Hi Friends! I’m excited to share this week’s “Designing Near Future”. If this email landed in your promotions folder, you know what to do.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s in store today

⭐ 1 Shift: Why Retro Cars Are Returning

⚡ 1 Tip: The Six Thinking Hats Framework

💊 3 Resources: Secret Creative Resources That Pros Use

Reading time: 6 minutes

⭐ Shift

Why Retro Cars Are Returning

Retro aesthetics are making a comeback! Not just as nostalgia but as a fusion of past and future. Brands like Hyundai, Rivian, and Tesla are reintroducing bold, retro inspired designs, blending it with modern innovation to create cars that feel both timeless and forward-looking.

During the late '70s and '80s, boxy cars with sharp angles, upright windshields, and squared-off profiles dominated the roads. Models like the Volkswagen Golf (1974) and Volvo’s 240 series maximized interior space while cutting unnecessary bulk. BMW’s 3-series and the rally-ready Lancia Delta embodied precision and performance, while rugged American models like the Mustang and Chevy Caprice reflected (metaphorical) stability during uncertain times.

But by 1986, Ford's aerodynamic Taurus broke away from the boxy mold, ushering in smoother, curvier designs that prioritized aerodynamics for better fuel efficiency. This shift toward rounded forms marked the beginning of a new design era, influencing everything from sedans to sports cars throughout the '90s, as automakers started adopting wind-tunnel aesthetics. Curves became synonymous with progress and it ultimately evolved to what we see in most cars today.

But, we might just be going back to the old times. Here’s a few stories that signal towards this shift:

1. Revival of Icons

Renault and Hyundai are actively trying to find the sweet spot between heritage and innovation. Renault’s R17 electric Restomod brings back the clean, boxy lines of the 1970s with a modern twist, featuring sleek LED lighting, a widened stance, and a carbon-fiber chassis. The design (pictured below) is a perfect blend of old-school charm and forward-thinking tech.

Hyundai, on the other hand, is taking a more aggressive route with the N Vision 74, reviving the 1974 Pony Coupe’s sharp lines but injecting it with a muscular, Need-for-Speed aesthetic. The car’s bold, angular features are emphasized by its oversized body kit, rear wing, and ventilation-focused design, showcasing how retro inspiration can be turbocharged for modern performance. Keep an eye on both cars—they’re proof that a 40-something guy can still get as excited about vehicles as he did when he was slapping posters on his bedroom wall.

2. More Cars on the Horizon

Automakers are hard at work, making sure the past is somewhat preserved. Toyota’s revived 2024 Land Cruiser leans into boxy nostalgia with squared-off elements, a contrasting white roof, and playful-yet-rugged aesthetics inspired by the Compact Cruiser concept. Hyundai’s Grandeur restomod takes a similar approach, transforming its 1980s sedan into a modern EV with pixelated LED lights, a velvet-clad interior, and retro touches like piano-inspired audio displays—an homage to a time when design felt both bold and timeless. Rivian is leading the retro-futuristic wave in my opinion with the R3X, a minimalist crossover that channels off-road classics like the Lada Niva and Fiat Panda 4x4, all while packing a sub-3-second sprint to 60 mph. In fact, I wrote about some of these in my earlier newsletter on retro modern aesthetic.

3. Beyond Cars

Beyond cars, glimpses of retro design are reappearing in unexpected places, if you know where to look. Lightship L1, a purpose-built all-electric RV definitely stands out from the sea of other RVs with its distinctive retro-modern aesthetic. Its iconic bold shape and large windows evoke the feel of vintage trains more than traditional RVs, serving as a subtle nod to the era when boxy designs reigned supreme.

Last but not the least, let’s talk about the Robovan. Now, I’m not a fan of the look, but Tesla’s new Robovan is undeniably distinctive, like something straight out of The Rocketeer and guaranteed to turn heads. With its sleek, windowless design and wraparound headlight, it feels more like a 1930s art-deco train than a van. This reminds me that retro-futurism isn’t about one specific aesthetic (which is what the initial idea for this week’s newsletter was). The more I dig into this, the clearer it becomes that each generation envisions something different when they think of retro or nostalgic eras.

