Overview
Gulfstream is the pinnacle of private aviation. They partnered with the Savannah College of Art and Design to develop concepts for their flight deck. As the Industrial Design Lead for this project, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Gulfstream and a team of 10 other designers in the research and development of concepts for a flight deck “pedestal”. The aircraft’s central control panel.
What is the pedestal?
The pedestal is similar to a car’s center console.
It hosts many of the most important controls, as well as crucial storage.
Client Goals:
Make ingress and egress more comfortable
More cohesive to the cabin’s design
Additional cup holders
Innovative control interaction
Research
Conceptualizing
Midpoint Concept
Final Direction
New Direction Story
The midpoint concept left Gulfstream’s team requesting more functional developments, prompting a follow-up meeting with project managers, design leads, and lead test pilots. During the lunch break, Harrison developed the above sketch, which conveyed functional ideas in their simplest form. When the meeting resumed, the sketch was presented to resounding approval, becoming the key concept for the final design.
Final Concept Refinement
Current Ingress
Improved Ingress
The Visionary Pedestal
Improved Comfort
The new proportions are around 50% shorter in length, allowing for much easier ingress and egress.
Cohesive Design
Repetition of form, line and radii from the rest of the interior create for a more connected flight deck.
Innovative Storage
New compartments help give a home to belongings that previously had no designated area.
Improved Interactions
Minor controls are as simple and intuitive as possible. Major controls feel more fun when used.
