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Following a long association with Jaguar, Keith Helfet set up his own independent studio, Helfet Design based in Kenilworth.
As principle stylist at Jaguar, Keith created
some of the most memorable supercars of his generation. The XJ220 and the XK-180 ignited the design-led renaissance at Jaguar and his tenure culminated with the stunning F-type
sports coupe (below), Jaguar’s attempt to revive its roadster origins.
The instinct for form still operates in Helfet’s independent UK studio and Keith still finds magic in flowing surfaces, so what medium does he sculpt with these days? "I do love clay - perhaps I’m just a frustrated sculptor at heart," says Helfet. "But on my recent projects, I didn’t make physical models at all. I started with free-form curves in Rhino. I used the software both for the conceptual part of the design as well as for the structural development."
"When I was at Jaguar, we used Alias, which is common at all the major car manufacturers, but we also had licenses of Rhino and that's where I first used the software."
I prefer Rhino because I think it's more intuitive in creating free-form curves and I have more control over the surfaces. It’s better at construction, and that’s primarily my focus."
One of Helfet’s most recent projects is the Andare Attivo. Like his automotive creations, this leisure craft exudes luxury simply through its bold sculptural expressions. The new product, soon to be released commercially in the UK, came from collaboration with an engineering friend who proposed the idea.
"The Attivo concept is quite clever, actually," says Helfet. "The convertible top allows the Attivo much more amenity than its 3.5 meters might suggest. In it's compact, top down, form it's a sports vehicle. A catamaran-style twin-keel hull adds stability and speed to the craft. When the convertible top pops up, a partially sheltered space is created for stationary recreation."
In form, function, and material, the project has been a departure from convention. "The material is different from the fiberglass found on most boats," explains Keith. "The Attivo is made from fiberglass closer to that found in surfboards."
While Helfet modeled the fiberglass hull in Rhino, his engineering counterpart assembled the interior mechanics in CATIA. "Another nice thing about Rhino is that it accepts files from other CAD systems," says Helfet, "so there’s no problem at all putting the work together from different designers."
Despite its luxurious appearance, the Attivo is moderately priced, retailing around £10,000. Among many practical amenities, the craft’s elegantly articulated lines may well be what sets the vehicle apart from others in its class.
See more about the Attivo at:
www.projectattivo.co.uk
Attivo images:
Rendered in V-Ray for Rhino