Where Are We Headed?

The resurgence of retro design in cars feels like a reaction to modern design fatigue. While much of today’s automotive innovation focuses on efficiency and minimalism, these retro-inspired designs seem to acknowledge something deeper - people crave emotional connections and cars are an important touchpoint for personal expression, memories, and cultural identity.

I think the appeal of these designs lies in their ability to bridge the past and the future. They give automakers room to experiment with heritage-inspired aesthetics while integrating modern tech.

Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see whether this trend sticks or evolves into something entirely new. Will consumers embrace these throwbacks as more than novelty items, or will they eventually shift their interest back to sleek, futuristic designs? I, for one, am thrilled to watch this all unfold, and it’s making me wonder: are we designing the future, or are we just reimagining the best parts of the past? Either way, I’ll be watching closely.

(btw, see what I did there?)

Hey real quick, I put a lot of effort into sharing only the best for my subscribers. Join 1870+ creatives Designing the Near Future, Here is a link.

⚡ Tip

The Six Thinking Hats Framework

This framework introduces six metaphorical "hats," each representing a different type of thinking during problem solving sessions. By deliberately switching between these hats, you approach problems from multiple angles, allowing for more thorough and creative solutions. This was shared with me during my design school days and has become an important part of how I think about problem solving.

The Six Hats and Their Roles:

1. White Hat – Facts and Information: This hat focuses on the objective side of the problem. When wearing the White Hat, you're asking:

   • What information do we have?

   • What are the facts, data, and statistics?

   • What additional information do we need?

   This is an analytical stage, and it limits emotional reactions or assumptions.

2. Red Hat – Emotions and Intuition: The Red Hat gives space for emotions, gut reactions, and instincts. There’s no need for rational justification here. It’s about understanding how people feel about the situation.

   • What is my gut feeling about this?

   • How does this idea make me feel emotionally?

   This opens up space for intuition, which can provide powerful, but maybe non-rational, insights.

3. Black Hat – Critical Judgment: The Black Hat is about caution, skepticism, and identifying potential risks or downsides. It focuses on logical criticism and why things won’t work.

   • What could go wrong?

   • What are the flaws or risks in this idea?

   By addressing these early, you minimize potential problems down the road.

4. Yellow Hat – Optimism and Positivity: The Yellow Hat encourages positive thinking and looking for benefits and opportunities.

   • What are the strengths of this idea?

   • How can we make this work?

   It pushes the group to think constructively and avoid unnecessary negativity.

5. Green Hat – Creativity and New Ideas: This is the hat for thinking creatively, brainstorming, and generating alternatives. It’s where lateral thinking comes into play:

   • What new ideas can we come up with?

   • What’s a completely different approach we haven’t considered?

   The Green Hat allows for free exploration of new possibilities without judgment.

6. Blue Hat – Process and Organization: The Blue Hat manages the thinking process. It’s the “meta” hat—focusing on how the discussion is structured.

   • How are we going to approach this problem?

   • Are we following the right steps in our thinking?

   The Blue Hat keeps the process on track and ensures that the group moves through different modes of thinking.

Why I love this:

Instead of being stuck in one type of thinking, this framework helps people switch between different mindsets, breaking them out of habitual thinking patterns. It also ensures that all aspects of a problem are considered—factual, emotional, critical, optimistic, and creative. You can dive deeply into each one without mixing them up.

One key benefit is that in teams, this method prevents dominating personalities from controlling the discussion. Everyone gets a chance to explore each mode of thinking without feeling judged or overridden.

Happy Designing!

💊 Resources

3 links to boost your creativity.

• Contours of CAD and AI: A Report Exploring The Future of Engineering Design Tools

• HUDSandGUIS Collection of heads up displays and future interfaces inspired by new products, film and games

• What's the Secret to Closing Deals with Tough Clients? is a banger video roleplay by Chris Do from the futur.