There’s something about Tesla that instantly inspires designers! Or maybe it’s Elon Musk. He’s the kind of innovator who works towards resolving current issues while keeping his eyes wholly focused on the future. He possesses an uninhibited curiosity that he lets run unfettered, and one of the results is Tesla – a forerunner in the electric automotive industry, especially when it comes to innovation and invention. Their designs are groundbreaking, as well as consistent breakers of conventions in the automotive industry, making them a major inspiration for designers all over the world! And this inspiration isn’t limited to only automobiles. From conceptual electrified Tesla football shoes to a Tesla-inspired cat tower – designers have managed to incorporate the essence of Tesla and Elon Musk into a whole range of products. And we’ve curated the best of them for you!
The conceptual Tesla Football Shoes combine Hussain’s love for football and for the Tesla brand into one positively radiant pair of performance sportswear. The shoes come in pristine white, with electroluminescent fabric woven into the sides and back, creating bright lines on the side, leading to a glowing, pulsating Tesla logo at the back. Moreover, the studs on the base of the shoes glow too, making them look exceptional in the dark but even more so when you’re dribbling away with the ball, creating one of the most beautiful light streaks as you run!
Designer Víctor Groten Rico has envisioned the Tesla Module Rescue concept. This futuristic-looking machine is a mobile health camp capable of housing medical personnel and space for rehabilitating patients in remote areas. The exterior of this module is inspired by the concept designs of supercars but in a much bigger proportion. The whole thing moves on tank-like treads, making it capable of conquering any harsh terrain or weather conditions given its reinforced structure. On the inside – it is all about comfort, spacious areas, and a luminous environment. There are compact sections that house the beds on the upper section, a private section on the bottom, and storage on the middle half of the module.
Designers Hyeonji Roh and Yeonhong Kim have conjured up the Model L – a cat tower named after the letter ‘L’ and is inspired by the cat’s tail. Drawing inspiration from the Tesla logo, which designers believe resembles a cat’s nose, this rather unusual cat tower has more to it than a traditional scratching post, perching slot, and a route to it. The Model L is pretty unique in the choice of material and finish. The glossy idea is rare for a product that usually utilizes wood and fabric. Nonetheless, it doesn’t let down on modernism. This tower with Tesla symbolism may not have the customary scratcher, but it gives your cat a high position to perch in when resting.
While Mars remains the ultimate inhabitable destination for mankind, the moon’s surface is still unexplored. Rover missions to Mars have uncovered the secrets of the red planet, and to scout the moon’s jagged terrain, a designer envisions the Moonracer. An exploration vehicle that looks so much inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck with its sharp lines and the signature front and rear design. Of course to tread the toughest unknown terrain and hostile environment in case we humans dig for signs of life on still unexplored planets and their moons. The tires on the NASA exploration vehicle by product design student Robin Mazánek are going to be the most vital, as they need to be ready for any adventure.
The Toadi is practically the Tesla of lawnmowers. Designed to work less like a robot and more like a living organism, the Toadi reinvents a category that hasn’t seen a significant-tech upgrade… and yes, Toadi is a ‘her’. The Toadi uses 4K cameras to ‘see’ the way humans do. She accurately differentiates between grass, gravel, cemented paths, and even identifies and avoids objects like animals, toys, flowerbeds, and fences. Using a sensing and tracking system that’s much more superior to the LiDAR sensors and GPS chips found in home-cleaning robots, the Toadi effortlessly moves around the lawn on her own, mowing in straight lines, crossing over to other parts of the lawn if need be, avoiding flower-beds, objects, or pets (and other garden animals), and staying clear of fences. In fact, her camera sensors are so advanced, the Toadi even serves as a surveillance device, allowing her to spot intruders in your yard at night.
Meet the Cyberphone… an indestructible mobile with a 7-inch screen and nifty stainless steel finish. Flip the phone over and it begins really looking like its inspiration. An angled design with a windscreen-esque black glass on the upper half, and a slatted lower half resembling the truck’s vaulted bed. Under the ‘windshield’ lies a triple camera setup, but what really has my eye is the nifty strip-light on the top, modeled after the Cybertruck’s headlights, that I assume works either as a flash or a notification light. Plus, extra points to the designer for rendering out this beauty on a marble surface, paying a hat-tip to the Cybertruck’s marble interiors.
Designed at 1:10th scale, Mattel’s Cybertruck replica comes with its own remote control as well as a Cyberquad. As far as I can tell, the windows on the toy pickup truck break much more easily… Mattel’s 1:10 RC Cybertruck comes with that unmistakably polarizing design, authentic wheels + tire treads, working head and taillights, and a flat-bed that’s big enough to fit its free-rolling Cyberquad. The truck itself is controlled by a pretty neat-looking controller that mimics the shape of the Cybertruck’s own steering wheel and allows you to operate the truck up to 12 MPH (which may seem paltry at first, but it makes Mattel’s Cybertruck one of the fasted remote-controlled cars on the market).
Designer Ivan Venkov has created a concept home that makes me curious – is this what homes would look like if Elon Musk was in charge? Venkov mentions that the original idea was for the modular aspect to only be included in the interior spaces, but the exterior sculptural look could also be shaped differently if desired – this means only the interior foundation and platform will remain as is. His aim was to make modular spaces more than just functional, Venkov wanted it to be striking without costing a fortune to execute. The aesthetic is based on pillars of modern, minimal, and calming design while still catching your eye. I particularly love the wide glass stairs leading up to the house, it gives such an airy and spacious feeling especially because it is only one floor allowing the trees to tower over you and build the view.
There’s something incredibly pure about the 296 GTB’s design. At first glance, it does look quite inspired by the surfacing of the Tesla Roadster, although there’s nothing wrong with embracing purity over aggressively contoured surfaces and an overdose of air-intakes. Equipped with a short wheelbase and a flowy, monolithic design, the 296 GTB is perhaps the most compact berlinetta to emerge from Ferrari’s Maranello factory. The car comes fitted with Ferrari’s 120° Twin-Turbo V-6 hybrid engine (you can see a picture of it at the bottom of the article), perhaps one of the company’s most interesting pieces of innovation (there’s an entire article exclusively on the engine from Road & Track). The 296 GTB is also the first Ferrari hybrid automobile to not electrify the front axle, helping save weight and maintain the sheer dynamic purity of a rear-wheel drive.
The Tesla G (that’s what designer Prokop Strnka calls it) concept is basically an outdoor lawn-trimming Roomba. It runs autonomously, driving in lines around your garden, trimming the grass but avoiding your prize rose shrubbery or your microgreens nursery. The lawnmower relies on a version of Tesla’s autopilot algorithm to actively scan and sense its environments as it drives through tall grass. Sensors on the mower can help detect the difference between grass and plants, and can actively map out your lawn so the mower doesn’t end up crossing over the cobblestone onto the road, or your neighbor’s property. The mower runs on solar power, but when it’s low on juice and it’s relatively dark out, it scoots over to its wireless charging hub to quickly juice up its battery.