Tag: interviews

Head of Cupra UX/UI on elevating vehicle experience & AI in the cockpit

As an exploration of Car Design News’ monthly theme of human-centred design, Ruben Rodriquez speaks about the evolution of vehicle experience

Lucy Abbott

“My team is very free to explore” – Stephanie Petit, CMF head at Alpine

Car Design News speaks to Stephanie Petit about sustainable materials, 3D-printed finishes, and French craftsmanship – from leather traceability to illuminated triangles

“The better the proportions, the less styling you need” – Gary Telaak, Audi

Audi senior designer Gary Telaak has been with the storied brand for 28 years. Here he looks back at the launch of Audi TT, shares his thoughts on what made that car so special and talks about the challenges designers face in working with and integrating new technology

Interview: Lynk & Co design president Stefan Rosen on creating the ‘anti-Volvo’

In light of the launch of Lynk & Co’s 08, Car Design News spoke to design president Stefan Rosen on how the brand’s design language has evolved

Changan’s Klaus Zyciora: “We can bring products to Europe that people admire and love”

As Changan continues its expansion in Europe, Car Design News visited Chongqing to understand how the brand plans to combine local market knowledge with global design expertise to connect with European consumers

“I don’t have a computer and I can’t do CAD; I have a drawing board everywhere I go”

Gordon Murray, the ”engineer with an artistic bent”, talks Car Design News through his path to design, the handful of modern cars he likes and his unashamedly analogue mindset

Chery’s Michael Duerr: “We can claim to be Europe’s most productive studio”

At a bespoke event down in Southampton, Car Design News grabbed some time with senior manager of Interior Design at Chery International, Michael Duerr, to speak about building a brand from scratch, AI and China speed

Watch: Aurelien Doisy speaks to Car Design News

Aurelien Doisy is a key figure in Tata Motors’ design evolution. From humble beginnings in a rented shed to global recognition, this conversation explores themes of cultural identity, design leadership, and redefining modern automotive aesthetics through a uniquely Indian lens

Inside the studio: Italdesign Michigan

Italdesign opens a low-profile but high-impact office in Michigan, bringing its legendary design-engineering fusion closer to America’s automotive heartland

Exclusive: Sid Odedra on moving from Audi to Polestar

Following a visit to Gothenburg earlier this year and a surprise meeting with the UX specialist, CDN is now the first to report on his first few months at Polestar

Juggling aesthetics with affordability: Skoda’s lighting strategy

CDN talks to Skoda’s lead exterior lighting designer about challenges, promising technologies, and the struggle to stand out from the crowd

Martin Uhlarik: “We have nine full programs live in the UK at the moment, 13 globally”

Global design head of Tata Motors Martin Uhlarik speaks to Car Design News about the role of the studio, his current recruitment drive, the importance of diverse talent and hosting the live judging for the CDN People Awards

‘Fight or flight’: the human science of perceived quality

There is a reason why products resonate with consumers in a certain way, and Alina Braun has dedicated a large portion of her career to understanding that in more detail. Today, Braun is applying that knowledge in the world of car design

CDR 11: “Studiokurbos moves with speed, agility and independence”

Andreas Kurbos, CEO of Studiokurbos, speaks on the growing importance of CMF design and the integration of smartphones into vehicles

Genesis’ Luc Donckerwolke: competition fuels strong design

Genesis’ chief creative officer speaks on his coupe and convertible concepts and beating competition – on road and racetrack

Auto Shanghai 2025: What makes a Porsche Heritage Design edition so special?

We speak to Porsche’s head of Exclusive Manufaktur about the paints, finishes and processes underpinning its new 911 Spirit 70

Italdesign talks pick-ups, materials and converging design worlds

Italdesign’s Joaquin Garcia gives CDN a walkaround of the Quintessenza concept and explores the idea of simplicity

Sex and mystery vs. tech and trends – Italy’s design battle

CDN talks to designers at Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Estrema and Bertone about the history of Italian design and what the future might hold

GM design bosses outline importance of sketching

Senior design leaders at General Motors give their take on the role of sketching in modern studios

First Sight: Hyundai’s 2025 Seoul Quartet

The Korean powerhouse brand Hyundai chose the Seoul Mobility Show in early April to unveil not one, but four new cars, mostly playing very different tunes, but still united by the pixel

Shao Jingfeng: “This is our chance, our time”

Shao Jingfeng, chief design officer at SAIC, on trusting your strategy and recruiting the next generation of design talent

The enduring art of sketching in car design

As part of Car Design News’ April focus on sketching, we speak to a range of voices in the automotive industry to learn how sketching is viewed in the modern day and what the future holds for this art form

