Kawasaki:
Trends Analysis
Client
Kawasaki
Scope
Analyzing European Market Trends, Apply the Forecasted Trends onto select Kawasaki Motorcycle Models, Presentation.
Discipline
Trend Analysis + Forecasting
Project Objectives:
Applying European Design Trends to Kawasaki Motorcycles
Tasked by Kawasaki Motorcycles, our mission was to assess European design trends and apply them to selected Kawasaki models, bridging the gap between punchy Kawasaki Japanese aesthetics and European preferences.
With a team of industrial and automotive designers, we analyzed the European market and identified three prevailing design trends: Bio-Mimicry, Neo-Retro, and Tech-No-Logic. These trends served as the foundation for reimagining Kawasaki's appeal to the European audience.
Note: This project was a collaborative three-week sprint between recently graduated design students and Kawasaki designer, Tsubasa Shoji, who came from Japan to guide us.
Bio-Mimicry
nature’s details
interpretation of environment
harmonious integration
organic flow
striking colors
Neo-Retro
warmth nostalgia
rustic maturity
eclectic fusion
bridge between
past & present
vintage twist
Tech-No-Logic
mutant geometry
futuristically interactive
robotic movement
cold allure
Iris van Herpen
Design Application:
Translating Trends Onto Kawasaki Models
A visit to Kawasaki’s workshop near Paris allowed us to closely examine the Z800 and Z1000 models to gain a deeper understanding of the motorcycles. This ensured that the final design proposals stayed true to Kawasaki's design ethos, while resonating with European consumers.
The Final Designs:
Kawasaki x Bio-Mimicry
In the sprint's concluding phase, I opted for the bio-mimicry trend, drawing inspiration from the vibrant color palettes, balanced compositions, and diverse textures found in insects and reptiles. This choice ensured the preservation of Kawasaki's signature bold aesthetic while creating a more harmonious blend of striking colors. This fusion of audacity and equilibrium captures the essence of both Kawasaki's heritage and European design sensibilities.
Application 1:
Kawasaki Z800 model inspired by Eastern Collared Lizard.
Application 2:
Kawasaki Z800 model inspired by the detailed colors of a bee’s wing (inverted).
Application 3:
Kawasaki Z1000 model inspired by the sacred bicolor scarab beetle.