In the canon of automotive design, comfort is usually synonymous with leather, wool, or high-tech synthetics. A new project from Australian creative agency TBWA\Eleven and creature effects specialists Odd Studio subverts this expectation with visceral intensity. The "Sunburnt Car" is upholstered entirely in a hyper-realistic silicone "skin" that mimics human flesh, complete with hair, freckles, and irregular moles. It is a design meant to provoke discomfort, bridging the gap between a vehicle and a biological organism.
The project’s unsettling aesthetic serves a specific pedagogical purpose. Coated with photochromic inks, the silicone interior responds to ultraviolet light by reddening in real-time, simulating a deepening sunburn on the dashboard and seats. By making the invisible radiation of the Australian sun visible, the designers aim to dismantle the "protective bubble" myth—the common misconception among drivers that car windows offer a total shield against UV damage.
Commissioned by mycar Tyre & Auto, the installation addresses a stark public health reality in Australia, which has the world’s highest rates of skin cancer. While most Australians are diligent about sun protection outdoors, research conducted for the campaign indicates that 70 percent believe they are safe while driving. The Sunburnt Car uses the "unhinged" visual language of body horror to remind commuters that the glass between them and the road is more porous to radiation than they might care to admit.
With reporting from Dezeen.
Source · Dezeen