CDR 11: “Car design must evoke human emotions”

Seungmo Lim, head of Kia design China, on balancing AI with human creativity and ensuring brand differentiation

Mitja Borkert: “Sketching breathes air into the lungs of designers”

As part of Car Design News’ April focus on sketching, we speak to Mitja Borkert, design director at Lamborghini, on why the pen and paper will never die

Key takeaways: perceived quality in car design

Read on for the key takeaways from CDN’s recent livestream on perceived quality

Composites in car design: new opportunities

Composites have been discussed for decades as the future of automotive bodies, chassis and other assemblies. But what really works? We ask an expert

Exclusive Q&A: Oliver Samson, Kia Europe Design

Kia Europe Design’s chief senior designer Oliver Samson talks tech and European aesthetics in Car Design News’ exclusive studio chat

The design experts behind Chery’s new Journeo concept study

From achieving ‘China speed’ to the crucial role of AI in the cockpit, Car Design News speaks to the design experts at Chery Automobile

Simon Loasby, CDR 11: “We have to challenge sacred cows sometimes”

Simon Loasby, head of design at Hyundai, describes the pressure of being a Korean born brand and the challenges behind utilising AI securely

Julian Thomson: “We are here to provide another point of view”

Julian Thomson, design director of GM Advanced Design Europe, talks recruitment, managing a team of designers and driving growth

Ilhun Yoon: “What makes Genesis is everyone’s expertise and fantastic teamwork”

Ilhun Yoon, head of global design centres for Genesis, on the global Genesis studios, brand identity and what a sustainable future looks like

Innovation in CMF – new materials, challenges and changes

Carmakers and suppliers handpick a variety of new materials that could be used for interior design, discussing both the benefits and challenges of adoption

Bold, clean and spacey: Lynk & Co interior team on the Z10

Car Design News takes a closer look at the interior of the Lynk & Co Z10, which draws inspiration from spacecraft

First sight: VW ID. Every1 concept

VW design boss Andy Mindt gives an early walkaround of the new concept which, two years into his tenure, now sets the stage for a new design language

Stefan Sielaff: “Geely really invests in design”

Stefan Sielaff of Geely Auto Group describes why the ever-quickening speed of development has reached its limit and the rise of the steady counter movement

AI is an implement: it’s about how you use it

Afry’s head of design Rob Dolton shares an insight into the team’s in-house AI engine, and explains that despite its efficacy there is no substitute for the human eye

Derek Jenkins: “Our mission at Lucid remains very pure”

Derek Jenkins of Lucid Motors describes his mission of finding the perfect balance between the digital and analogue experience

Max Wolff: “Ford’s mantra is to make transport accessible for all”

Max Wolff, design director of Ford China & International Markets Group, explores Ford’s relationship with China and his transition into a ‘truck guy’

Car Design Review 11: “Citroën’s brand position has never been as clear”

Pierre Leclercq, design director at Citroën, on making purely entry-level cars and the bright future of new technologies.

Gorden Wagener: “The more influence design has the better”

Gorden Wagener, chief design officer of Mercedes-Benz Group, describes the exciting moment the full-width Hyperscreen launched and how to create valuble design in the luxury segment

“The right tool at the right moment”: Bart van Lotringen of DAF Trucks

The design director of DAF Trucks, Bart van Lotringen, speaks with Car Design News about his teams’ use of digital tools, AI, and the future

Marek Reichman: “You don’t need an Aston Martin, you desire one. And that’s my job

Marek Reichman, chief creative officer at Aston Martin Lagonda, explores the marriage between performance and design and delves into his source of inspiration

Interview: Roy Norton, head clay modeller, Nissan

What is the value of clay modelling within the car design process and how can digital and clay work harmoniously? We speak to head clay modeller, Roy Norton fresh off his team’s win at the CDN People awards

Watch: Renault design boss Gilles Vidal on winning the Production Car Design of the Year

At the Car Design News People Awards 2024, Renault design chief Gilles Vidal spoke to CDN editor James McLachlan about winning the Production Car Design of the Year for the Renault 5 E-Tech

Laurens van den Acker on the state of Renault design

After a stellar 2024, Renault Group has shown that when it comes to navigating choppy waters of the European car industry, it helps to have a clear idea of who you are

Robin Page: “Our customers expect a high level of technology. It just needs to be well integrated”

Robin Page, design director at Bentley, explores how a new design language might be exactly what electrification needs

Chris Benjamin: “Scout Motors is a start-up with heritage”

