Supercar Blondie, a globally recognized automotive entertainment powerhouse boasting a community of nearly 100 million followers, has expanded its horizons with the launch of SB Design Studios. This state-of-the-art car and gaming art design studio, headquartered in Prague with satellite offices in London, Dubai, and Boston, significantly broadens the service offerings of SB Media Group, the parent company of both ventures.
Leveraging its unparalleled access and deep understanding of the automotive industry, Supercar Blondie is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between automotive entertainment and design. SB Design Studios aims to provide Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with reliable and cutting-edge design solutions, while simultaneously generating high-quality assets tailored for the automotive gaming sector. This dual focus sets the studio apart as a comprehensive solution provider in the automotive design landscape.
The newly established SB Design Studios is poised to make an immediate impact. Their team’s proven history of successful designs in both real-world applications and visionary concept cars ensures they can deliver exceptional results. The studio offers OEMs a trusted partner for outsourcing design projects, encompassing everything from production models to groundbreaking concept vehicles, all executed to the highest industry standards.
A defining characteristic of SB Design Studios is its seamless integration of entertainment insights with industrial and automotive design expertise within a unified workflow. This convergence allows for a holistic approach to car design, from initial sketches and 2D visualizations to intricate 3D models. Furthermore, the studio excels at transforming these visual assets into precise technical data, including mathematical curves and NURBS models, essential for manufacturing and engineering processes. This capability streamlines the journey from creative concept to tangible product.
The studio also adeptly repurposes 3D models for the gaming industry, optimizing them for game engines through processes like model optimization, material application, Level of Detail (LOD) implementation, and the creation of realistic destruction models and technical designs. This adaptability underscores the versatility of their “supercar design program,” catering to both automotive manufacturing and interactive entertainment.
Brano Mauks, Chief Design Officer at SB Design Studios and a former designer for Ford and Pininfarina, emphasizes the studio’s unique position: “Joining SB Media Group at this exciting time of expansion is a privilege. Our vision is to fuse the creative energies of automotive and game designers, forging a distinctive synergy between these two dynamic sectors. SB’s operational model is exceptional, representing a cohesive ecosystem that allows us to adapt our workflow to meet diverse client and project demands. I am unaware of any other studio that can transition so effortlessly between gaming and industrial design.”
Mauks further highlights the advantage of being part of the Supercar Blondie ecosystem, with its vast and engaged community: “Being connected to a group that resonates with over 100 million enthusiasts is an incredible asset. I am eager to contribute to this expansion into automotive design, a field I have passionately pursued throughout my career.”
Zdenek Kvasnica, the head of SB Design Studios, adds, “The fusion of a powerful entertainment brand and a forward-thinking design studio creates an unprecedented synergy, opening up limitless possibilities. Supercar Blondie has revolutionized how cars, technology, and luxury are presented. Now, we are extending this innovation to the very core of creation, not just its presentation.”
Regarding his role in leading SB Design Studios, Kvasnica states, “It is an honor to lead such a talented team of experts who are at the forefront of their respective fields. This exceptional collaboration empowers us to not only realize our collective vision but also to shape the future trajectory of automotive design.”
SB Design Studios officially commenced operations on August 3, 2023, with its headquarters based in Prague.
Nik Hirschi, CEO and co-founder of SB Media Group, explains the strategic rationale behind this new venture: “SB Design Studios has been years in development, representing a natural progression to capitalize on our unique standing within the automotive and gaming industries. We are now equipped to offer our clients not only entertainment and marketing solutions but also specialized B2B design services, underpinned by profound expertise, a capability unmatched by any other studio.” This strategic move positions SB Media Group as a comprehensive partner for automotive brands, offering a full spectrum of services from design to marketing and entertainment.
The technical capabilities of SB Design Studios are extensive, encompassing:
Design: The studio leverages a comprehensive suite of cutting-edge tools, including Artificial Intelligence, to explore multiple design directions concurrently from the initial stages. 3D modeling serves as the cornerstone for evaluating all design facets and seamlessly transitioning between visualizations, facilitating both high-detail (high-poly) models and mathematically precise surfaces (NURBS, A-Class modeling). Furthermore, the studio produces 3D animations to effectively showcase interior and exterior variations, such as color palettes, material choices, and trim options. From production-ready designs to functional prototypes and visionary concepts, SB Design Studios pushes the boundaries of automotive aesthetics, employing industry-leading software such as Blender, Alias, VRED, 3D Studio Max, Adobe CC, MidJourney, Stable Diffusion, and Unreal Engine. These “supercar design programs” empower the team to bring any automotive vision to life.
HMI (Human-Machine Interface): SB Design Studios delivers application and software solutions to complex graphic design and software ergonomics challenges. By employing graphic design specialists, the studio excels in addressing critical aspects such as typography, readability, and layout optimization. Their HMI development extends to software-based solutions, encompassing front-end development (prototyping, animation, element dynamization), rigorous testing, and integration with dynamic datasets. The studio’s capabilities span from production-ready outputs to Research & Development projects, in-depth analysis, and exploratory research, utilizing software like Framer, Figma, Adobe CC, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Axure RP.
Games: The gaming industry demands both visual fidelity and performance optimization. SB Design Studios is adept at navigating this balance, offering services from initial concept art to fully realized in-game assets. This includes model optimization tailored to game engine requirements, LOD implementation for performance efficiency, and the creation of detailed destruction sequences for realistic damage representation. The studio can seamlessly integrate these assets into game engines, ensuring optimal rendering and visual impact. These technical design processes are also applicable to Design and HMI projects, enabling rapid prototyping, animation development, simulation creation, and advanced visualization. The studio’s gaming design toolkit includes Blender, 3D Studio Max, Substance 3D, Houdini, Unreal Engine, Unity, and Adobe CC, complemented by AI-powered tools like MidJourney and Stable Diffusion.
About SB Media Group
Founded by Australian supercar content creator Alex Hirschi, widely known as Supercar Blondie, SB Media Group has evolved into a comprehensive digital media network. It encompasses a diverse portfolio of talent, the newly launched automotive design studio, and a wide array of channels and shows distributed across major platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, and BiliBili.
With a global presence spanning London, Dubai, Prague, and Boston, SB Media Group has propelled Supercar Blondie to become the world’s leading automotive entertainment brand, engaging a community exceeding 100 million followers. The group’s digital channels, focused on cars, design, and technology, collectively generate over 2 billion views monthly, solidifying its position as a dominant force in digital automotive content and now, automotive design solutions.
