amoore100 01/10/2017 at 01:59

1

Design in the US peaked is the 1960s to early 1970s. There were also some nice designs in the 1950s. After the new bumper regulations went into effect, car designs got ugly out of necessity. The only other period with a lot of good design was much of the 1990s - sure, melted bar of soap and weird cladding happened, but they seemed to finally figure out how to integrate everything cleanly. The last really good looking cars were designed in the late 90s and built through the early 00s.

My 2015, while nice, looks like a minivan due to the height, the huge pillars, the aerodynamic shape, and poorly-hidden boxiness that newer crash safety standards have necessitated.

arl > Wobbles the Mind 01/10/2017 at 09:46

1

Is the uncanny valley similar to the trough of disillusionment? Because that’s where I think most car designs are these days.

I just imagine Toyota managers reviewing designer’s work and saying “SHAPES! WE NEED MORE SHAPES!” The poor designers going back to the drawing board, slicing body lines, adding vents, and creasing hoods until the managers smile and say “Yes.......shapes, all the shapes.” And we get crap like the 2018 Camry.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind 01/10/2017 at 11:17

1

The 458 Italia was the first car that I remember looking at real photos of, completely convinced they were renders.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind 01/10/2017 at 11:18

0

Care to share some of your compositions?

Wobbles the Mind > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/10/2017 at 11:23

1

One day, I’m still enjoying my anonymity on here.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind 01/10/2017 at 11:26

0

Can’t blame you there. Perhaps you could share some work you respect that is similar to yours?

Wobbles the Mind > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/10/2017 at 11:40

1

Ooo, I like that idea! I’ll do it tonight when my day is done!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind 01/10/2017 at 11:54

0

Like I tell my wife, I only have good ideas. =)

Wobbles the Mind > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/10/2017 at 11:58

1

Lmao!! I love the irony in telling her that being the worst idea possible, I’m using that for life!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind 01/10/2017 at 12:11

0

You’re welcome.

Zach Roether > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 01/24/2017 at 00:29

1

Bravo! I second this opinion. I can’t believe the new Camry styling, just as an example. I mean sure we bag on it for years for being a “beige-mobile” and so they finally go nuts and make it look edgy and wild. However, they managed to forget to make it look “good”.