We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Del Terrelonge about their original and creative Boat design work. Del Terrelonge is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original boat works.
Del Terrelonge ("DT") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work rhed Built Prototypes Boat. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
DT : The main principal developing a leisure craft with the main focus of the co-generation of power. Meaning the ability to create, in this case, a boating experience which delivers a by product of surplus energy.
DT : From the aspect of the boat the goal was to achieve a high performance leisure boat with the focus on lake boating. However in developing the concept of being able to convert something utilized for leisure into a responsible form of energy became the central theme of the idea and prototype.
DT : rhed design office is the creator of the design and the commerce division of rhed is rhed built projects. Ultimately the future plans are to complete the development of the concept through to small scale production.
DT : Overall the concept took about a year to create.
DT : The design was based on the inspiration of the boating culture within the Canadian small lake system. The design was created for the production disvion of my company rhed built projects.
DT : The original intention was to complete the development of the product ourselves. However if we find ourselves aligned with a manufacturer who understands the importance of co-generation we would definitely considered a joint venture.
DT : My love of the great Canadian north and the boating culture. The design was for the most part very organic, from the initial inspiration to the original concept.
DT : The influences where derived from the other aspects of our design business mainly through graphic and architectural influences, along with an appreciation of nostalgia related to boating.
DT : Anyone who enjoys the exhilarating thrill of the ride on water at an affordable cost encompassing the esthetic history of boating with a new vision.
DT : Style is always a big differential. In our design we tried to embrace the future of boating while maintaining a nostalgic connection with the materiality which formed the boats outer hull.
DT : So far we have named the boat “rhed co-generation speed boat” as a working title. However the intention is to eventually develop a name which connects directly to the market. The name being considered is “the spear”.
DT : Everything from hand sketching through to creating the boat using a 3D Max file to enable the actual size prototype.
DT : The blunt dolphin nose and the co-generation system with on board batteries which reverse the stored energy for use when the boat is docked. The other aspect of the design is the shape which had some slight influences from the style of the spear used by the massai tribes in Africa. The latter influence/idea, is the context of a broader discussion regarding the reference to “Afrofuturism”.
DT : We used one freelance external engineer but the basis of the concept was developed internal at the rhed offices.
DT : The core of the design is borne out of the technology. The co-generation is system is the primary objective and the designed skin was the result of the technical requirements.
DT : Yes and No. That is a difficult question because our design or design in general can be affected by a variety of external influences. I think a combination of influences including data and analytical threoies where at play but the influences were not limited to just this scope. In our case, the exploration of Afrofurism has been reoccurring theme of my work since the early beginings and is one of the most influential factors which has been consiistant throughout our work.
DT : From the outset, the logistics of working with a software program which could seamlessly translate the concept from drawings, to the rendering, to a 3D printed model and finally the completed full scale version of the initial concept.
DT : Exposure and sharing enabling the discussion referencing the idea that everything we create can have a dual purpose, whereby leisure activities can be a source of positive energy. In general, we hoped to also open the wider discussion about responsible and green energy.
DT : The idea of co-generation or looking at responsible forms of energy in todays global climate is a must. Anything and everything we as creators can do to find positive solutions to decrease the global negative “carbonless” footprint while creating a positive energy footprint is a responsibility which cannot be avoided.
