Press Release
Platinum A' Design Award in Aerospace and Aircraft Design Goes to Midnight Evtol by Archer Aviation
Archer Aviation recognized for aerospace and aircraft design by the international grand jury of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 14, 2024 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Platinum A' Design Award in the Aerospace and Aircraft Design category for Midnight Evtol by Archer Aviation. The recognition forms part of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Platinum A' Design Award
The Platinum A' Design Award is recognized for honoring designs that stand at the forefront of creativity and innovation. It is the highest accolade bestowed by the A' Design Awards, acknowledging works that blend remarkable innovation with impactful societal contributions. These designs not only showcase exceptional artistic and technical proficiency but also highlight their creators' commitment to advancing the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Recipients of this award are celebrated for their role in shaping the aesthetics and trends of our time, contributing significantly to the enhancement of quality of life and promoting sustainable development.
More About Midnight Evtol
Midnight is a piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed for urban air travel. The aircraft carries four passengers and one pilot and has a range of up to one hundred miles. Midnight is optimized for rapid back-to-back flights of twenty to fifty miles with short recharge intervals. Carbon fiber composites are used across the airframe to balance weight and strength. The cabin includes a partial divider between seats that shows the passenger name, destination and departure time. Full panoramic windows give passengers a view of the city below.
About Archer Aviation
Archer is designing and developing innovative and safe electric air taxis also known as vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Their goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60-90 minute commutes by car, with estimated 10-20 minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise and cost competitive with ground transportation and with a range of up to 100 miles. Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time in between flights.
Award Record
This recognition makes Archer Aviation a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Aerospace and Aircraft Design Award
The A' Aircraft Design Award is an international aircraft design competition recognizing good aircraft designs by best aircraft designers and brands worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to aircraft designers, aerospace engineers, aircraft manufacturers and aircraft brands from all countries. Entries typically include jets, helicopters, gliders, drones, seaplanes and airships. Awarded aircraft designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/aircraft
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/154977
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/154977
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!154977
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/348263
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.archer.com/
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Midnight Evtol
- Function
- Evtol
- Category
- Aerospace and Aircraft Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Automotive
- Colors
- Gray, Gainsboro, Light Gray, Dim Gray and Silver
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Archer Aviation
- Country
- United States of America
- Recognition
- Platinum A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2023 - 2024
- Design ID
- #154977
Credits
- Team
- Adam Goldstein, Tom Muniz, Julien Montousse, Billy Nolen, Nikhil Goel and Greg Warmsley
- Image Credits
- Image Credits: Archer Aviation Video Credits: Archer Aviation
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Archer is designing and developing safe electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with the goal to transform urban travel, replacing sixty to ninety minute commutes by car, with estimated ten to twenty minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low noise and cost competitive with ground transportation and with a range of up to one hundred miles, Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time in between flights.
- Inspiration
- Archer drew inspiration from the golden age of air travel. The experience of flying itself was an unforgettable one that thrilled passengers. It inspired a sense of exploration and unlocked new adventures that were previously unattainable. Midnight will revive this sense of adventure by applying design principles to the world of aerospace engineering.
- Research
- Archer’s collaboration with a pioneering aerospace composites manufacturer has resulted in Midnight’s remarkable balance between weight and strength. This partnership is evident in the extensive utilization of cutting edge carbon fiber composites throughout Midnight’s airframe, reinforcing its structural integrity and enhancing its overall performance. The ratio between its lean body and wide wingspan against its dihedral shape of the wings all contribute to a confident and inspiring design.
- Challenge
- Unlike the automotive industry the skin of an eVTOL aircraft cannot be designed alone. The entire aircraft must be designed collectively with engineering and industrial design teams working hand in hand to achieve a final product that’s visually stunning while meeting the strict aerodynamics and weight demands required for the aircraft to perform at the level required. Combining world class design thinking with aerospace engineering is an arduous process. For the landing gear alone there were forty six versions created until the design met the required performance score from the engineering team.
- Realization and Technology
- Archer's Midnight is an eVTOL aircraft that is set to revolutionize local travel for the everyday commuter through clean, affordable, electric flight. Archer is dedicated to reshaping urban air mobility, focusing on saving time for users in urban areas while utilizing design thinking to provide transformative travel experiences. In essence, Midnight is not merely an aircraft it’s a testament to Archer’s unwavering commitment to reshaping urban mobility while prioritizing safety, efficiency, and sustainability through the lens of world class design.
- Operation and Interaction
- Midnight is a fusion of aerospace innovation and design, representing Archer’s dedication to providing a world class passenger experience while bringing their new technology to market. The aircraft's cabin experience is personalized with a partial divider between seats, featuring passenger’s name, destination and departure time. Furthermore, Midnight boasts full panoramic windows, providing passengers with an immersive connection to the city below, offering a unique and intimate experience.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in 2018 in Gainesville, FL before moving to Silicon Valley where Arhcer's HQ and flight test facility is. Commercial flights are planned to begin taking place in 2025. Midnight made its international exhibiting debut at the Paris Airshow in June 2023.
- Specifications
- With a range of one hundred miles, Archer’s Midnight accommodates four passengers plus a pilot and is optimized for rapid back to back flights of twenty to fifty miles with minimal recharge intervals. Its distinctive design elements provide an unforgettable travel experience, seamlessly blending customer delight with the stringent performance and safety requirements essential for commercial airline operations. Notably, the aircraft’s iconic vertical nose light ensures immediate recognition, much like luxury vehicle emblems.
- Keywords
- eVTOL aircraft, aviation, transportation, urban air mobility
