Charter Members Announced!

Local Motors’ Charter Members have been selected. These 20 car designers from all over the world have come together to celebrate design, promote their own recognition and create the Local Motors brand.

Joining as design professionals, students, or amateurs each of these Charter Members have been selected for their foresight, design capability and contribution to the Local Motors Community. This select group of worldwide talent hails from the United States, United Kingdom, Uganda, France, India, Romania, Hungary, Portugal, Mexico and Canada. They represent Local Motors’ worldwide community of designers, dedicated to celebrating exciting design and working toward a chance to see their design built into a production car.

(This design courtesy of Razvan Mititelu, Local Motors Charter Member)

Local Motors Charter Members:

Benzo Ferrari

benbardone

djfearnley

Me2

Ben-J

Palethorpe

aashishbc

cunninghamnyc

gauravbhatia01

Geugre

Crisp Angles

Aurel.:

mititeliade

fogarasi

Gnanasingh

Paulo

Orlando

Braunarsch

Victor Design

Amvdesign

Check them out!

Who Do You Love?

As I said yesterday, I am so excited to learn more about the members composing the Local Motors community. We are still young, but we are going strong. We already have design submissions for the competition and the competition does not even begin until TUESDAY! We almost have all of our Charter Members, some with very comprehensive portfolios.

Now is the time to learn more about each designer. I don't think we need to wait until the designers win one of the competitions to put them on a pedestal! I ask you now, go to www.local-motors.com, and look at the Community section. Who do you love? Who do you want to learn more about?

(Courtesy www.pantsshrapnel.com)

I should mention that some designers have registered but have not yet uploaded portfolios. Be patient! They will.

Send me some feedback; tell me who you like and I will do my very best to get an awesome interview. Then we will post it to the site for all to see.

Oh, Aurel

In the future we will interview designers and post the conversations to www.local-motors.com. I am so excited to learn more about each person composing the community.

One person I can not wait to learn more about is Aurélien François, or as we call him, Aurel. Not only have I grown particularly fond of Aurel because of his encouragement and foresight, I am incredibly curious to see what he comes up with next.



Aurel's designs are idealistic, dynamic - and fresh. So fresh. I hope you will check out his Local Motors' portfolio, and don't forget to stop by his blog.

We Think We Can Have It All. That Is Why We Will

Each day Matt Hardigree of Jalopnik posts the "Question of the Day". These posts spur conversation, and sometimes debate. Today the question was Is the US Auto Industry on the Right Track? This is just asking for debate.

This has been on everyone's mind and the answer depends on both opinion and perspective. Do the thousands of laid off workers at GM think the company they dedicated 30-some years to is doing the right thing by leaving them behind? No. I understand the cost of change, especially change as dramatic as globalization and increasing competition. By the way, I am in awe that the word "globalization" is popping up on my spell check as if I've just made up a word - for pete's sake this is NOT a new revelation! Basically, I get it. But I'm still disappointed in the means leading to the intended "end", whatever the end may be.

I've gone off topic a bit here but that is the brilliance of blogs. Matt Hardigree was referring to the designs and product choices the "Big 3" are currently offering; are they on track with consumer demand? This is what he asks:

"As auto enthusiasts we like the idea of ass-kicking, high-output RWD rides like the 2009 Dodge Challenger, 2010 Camaro and Pontiac G8 GXP as much, if not more, than the next guy. But will they sell? A weakening economy, higher gas prices and a general perception that it's cool to be green sort of runs counter to the aims of all these vehicles."

My answer to Matt, and my response to the actions of the Big 3, is "when did we stop thinking we could have it all?"

(Courtesy buycostume.com)

My family took lots of road trips when we were young. My brothers and sisters and I would play games and ask each other ridiculous questions. One question that always came up was "what would you do if you had three wishes?"

My first wish was always to wish for more wishes. Of course my siblings declared that "wishing for wishes" was not allowed. I feel like major manufacturers are doing the same thing, limiting our wishes. So far they either get the green part (though many are behind the ball) or the performance part, but both? Not so much.

What's the deal?

Let's not limit our wishes. You want great design? You got it! Heck, you choose it. You want performance and an exciting driving experience? Of course, what fun would we have if we skipped that? How about pride? Do you want to be proud of your car because it is "green" in the sense it reduces our use of fossil fuels and release of greenhouse gases? Unless you're a jerk, you do. And what if the purchase of your vehicle stimulated your local economy, would you like that? Again, jerks aside, this is a very good thing.

