Helia
Creating the UKs most efficient EV
2018-19
CUER is a team of Cambridge Students who design, build, and race solar-powered vehicles. CUER participates in a 3000km race in Australia from Darwin to Adelaide with 40 of the best teams from around the world.
In 2018, the team decided to build a new car - Helia - still in use today. The new design was an ambitious upscale - going from a one seater capsule to a four seater car, complete with luggage capacity and a solar array that would give the car unlimited range.
This required a completely new build - from the chassis up. Over the next two years, we put together a team, gained funding, materials and factory time. With over 30 people on board, CUER ran like an engineering startup, for the most part, from the Engineering department at the university.
The Task
Create a new brand for the team that would ‘professionalize’ the organisation and be reflected through the team kit, promotional and sponsor material, sponsor brochures and reports, and the car + fleet livery.
Create a web presence, and reactivate social channels to further supporter and sponsor engagement and accountability.
Work with PR and sponsor partners to ensure continued support.
Design an ergonomic vehicle interior around the needs of the race and drivers.
The Outcome
The organisation faced some pushback, given the scope of the project, and prior seasons’ outcomes. For this reason, I created a brand centred around innovation, and prototyping new research - but fundamentally, one that was a race team.
Cementing the success of initial testing, I lead the planning and design of the launch event at the London Science Museum - with the liveried car, promotional material (banner, brochures, team kit), and choreography.
As the sole architecture student on the team, I worked with the visual design elements of the vehicle, including interiors.
During the race, I acted as media contact for the team.