Recently, the “Bronco Universe INTO THE BRONCO-VERSE” school-enterprise cooperation project, jointly organized by the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) Design School and Ford China Design Center, successfully completed its final review. Three students from the Travel Innovation Design program at CAFA presented impressive results after a two-month summer internship at the Ford China Design Center. As the first school-enterprise cooperation project since the establishment of the Ford China Design Center, the “Bronco Universe” design project provided interns with a platform for creative freedom and expanded the limitless possibilities of the iconic Ford Bronco.

Project Journey

On-Site Learning

In March of this year, the “Bronco Universe INTO THE BRONCO-VERSE” project officially launched. Inspired by the Ford Bronco, the project encourages young students to build a unique “worldview” to reflect the fearless spirit of exploration that the Bronco embodies.

▲As a legendary representative in the off-road vehicle market, the Ford Bronco has been around for nearly 60 years. It not only pioneered the SUV concept but also exemplifies the spirit of exploration and adventure with its distinctive style and personality. The new Ford Bronco carries on the original design essence while maximizing its utilitarian and rugged attributes through innovative modular design

Just a few months ago, I accompanied CAFA’s Travel Innovation Design faculty and students on their first visit to the Ford China Design Center in Shanghai, where the excitement for the project was palpable.

“In the past, designers would come to the academy for guidance; now students are entering frontline design studios. This school-enterprise collaboration format is a first,” said Wang Shutong, a faculty member in CAFA’s Travel Innovation Design program. “Automotive design has a threshold; from sketches to products requires time to mature. If there are expectations for the project, it’s that students can produce a relatively complete proposal after nearly two months of internship here.”

▲On-Site Learning Experience

“It’s a great opportunity to work with industry designers, which is much better than just working alone,” echoed student Jin Xinglie, who also had his own expectations for the project. “I hope our program can have closer ties with companies because the design processes we learn in school reference the same processes used in the industry. This project is a learning opportunity to better understand vehicle development and the journey from a sketch to the final design.”

Final Review

After a journey from project preparation to on-site learning at the design center, the joint final review took place in June, where the works of Liu Zihao, Chen Jiajun, and Jin Xinglie stood out. The three students undertook a two-month internship at the Ford China Design Center in Shanghai, gaining hands-on experience with the advanced software and hardware facilities of the full-process design center, and experiencing the daily work environment of automotive designers.

Wang Xuanzheng, a professor at CAFA, commented, “As a world-class automotive company, Ford’s professionalism in design has broadened the students' horizons. This collaboration provided students with significant creative space, and the full-process practical exercises allowed them to grow quickly.”

During the summer internship, Liu Zihao, Chen Jiajun, and Jin Xinglie collaborated with the Ford China Design Center team, gaining firsthand experience of a professional automotive designer's daily routine. Under the “one-on-one” guidance of Ford designers, the students continually refined their designs, with discussions and communications leading to the presentation of their works. Each student felt a great sense of accomplishment through this “hands-on practice” approach.

In August, the three students presented their complete and imaginative works during the final review at the Ford China Design Center. This marked a significant exploration and attempt at the school-enterprise cooperation model between CAFA and the Ford China Design Center, successfully concluding the “Bronco Universe INTO THE BRONCO-VERSE” project.

Max Wolff, Design Director of Ford China and International Markets Group, stated, “We provided students with openness and freedom, allowing them to unleash their imagination. In this process, they could fully experience the charm of Ford design. The fresh creativity the students brought can also inspire Ford’s designers, and we look forward to more collaboration possibilities in the future.”

Student Presentations

Liu Zihao’s Work

Liu Zihao drew inspiration from his love for models. “Model Bronco” is a unique entity within the toy universe setting, aligning perfectly with the “toy” aspect of the Ford Bronco. Playability is the primary label of “Model Bronco,” which not only has the shadow of a model car but also draws design inspiration from Ford’s classic Model T. The unique wheel design enhances the off-road capabilities of the “Model Bronco,” vividly illustrating the limitless possibilities of the Ford Bronco in the minds of Gen Z designers. Liu Zihao said, “The internship at Ford China Design Center provided us with a very generous space and openness, coupled with professional guidance from senior designers, giving me the confidence to achieve the best completion of my work.”

Jin Xinglie’s Work

As an animation enthusiast, Jin Xinglie integrated his design into the world of Hayao Miyazaki's animations. “Moving Castle,” as its name suggests, is a “mobile castle” designed specifically for children in the animated world. The innovative “airbag element” design transforms “Moving Castle” into a favorite inflatable castle for children, borrowing from the modular design of the Ford Bronco. These “airbags” can be flexibly disassembled and transformed into inflatable slides, kayaks, and other forms, becoming a source for children to enjoy outdoor fun. “Moving Castle” maintains the classic legacy of the Ford Bronco in overall proportions and posture while further broadening its target audience and usage scenarios. Reflecting on this unforgettable internship experience, Jin Xinglie said, “From creative sketches to digital model presentations, I experienced the entire design process at Ford China Design Center in just two months. I feel very fortunate that my first internship opportunity allowed me to engage with a world-class automotive design center.”

Chen Jiajun’s Work

Chen Jiajun’s work, “Fold Bronco,” is set in a “wasteland” world characterized by population explosion, resource depletion, and environmental collapse. The protagonist of “Fold Bronco” is a virtual pioneer whose main task is to expand human living environments while gathering resources. Against this backdrop, “Fold Bronco” not only boasts strong exploratory capabilities but also cleverly adopts an “origami” structural design that accommodates both large space transportation needs and compact storage scenarios. Regarding his creative inspiration, Chen Jiajun said, “Because of the concept of the ‘Bronco Universe,’ our works need to consider more comprehensively, first constructing the worldview and then considering the work’s fit. This is a very interesting process that more easily stimulates creative inspiration.”

Source: CAFA Design School, Ford China Information Center