This is what Local Motors is about. Un-limiting the wishes, because the only sure-fire way to know what the market wants is to ask the market and let the market speak. For the car enthusiasts that Local Motors aims to please, performance and design are central. As a standard, we have made a point to instill pride in a nurtured community, both the local physical communities and virtual communities. We think we can have it all, and that is why we will.

Today www.local-motors.com celebrated its first day, its "0" birthday if you will. When we blew out the candle, we wished for more wishes.

Sneak Peak #7

Sneak Peak #7
Competition Submission Requirements

FAQ's

As you may know, we have been working with a small group of designers to ensure the site is functioning properly. This is a necessary step before publicly launching. During this process I have collected the most frequently asked questions, though they are not listed in any particular order.

I found that these questions have helped me clarify our messaging, and have clarified our purpose. For the sake of clearly understanding the purpose of Local Motors, and the way we intend to interact with all designers, take a look:

Local Motors FAQs

(Frequently Asked Questions)

1.) Can I submit more than 1 design to the competition?

Yes, you may submit as many designs as you like. As long as the design is yours and it fits the competition requirements, you are welcome to submit it.

2.) How do I know Local Motors won't steal my designs and build a car without properly compensating me?

Local Motors intends to celebrate great design, and great designers. We have built this company and the competition rules around the protection of both Local Motors and the Local Motors Community. When we cease to respect designers, we will cease to exist. When you submit a design to Local Motors, you are giving us use of the design for the term of the contest, plus 90 days after. So you are allowing us to use your design to promote the website and to promote you. We can not build a car based on this design until you sign a contract saying so. Check out the Terms of Use. You will find this at the very bottom right corner of the beta site.

Rest assured, you will not be taken advantage of. Our future depends on treating you like gold.

3.) Can I post my competition submission in other places?

You may post your design competition submissions to your own portfolios. This includes your personal website as well as portfolio hosting sites. By participating in the Local Motors competition, you are pledging not to try and sell your design to other buyers. This means you may not submit the same design to the Local Motors competition and another competition at the same time. We do not want to fall in love with your design, only to find out that you no longer own it or it is no longer available.

4.) Can I put my personal logo or "marque" on my design, or does it have to be the Local Motors logo?

The only logos we plainly state are not allowed in the competition are those of other car manufacturers. Remember, when you design a car for Local Motors you are also designing the Local Motors brand. That being said, you may put your own personal "marque", the Local Motors Logo, or both on your design.

6.) What is a Check-Up?

When you submit a design for Check-Up, you are asking for feedback from the Local Motors community. The Check-Up function is both for designs you will submit to the competition, and for designs which are not meant for the competition.

7.) What is a Charter Member? How do I become a Charter Member?

A Local Motors Charter Member is one of the first 20 designers to upload either a design competition submission, or a Local Motors portfolio. The Charter Member's portfolios adequately portray the breadth and depth of their work. This means, posting one design will not qualify a person for Charter Member Status. Charter Members are those members with a "1" next to their name. As first contributors, these designers are hugely important to the development of the Local Motors brand.

8.) Can I include other branded vehicle designs in my Local Motors portfolio?

Yes, certainly. Local Motors is a place for you to see and be seen. Your portfolio should include any design you are proud of, regardless of the brand.

9.) Are we for real?

The short answer is YES, we are for real. Jay Rogers who is the Local Motors President, CEO and Co-Founder has been researching and building Local Motors for the last two years. We have the man power, the financing, the planning and the experience to create an awesome company.

10.) Can I submit a design which previously won a different competition?

Yes, you may upload a design which previously won a non-Local Motors competition. This is assuming that by submitting to and winning said competition, you did not give away the rights to your design. All design submissions must be the property of the designer who is submitting said designs.

11.) Can I submit designs to a Local Motors Competition that was previously entered into a Local Motors Competition, but did not win?

If the design is yours, and if it fits the competition requirements, then you are welcome to enter it in a Local Motors Competition.

12.) I already have a portfolio, what reason is there for me to upload a Local Motors Portfolio?

You could use the Local Motors portfolio to increase your notoriety. Unlike other portfolio hosting sites, or your own website people who have the desire and means to purchase an extraordinary vehicle will be visiting Local Motors in search of great design. This is a way for you to increase your fan-base. It's sort of like the movie Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come".

Sneak Peak #6 - Member Profiles

Here is an excellent example of a Local Motors Portfolio. Thank you to Benjamin Louis!

(To view full portfolio, go to www.local-motors.com)

We are preparing for the public Beta launch on March 25th. A few designers are working with us to assure the site is functioning properly.