Chris Benjamin, chief design officer at Scout Motors, explains how the connection heritage to ingenuity is key, the growth of his 45-strong team and the challenges that come with reintroducing vehicles 44 years later

Exclusive: BYD design boss Egger gives rare interview

Car Design News’ candid Q&A with BYD’s global design director Wolfgang Egger discusses the challenges of creating new brands from scratch, differentiating interior design convincingly and learning Mandarin

Hennessey’s design director on sketching a 300mph supercar

How do you ensure a car targeting top speed is still beautiful? Over to Hennessey design boss Nathan Malinick

Designer realises childhood dream with James Bond’s Bentley Continental

The James Bond novel Thunderball saw Ian Fleming vividly describe a Bentley Continental Mk2, a car that didn’t outside the pages of fiction. Car designer Tony Hunter remedied this by designing and building his own

Genesis CMF designer Hailee Hyeyeon Kim juggles tradition with innovation

Hailee Hyeyeon Kim of Genesis describes how her experience in the consumer electronics world is helping sculpt her work for the luxury brand

McLaren designers put supercar skills to use with new solo venture

It is not every day that someone steps away from their childhood dream with supercars, but that is exactly what two McLaren designers have done. A combination of Irish Gaelic and Portuguese, Ennua aims to be the new benchmark for statement furniture – and more

Should Renault thank Peugeot for its recent design success?

CDN’s exclusive Q&A with Sandeep Bhambra, Renault’s chief designer, advanced design and concept cars reveals all

Interior Motives: the science of designing a colour

How do CMF teams tackle the design of a new interior colour? What are the starting points, and how is a material mastered for sign-off? Nick Hull investigates the approach of two brands in contrasting segments to find out more

Tata reimagines iconic Sierra, reveals new Avinya brand

The SUV enamoured by Gen X has been reborn, this time looking to connect with the next generation of younger drivers. Alongside it sits a new sub-brand, dubbed Avinya, bringing an entirely new level of luxury into the Tata fold. CDN visited the UK studio to learn more, with global and European design bosses Martin Uhlarik and Aurelien Doisy on hand to show us around

Dacia teams up with design students for UX and YouClip project

Dacia design boss David Durand explains the brand’s latest project with design students, and why it has reminded the team to “embrace new perspectives”

Interior Motives: materials strategy with Vicki von Holzhausen

Interior Motives interviewed CMF specialist Vicki von Holzhausen for the Autumn 2024 edition

Perceived quality: a bridge between function and desire

Experienced perceived quality specialist Kyungmin Lee explains how carmakers stand to gain from giving PQ a platform within the group

Interview: Madalina Marcu, head of product quality, McLaren

What are the nuances for perceived quality between high and low volume car brands? We spoke to someone who has worked on both sides

“A true crossover” – Chery’s design boss on the Omoda 5

FAW’s chief interior designer talks DNA and Chinese tradition

Jan Kaul of FAW describes a conscious move away from big screens in order to create strong brand identity, marrying traditional influence with new technology

Interior Motives: Fiat Grande Panda

The 2024 Fiat Grande Panda is part of a new family of vehicles that lean into the legacy of the very first one, but in intelligent new ways

Klaus Busse on design, changing tech and the beast of Modena

Car Design News paid a visit to Centro Stile to catch up with Klaus Busse, design director at Maserati, and to see the beast of Modena

A closer look at the Callum Skye’s interior design

It has been over a year since Callum revealed the Skye concept, but now Ian Callum’s design and engineering consultancy has revealed the interior

Nuro’s head of design talks autonomous pods

Autonomous vehicles need not be as cold and uninviting as we might first think, providing the focus lands on humanisation and smooth UX design

Stance, style and space: VWCV’s design boss on the new Transporter

Albert Kirzinger, head of design at VW Commercial Vehicles, gives a deep dive into the new seventh-generation Transporter

Audi revives Auto Union Type 52 Schnellsportwagen

Ninety years since the idea was first dreamed up by Porsche’s designers, Audi has finally built the Auto Union ‘Schnellsportwagen’

Pininfarina CCO on restoring Honda’s first ever concept car

The Honda HP-X has been beautifully restored by Pininfarina, capturing an iconic glimpse in time. But instead of feeling nostalgic, the design team is looking ahead to challenge market convergences

“I love what I do” Chris Benjamin, Scout Motors

At Car Design Dialogues Detroit Scout Motors chief design officer Chris Benjamin explained his leadership style and why we should be wary of feeding the AI machine.

