Issue no. 277 summary
IT&Design CES 2026, a new technological era
From software to intelligent hardware, from language models to robots. On display in early January at CES in Las Vegas was the dawn of a new technological era, of Physical AI, where artificial intelligence takes physical form, exits computer and smartphone screens, and enters machines, embedding itself in the real world to become the nervous system of domestic robots with unprecedented capabilities.… di Mario Cianflone
Design trends Squaring the wheel
An essential complement to the design brief since time immemorial, and at times the defining feature of a model, wheels are today enjoying an extraordinary proliferation of variations: thanks to advances in production technology and, perhaps even more so, to the creative ambitions of designers. Aerodynamics runs like a watermark through everything, reinterpreting and surpassing the fairings of yesteryear… by Silvio jr Suppa
Cover story Kia EV2, urban freedom reimagined
“It’s a capable all-rounder that takes you out of your comfort zone. A compact, nimble SUV that expresses the character of new adventures and unlocks the possibilities for an active urban lifestyle”. That’s how Karim Habib introduced the EV2 Concept, unveiled last year in Spain… by Silvia Baruffaldi
Design studio GranStudio, designing what make sense
Fifteen years on from its founding and following recent years of growth, the Turin-based studio led by Lowie Vermeersch looks to the future of mobility and design as a system of experiences, contexts and meanings. A user-driven and context-aware approach that transcends the object to embrace the complexity of the real world… by Tommaso Marcoli
Meet the designer Adrian van Hooydonk, fatal attraction
An attraction to moving objects that has turned into a passion for all-round design: from car design to industrial design, from materials to architecture. Adrian van Hoydoonk has been Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design since 2009. Under his leadership, the German group has developed a number of iconic models.… by Giovanni Grimaldi
Design story Geely Design, from ideas to methodology
In a highly competitive automotive market, the success of a single model rarely translates into long-term, stable brand recognition. The real challenge lies in enabling design to evolve continuously. Over the past three years, the design practice of Geely Galaxy has proven that Geely Design is building…
Concept car Citroën ELO, multi-functional energy
Restrained, rational, utilitarian in the noblest sense of the term. At the same time playfully appealing, you might even say visionary. A design oxymoron that brings together the many different souls of the Double Chevron, drawing inspiration from a deeply authentic creative process… by Silvio jr Suppa
Concept car Toyota Corolla Concept, bringining a success into the future
Twelve generations of the Corolla, of which 55 million units have been sold in every imaginable version since 1966, testify to a success – and a record – of which Toyota is proud. “We asked ourselves,” says Lance Scott, “how to bring it into the future… by Fabio Galvano
Design story Ferrari SC40 One Off, postmodern language
A one-off that reinterprets Ferrari’s heritage without nostalgia. Flavio Manzoni and his team describe a project that mixes up sculpture, graphics and technical discipline, a potential ambiguity underlay the SC40: evoking the F40 without becoming a replica of it … by Tommaso Marcoli
Bike&Design Suzuki GSX 8T & 8TT, a lookback at the past
The Suzuki line-up includes two exceptional models that do not go unnoticed. These are the GSX-8T and GSX-8TT: built on the same platform as the GSX-8S, but given a retro look inspired directly by the street bikes of the ‘70s and ‘80s… by Francesco Barontini
School Royal College of Art, mobility as a system
The study of mobility is much more than planning journeys: it means analysing the way we live and interact with systems. At the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre (IMDC) of the Royal College of Art, mobility is a territory of exploration where people, technology and the environment come together to shape new scenarios… by Marta Cinti