Design Centre

Hinting at its purpose the Škoda Design Centre is an unconventional structure made from glass concrete and steel. Built in the spirit of a new architectural philosophy, it is harmoniously composed aiming to express simplicity, compactness and compatibility with the attributes typical of Škoda.

 


The building is divided with glass partitions that can be moved to create a variety of interior arrangements. This variability enables designers and engineers to concentrate on their work while sustaining visual communication with their colleagues. The monochromatic character of the glass and concrete structure contrasts artistically with a colourful work environment. In 1999, the original Design Centre received recognition as the Structure of the Year.   

New Architectural Icon

A professional team of designers, engineers, and experts in other fields of specialty work throughout the Design Centre on development of new automobiles for Škoda. Using drawings and models, body shape designers create the external appearance of our cars while specialists in the Interior Division elaborate on the details of our interiors. In order to create realistic designs our Model Shop produce life-size models from modeling clay which are indistinguishable from actual finished vehicles.

The Colour & Trim Shop design upholstery fabrics for the seats and other materials to give the interior a comfortable and pleasant appearance. Workers in the CAD (Computer Aided Design) Division generate computer-based models of components (e.g., wheels), create data for subsequent machining of Škoda Auto components, and ensure exchange of information with all the relevant design units.

Designing Škoda Vehicles

All Škoda models are designed at our Design Center in Mladá Boleslav. Škoda relies on many years of tradition, know-how and expertise combined with modern technology advancements. During the design process, ever single detail is considered as our designers seek perfection in the designs they create.

All Škoda designs derive from Škoda concepts. They aim to visually accentuate the virtues of Škoda – precision, dynamics, and tradition – so that our vehicles are instantly distinguished and recognisable.

Automobile Design Development

Long before a new model is designed our R&D Division begins work on the first conceptual sketches. Upon compiling draft designs the overall vehicle concept is ready for further elaboration. Mean while dimensions and parameters of competitors models and concepts are studied.
 
All data is then compiled and the first life sized model is created using modeling clay. The designing process includes creation of cross sections of the individual design versions and the junction points of the future body frames.  During the final stage a final package is produced which is a compilation of all the important parameters of the exterior and the interior as a 3D model.

CAD Design

CAD (computer aided design) enables our designers to create 3D computer models of exteriors and interiors. This creative work forms a critical foundation for every developmental process involving design and engineering from here on. Upon approval, each new model’s clay version is used for CAD tuning. Modeling is done directly on the computer according to the designer’s ideas and with the aid of sketches and cross-sections.

The final stage uses large-scale projections in virtual reality to simulate the final styling. At this stage final evaluation takes place and final adjustments are considered. Upon processing and approval, CAD data is then released for machining a real life scale model.