The portfolio aspect of Local Motors will be a huge draw, and not only for car designers. The entire community of designers, car lovers and design lovers, will want to look at the design contest submissions as well as designer portfolios, because if the community is vocal about what they like and what they want to drive then we can BUILD it.

We will build the next great American car. Will you design it?

The site will be public on March 25th!

A Worldwide Community

We are only one week away from public launch of the Local Motors Betasite. This is an exciting and encompassing fact; everyone here at Local Motors can hardly think of anything else. I personally feel more invigorated every day.

Several Transportation Designers reach out to me daily. I love this opportunity to get to know people from all over the world. These are only some of the countries we have communicated with so far:

India

Azerbaijan


Russia


South Africa


USA


Brazil


France

This community is tightly knit, well connected despite their distance from one another. Though designers know one another exist, and they have most likely seen one another's work, they have seldom had reasons to interact.

On March 25th, Local Motors will be public. I am excited to see the interaction grow among these designers from all over the world. This website encourages communication and collaboration like no other source.

This is going to be awesome.

Mike and His Machete

Today, Mike whooped ass. Literally.

I have no idea where that machete came from, but it is certainly getting the job done. Andy is vacuuming like a champ and this is no small feat. I have known Andy since Junior High, and I can't remember ever seeing him with a vacuum. Hmm.... note to self: get a machete, and never vacuum again. Nice Field Day tactic, Pisani.

Mike also created a sweet Solid Works model for our Charter Members.

As you may know from Mike's blog, we ordered 3D printers! This means we can do projects like this in house. These Gascap Models are special because they represent the fuel which is necessary to power Local Motors: our Charter Members.

Mike, tell me, did you really create this model? Did you secretly "persuade" Dave to make this and then put your name on it? However you did it, nice job. You rock.

I want a machete.

Charter Members

The first 20 designers to upload either portfolios or competition entries will receive “Charter Member Status”. With this status, comes recognition. In the Local Motors Forums these members will have a “Charter Member” icon next to their names.

We are in the process of creating (not ordering from a far off place, but creating) a 3D model which represents a part of the first Local Motors car. Each charter member will receive this 3D model with their name printed on the side.

Imagine your name here:

I think I know who some of these first Charter Members will be. I hope it's you!

Sneak-a-Peak #3

The genius that is Andrew Cronk has come through once again...



I have been talking to designers from all over the world. I can't believe the talent out there. I am incredibly excited for the first Local Motors Car Body Design Competition. I don't know what to expect in terms of designs, but I know it is going to be good!

The Local Motors team is excited and working hard. Lately it isn't odd for us to work late into the evening. Though, generally we do take time out for lunch! This is Mike and Andy out with Tim and Dave, where the other two are hiding I don't know.

Sneak Peaks!

We are posting a series of sneak peaks to local-motors.com!

Today we highlight the Design Check-Up and Submission pages:

Great Service, Great Friends

Talk about an excellent level of customer service. Today Jason Bassi was in the office from Paperless Parts. Paperless Parts is the Northeast Value Added Reseller for Z Corporation. On our hunt to find the most efficient and innovative technology for our prototyping needs, Jason really came through. His expertise in 3D printing technology breeds confidence for us here at Local.

Jason claims that he is not a “car guy” but he is definitely supportive of our efforts. Great customer service goes above and beyond and Jason did when he introduced me to a friend of his who is a car body designer. Car guy or not, it feels wonderful to be surrounded by people who are rooting for your success. That is great service, and a great way to make friends.

Pleasure to meet you, Jason!

http://www.paperlessparts.com/

http://www.zcorp.com/

First Competition - Southern California

So much happened today.

Jay and Tim interviewed a web developer, and then Jay gave the candidate an "virtual tour" of the office and introduced each team member. In this picture Jay is in the garage with the candidate (who is present via webcam) looking at notes made by Mike and Dave, the vehicle engineers.

The interviewee must have been quite impressive to warrant the grand tour!

ALSO, Monday also marks the beginning of our "soft launch" or semi-closed alpha. This is a time for us to generate activity on the site and root out any needed changes.

We will begin to post sneak peaks to www.local-motors.com. The first sneak peak is what we call "Rules of the Road". This diagram outlines the competition process:

The first competition will be focused on the great state of California, more specifically Southern California... more details to come soon.

The Local Motors Team Wears Many Hats

Today Jay picked up our Local Motors hats for the entire team.

With them he said "I am not handing out our hats as a gift from me but rather a recognition from Local Motors for a job well done. You have earned these hats with hard work and so they cannot be a gift."

Danny, Ben and Tim were not in the office today so we superimposed them into the picture using special effects.

