Hey Mini Fans!

I am a third year design student at Carnegie Mellon School of design. I am working on a project designing an accessory to be sold by Mini.

My Goal:

To develop a product that facilitates and encourages drivers to go on recreational family outings in their Minis.

I already have a product concept in mind, but I'd like to hear the thoughts of you mini experts before I tip my hand.

Happy Driving!


Alex Fischer
3rd Year Industrial Design
Carnegie Mellon School of Design
www.AlexFischerDesign.com

For "recreational family outings" the obvious product that pretty much all cars need is a decent sized, attractive rubbish bin.

It's tempting to make it fit in the rear centre cupholder hole - and you maybe could put a replacement cupholder in the top of the bin - though putting anything in the bin then becomes a problem.

Or some decent way of storing muddy boots, wet clothes etc. I know after attending rugby events each weekend, this is what causes so much dirt to accumulate in the boot of my car.

Also, a kind of 'flop out' mat that allows me to sit on the boot/trunk lip and change shoes/boots without having to put feet onto muddy ground?

I've been seriously considering a modern variation of a picnic basket, to encourage family outings. I was thinking the color of your basket could match the exterior of your mini, just like how mini offers matching your exterior to your dash.

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I've been seriously considering a modern variation of a picnic basket, to encourage family outings. I was thinking the color of your basket could match the exterior of your mini, just like how mini offers matching your exterior to your dash.

Wow, those are brilliant! I especially like the blue/brown and red/brown ones - the iPod integration is a really cool touch! :D

The last couple of sketches are what I was thinking about... how about a picnic basket, with 'integrated' travel blanket (the sort with one side waterproof) that's designed to slot exactly into the boot of a cabriolet.

It would be more 'suitcase' shaped, and maybe could be made in a GRP material in body colour, the point being that as you open the boot, you're faced with what looks like a panel, but in fact is a sensibly sized, fully equipped picnic basket.

In fact the same shell could be used to make a weekend bag tailored to fit the cabriolet boot perfectly.

And wouldn't be out of place in a hatchback's boot.

There Amazing , like something you would actually see in a MINI lifestyle brochure:cool:

The last couple of sketches are what I was thinking about... how about a picnic basket, with 'integrated' travel blanket (the sort with one side waterproof) that's designed to slot exactly into the boot of a cabriolet.

It would be more 'suitcase' shaped, and maybe could be made in a GRP material in body colour, the point being that as you open the boot, you're faced with what looks like a panel, but in fact is a sensibly sized, fully equipped picnic basket.

In fact the same shell could be used to make a weekend bag tailored to fit the cabriolet boot perfectly.

And wouldn't be out of place in a hatchback's boot.

Really great feedback Thanks! I think a blanket is an excellent idea. And I really think its essential that the product work well with the cabriolet, as its most closely related to the spirit of a picnic – americana, good ol' days, 1950s are all things I think are closely related to the feeling of a picnic and the connotations of a cabriolet.

Thanks again guys, here's the results of the project if you'd like to see:

MIni Cooper 2/11 (http://www.alexfischerdesign.com/Index/Pages/MIni_Cooper_2_11.html)

Thanks again guys, here's the results of the project if you'd like to see:

MIni Cooper 2/11 (http://www.alexfischerdesign.com/Index/Pages/MIni_Cooper_2_11.html)
:cool: http://img.autoforums.com/site-styles/mini2.com/images/icons/icon14.gif