The world of vehicle design never stands still. Once developed solely as a means of transport, mobility has undergone constant change over the last few centuries, reaching a point now where it must cope with a highly complex interplay of requirements that go far beyond pure functionality or design.

Are both still key aspects of vehicle design? Certainly. But today, other factors are crucial for extraordinary concepts.

In addition to electromobility, which continues to be a significant influence, new urban lifestyles are currently shaping the design of means of transport and will continue to do so in the future. Compact and practical models are emerging as particularly future-oriented, as are affordable vehicles. While there is enormous potential here, this is also where the greatest need for improvement in mobility lies. This is because official regulations oftentimes do not give manufacturers the freedom they need to meet new demands. Overcoming this is the central challenge for the future of mobility design: we must ensure that we offer affordable mobility solutions – in different forms, sizes and price models.

Additionally, ongoing topics such as sustainability and developments like autonomous systems, digital interfaces, AI-supported tools and AR/VR are also having an impact on the industry – not only on the creation of new forms, functions and user experiences, but also on fundamental ways of thinking, processes and the role of designers themselves.

However, it is not only design itself that needs to keep pace with the times – innovation in the structure and responsibilities of design departments within OEMs is just as essential a component of future mobility.

The coming years will demand massive changes in the core competencies and the role that design can and should play in the development of new vehicles. One of the biggest challenges here is to convey the enormous importance of a modern, holistically structured design department that goes beyond classic styling: from now on, design MUST be thought of as a discipline in product development and definition.

On September 11, Martin Groschwald, CEO of Konzepthaus, will fill the IAA stage with exciting insights into vehicle design, and shed light on the future of automotive design in a provocative and future-forward talk: ‘Car Design is dead – long live Car Design!’

Get a sneak preview of what the talk is about:
https://program.iaa-mobility.com/de/event-programm/conference/vortrag/car-design-is-dead-long-live-car-design-13077/

Get to know Martin in the IAA Voices interview:
https://www.iaa-mobility.com/de/newsroom/news/iaa-voices/conference-special/iaa-voices-interview-groschwald-konzepthaus

Those who want to delve deeper into this multifaceted topic should also visit the Mobility Design Conference, which will kick off IAA MOBILITY on September 8. It is organised by Konzepthaus in cooperation with IAA MOBILITY.

At the MDC, everything revolves around the topic of mobility design: Which materials will shape the vehicle design of tomorrow? What role will AI play? How will the interplay between UX, exterior and interior change? Which trends will shape design – not today, but in the future?

Expect high-profile speakers, deep insights into current and upcoming design trends, visionary exhibits and an informative exchange with the automotive design community!

Further information on MDC 2025 can be found here:
https://www.mdc.konzepthaus-consulting.com/

Secure your ticket now:
https://mdc-iaa-2025.eventbrite.de