Karin, Jay, Mike, (Danny), (Ben), Dave, (Tim), Ari, Andy

Closer to the Prototype

Yesterday both Jay, Mike and I mentioned the flight plan meeting which layed out the steps between now and our first Local Motors car. Today, Dave and Mike got busy knocking down the to-do's in the garage.

This is Dave cutting a hole in the wall to increase the ventilation near the new air compressor.

Though you can't see it in the picture, Dave ran the black tubing around almost the entire garage.

The next step is mounting the brackets which will hold the air pressure regulators. But first, Mike has to make the brackets. I watched for a moment as Mike designed the bracket with Solidworks - and notice, I finally got a picture of his face!

Finally, the tubing and the air pressure regulator are situated and now, the compressor is up and running!

Another step closer to the prototype.

First Day in Wareham

Today was my first day in the office since I was hired on at Local Motors. To tell you the truth, I really enjoy working in the comfort of my own home (or wherever I may be at the time). I wear my Terps sweatshirt and drink peppermint tea all day long. But today was wonderful! It was just a regular day at the office.

I was able to join a meeting with Jay, Dave, Mike and also Tom Smith. Tom prepared an updated flow chart showing each step from now until we have the first Local Motors car on the road. It was invigorating! Looking at our path broken down in a manageable way made our goals seem so near.

Later, a photographer from a Boston newspaper came by to take Jay's picture at Local Motors' headquarters. I think the picture will turn out to be very good, but I had to laugh to myself a bit as Jay posed for the camera.

I'm sorry to say I didn't get pictures today. Tomorrow I will be ready for anything, camera in hand!

Wareham Bound!

I can't believe I haven't told you this already, but I'm a bit of a vagabond. I don't live or work in Wareham on a regular basis. Right now I live in Gaithersburg, Maryland which is a suburb of Washington, D.C. I keep an apartment in Chicago but I'm in Maryland for an extended stay while I catch up with my family. Fortunately, I can work with Local Motors from wherever I am.

Today I flew into Providence, RI so I can spend the remainder of the week in Wareham! I'm excited to see the guys and find what I've been missing.

I'm sorry that today I'm going to break Rule #1 of blogging - include pictures! I didn't take pictures of my travels today. I find that taking pictures of random people in an airport is a poor way to make friends.

I'm looking forward to face-to-face convos with the rest of the Local Motors team. Other than that, I don't have a lot to report on today.

I do have one exciting bit of insider information to report...there is word of a private designer-only alpha launch which could take place VERY soon.

Pitch for Change

"We support institutions and structures that foster conditions for individuals to improve the quality of their lives. These conditions include equal access to information, resources and tools, the ability to connect to others with shared interests, and a sense of ownership over outcomes (http://www.omidyar.net/portfolio.php)."

This philosophy belongs to the Omidyar Foundation which was started by Pierre Omidyar, founder of Ebay, and his wife, Pam. This inspiring credo became the backdrop for this year's Pitch for Change competition at the Social Enterprise Conference hosted by Harvard Business School when the Omidyar Foundation signed on as the event sponsor.



The Social Enterprise Conference is an annual event at HBS hosting over 1,000 people including more than 50 panelists and speakers. Participants range in association; The World Bank, MAC AIDS Fund and MTV were all represented. The common goal of this conference is to promote social enterprise and create synergies between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, while the purpose of the Pitch for Change Competition is to help promote and develop ideas for new social enterprise ventures.

Our very own Jay Rogers was a judge of this Pitch for Change Competition. Only one year ago, Jay and co-founder Jeff Jones won Pitch for Change using Local Motors as their new social enterprise venture. As now proven, this competition is inspiring and challenging and truly draws out feasible ideas to positively affect society. Jay told me he was flattered HBS asked him to judge the competition, and because of the aforementioned facts and his love for Harvard, he excitedly took part.

I can imagine the number of organizations and individuals who must vie for the attention of Pierre Omidyar, and his pocket book. While a single person can inspire mass global change, a person can not physically do everything on one's own. On the contrary, a person like Pierre Omidyar must decide which priorities are the most important, and how to affect the greatest changes with available resources. I believe this is why Mr. Omidyar supports the Pitch for Change Competition at HBS. The school's focus on Social Enterprise creates a pool of creative problem solvers who are ready to develop their ideas into reality.

This sentiment of acknowledging a capable problem-solving community is familiar.

Congratulations to the competition winners!

1st place Global Service Year (a national service organization)

2nd place Impact Pediatrics (a birth resuscitation company for Africa)

3rd place UBox (a medical device, drug management system)