July 16, 2008 1:00 AM by Brian Potter Filed Under: GeneralAudi
Not terribly dissimilar to the recently refurbished bob sled by Lotus, here's a project slightly out of character by Audi which strives to reflect the brand's design genes in an object that is not associated with a car – enter the Audi soccer table (aka foosball in North America).
“Every product created by the Audi Design Team should be recognizable as such without looking like an adapted vehicle”, remarked Carsten Monnerjan, Head of Concept Design Munich. “Abstract characteristics are translated so as to give a product that typical Audi look but without actually turning it into a car.”
One year in the making, the Audi Design soccer table was a collaboration from the Audi Product, Interior, Color and Equipment design departments.
“We have accomplished an exciting design study in the Audi soccer table – and it even looks good upside down!” declared Monnerjan in praise of the Design Team’s work.
What would normally be considered inanimate is transformed into an elegant and modern design object. In fact, Audi goes so far to imply that the design forecasts the design of future of Audi products and shapes!
However, don't run to your local Audi dealer just yet, because the Audi Design soccer table is only a one-off piece.
Design object reflects Audi automotive design studies
AUDI has designed a one-off recreational soccer table to showcase how design can reflect the ‘genes’ of a brand – even without incorporating the elements of a car. The formal idiom of the ‘Audi Design soccer’ table therefore reflects Audi even though it has no specific vehicle models in mind.
“Every product created by the Audi Design Team should be recognizable as such without looking like an adapted vehicle”, remarked Carsten Monnerjan, Head of Concept Design Munich. “Abstract characteristics are translated so as to give a product that typical Audi look but without actually turning it into a car.”
The styling is entirely new for a soccer table. It is futuristic and progressive in appearance and affords a glimpse into future trends in design.
“When you’re playing a game on the Audi Design soccer table, its dynamic character conjures up the atmosphere of a modern, architecturally appealing soccer stadium”, added Monnerjan.
Typical Audi Design traits are a functional formal idiom that reinforces the soccer game’s dynamic appeal, as well as the clear lines that surround fluid surfaces. This design object comes across as extraordinarily elegant – an utterly new attribute for a soccer table. You feel an almost irrepressible urge to try it out when you see it – as you would when first seeing a thoroughbred sports car.
The flat, trapezoidal body that envelops the table length-wise is rounded off by the continuous aluminum surround strip and seems to float on frame-type legs. The players, too, have been specially created for the Audi Design soccer table. The color scheme is modern and reductive, using white and anthracite metallic. Matt and bright surfaces and the finely brushed aluminum surround enhance the sophisticated look – only the block-cut acrylic glass has the classic, glowing green color of a lush soccer pitch.
The Audi Design soccer table has been realized in close collaboration with the Product, Interior and Color and Equipment design areas, and was one year in the making. The design object is intended to draw an analogy to Audi automotive design studies that provide a foretaste of future products and shapes.
“We have accomplished an exciting design study in the Audi soccer table – and it even looks good upside down!” declared Monnerjan in praise of the Design Team’s work.
In view of the company’s association with several internationally successful soccer clubs, the particular challenge facing the Audi Design Team was to create a popular leisure article that unquestionably reflects Audi’s sophisticated formal idiom. The result is a lifestyle product that is worthy of comparison with the highest-quality products on the market.
While most manufacturers are busy investing in technology and design, Audi is making a foosball table... And yeah, I'm still waiting for the diesel version, I hear it does around 100mpg and goes from 0-60 in under 3 seconds (when dropped from an airplane!)
Oh my foot! It's alive!!! Stop kidding yourselves Audi, with these so called future designs - says who? I bet we will see this foos whatever table in the very next MATRIX... shhhh... it's growing leds.
looks like an R8