When the team from Vagabund first encountered the CE 02 at the BMW Days in Berlin, they were immediately enamored. It was love at first sight! They also gained insight into BMW-Motorrad’s marketing strategy, which was incredibly intriguing. Paul Brauchart (design) and Philip Rabl (tech) are always striving to push boundaries and put their own unique spin on things at Vagabund. For this project specifically, they would describe their design approach as “retrofuture.” By combining elements of a futuristic design with retro influences, Paul and Philip aimed to create a sense of familiarity for viewers and draw them in. They believed this would greatly appeal to people!

Paul: “We love music, and we know lots of other people in this young, creative, environmentally conscious target group feel the same way! That is probably why we drew most of our inspiration from here (Retro Audio, Dieter Rams). We were really excited to be able to integrate the amazing OB-4 Magic Radio from Teenage Engineering, which really helped us to emphasize this philosophy. The “electric exhaust”, which serves as an umbrella drawer, is another such practical style element.”

Dubbing it as the “ePakourer”, BMW presented their idea while Vagabund incorporated this name into their content and even implemented a small detail – a footboard with skateboard grip tape. In the city setting, they perceive the skateboard as a comparable option to cars in terms of adaptability, eco-friendliness, and ingenuity for transportation.

“Afterall, it is all about the people! Our main video is all about Rania, a 24-year-old musician from Vienna. We portrait her as a creative person that finds a new way through the daily inner-city traffic chaos and has fun at the same time—all thanks to the new CE 02! The background music was created from a beat that Rania and her fellow musicians developed themselves for one of their new tracks.”, says Philip.

Paul: “Of course, this great project also needs an appropriate stage. We thought it would be best to design it directly as an additional product, so we would not leave the local staging to chance. With our specially developed and designed packaging, which can be dismantled and transported, you always have the stage with you and will certainly not be overlooked. The additional integration of lighting elements allows the product to shine even without daylight.”

Insight process

Working on this project was both a daunting challenge and an incredible opportunity! BMW-Motorrad not only provided unwavering support, but also granted Vagabund the creative freedom to truly make this project their own. This encompassed everything from conceptualizing and building, to marketing and overall philosophy. Right from the start, the Vagabund team handled everything in-house or through trusted partners.

CE02

• Product design
• Disassembly and 3D scan of the original CE 02
• Design work for SLS 3D printing and metal parts incl. edging, lasering, milling, turning, painting, powder coating, acrylic glass elements, stickers, custom-made lashing straps, waterproof cover for Bluetooth speaker, upholstery for the seat bench and much more.

Packaging

Vagabund built the entire product from the ground up, including all the technical bits and pieces. With packaging that’s 3.6 m high and tons of technical requirements, there were endless challenges here. The metal frame was completely designed, welded, ground and in this case, even painted by Vagabund. They also developed their own solutions for the final handling/transport.

Content / marketing

With the help of their extensive network, Vagabund was able to cover all areas. General concept, model scouting, clothing, set design/interior, location scouting, video/photography including all technical requirements, sound design and more.

Vagabund CE 02 conversion

• Headlight: Newly designed and constructed headlight, manufactured using the 3D printing process
• Front mudguard: Newly designed and constructed front mudguard, also manufactured using the 3D printing process
• Body part: newly designed and handcrafted aluminum body
• “Exhaust”: Innovative “exhaust” that serves as a practical umbrella compartment, made from aluminum/3D printing
• Teenage Engineer OB4: Integrated (but detachable) high-end Bluetooth speaker with custom- made holder and rain cover
• Footrests: Newly designed aluminum footboard/footpegs with grip tape applications and specially manufactured lashing strap and 3D printed frame part
• Paintwork: The BMW CE 02 also received a completely new paint job

All plastic parts (3D printed parts) are manufactured from polyamide 12 using the SLS printing process. This material corresponds to OEM quality.

About Vagabund

Vagabund Moto GmbH, an innovative product design and development company based in Graz, combines craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology, content marketing and sleek design. The company’s founders, Paul Brauchart (design) and Philipp Rabl (tech), bring different backgrounds to the table, which allows them to not just develop products, but also offer comprehensive services in marketing, photography and videography. By integrating these disciplines, customers not only receive high-quality products, but also strengthen their brand/product presence. The company currently has a strong focus on automotive design but, as the name suggests, is open to new ideas and constantly changing. Vagabund Moto’s mission is not only to create aesthetically pleasing products, but also to develop functional and innovative solutions.

Photography: Stefan Leitner