Interior Motives: Nilu27 – Analogue Purism

Sasha Selipanov realises his dream of creating a hypercar with a visceral driving experience

Meet the studio reviving Australian car design

GoMotiv is building a strong team in Melbourne to tackle global projects. Studio leaders spoke to Car Design News about the nature of design in Australia, taking on more work and digital tools

Watch: Paul Wraith on happy accidents and why designers should ask ‘why’

At Car Design Dialogues Detroit, Ford designer Paul Wraith spoke to CDN editor James McLachlan about AI, creative accidents and the importance of asking questions

Callum revisits stunning C-X75 supercar

Legendary designer Ian Callum describes working on “the one that got away” and the principles of designing for longevity

Karma design bosses reveal the ‘ultimate’ edition of the Revero

Michelle Christensen and Nicholas David share the design story behind the brand’s latest ultra luxury performance coupe

Scout reveals SUV and pick-up concepts in long-awaited debut

Rugged SUV and pickup truck concepts revitalise a storied American brand. Head of design Chris Benjamin gives Laura Burstein the details

New DS concept combines autonomous driving, Formula E performance and feathers

With one side dedicated to racing and the other to chauffeured comfort, DS Automobiles’ new concept has a split personality

“Aero-dramatic”: Lynk & Co's design team discuss the 02

At a suitably quirky launch event in Milan – dancers, saxophones and laser shows all featured – Lynk & Co showed off its 02 and Car Design News spoke to the design team

Cadillac CMF chief: "I fell in love with the idea of being a fashion designer for a car"

At the Paris Auto Show, Cadillac’s CMF manager Laetitia Lopez spoke to Car Design News about material innovation, having a dedicated CMF studio and the diverse nature of her team

Pierre Leclercq: “If we don’t manage to do something different, the job doesn’t interest me”

Car Design News chatted with Citröen design director Pierre Leclercq at the Paris Motor Show to hear about Amis, designing for efficiency and why he will not design ”boring” tail lights

Alpine Alpenglow nods to future endurance racing design

Alpine design boss Antony Villain chats to Trinity Francis about the brand’s motorsport ambitions and the challenges of designing around high-pressure hydrogen tanks

New super-slim speakers could revolutionise in-car audio design

Innovative technology and design exploration has led to a breakthrough in how in-car audio systems can be packaged

Car Design News: Letter from Shanghai

Chinese car design is all about speed and technology, right? A visit to Shanghai reveals a more nuanced picture that poses more questions than it answers

Cupra CMF lead explains matte paint, copper accent strategy

Francesca Sangalli, head of colour and trim at Cupra, explains how distinct colour themes, finishes and parametric patterns help the brand stand out

Interview: Brian Balicki, head of design, Volvo Trucks North America

The interior of the new Volvo VNL truck highlights the crossover (and constrast) between commercial vehicle and passenger car design

DS creates tribute to iconic SM – just don't call it retro, says design chief

DS Automobiles’ design boss gives a walkaround of the inspired SM Tribute concept which was created from scratch just in time for its public debut this month

UX becoming “increasingly versatile” says Renault designer

Olivier Daillance discusses the impact of new Euro NCAP guidance on UX, leveraging his skills as a graphic designer and how AI will make for intuitive cockpits

The mysterious role of perceived quality in car design

The science of perceived quality ensures a product materialises as intended

Red Bull’s Adrian Newey: “Cars at this level should be art forms”

Red Bull Racing legend Adrian Newey unveiled the RB17 at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024. Newey spoke to Car Design News about his ‘legacy car’ and why the best engineering solutions are often the most beautiful

Lamborghini design director Mitja Borkert on the Temerario

Lamborghini is back with a new model, the V8 hybrid Temerario, which embodies design director Mitja Borkert’s ’essential and iconic’ design language. Car Design News got a early look at Goodwood ahead of the official launch at Monterey Car Week.

A storied bloodline: the Jeep Wrangler and its design legacy

Jeep design lead Vince Galante looks back on the history of the Wrangler and how the brand has continued to update it for the modern era

Amko Leenarts, Ford of Europe: My life in design in five objects

Amko Leenarts is the design director at Ford of Europe and a board member of Dutch sportscar brand Donkervoort. A graduate of interior architecture from the Academy of Arts in Groningen, and a masters in vehicle design from the Royal College of Art in London, he would go on to join Ford Motor Company in 2012. In this article, he details five objects that have followed him on this journey and reflect his love of design

Designing Turbos and pioneering computer-aided design: life at Porsche with Tony Hatter

British designer Tony Hatter reflects on a career that spans several generations of Porsche sports cars and design processes

Genesis turns up the heat with Magma models

Genesis has turned its Magma models from a basement concept to reality. CDN spoke to Luc Donckerwolke about the designs and the strategy behind the them.

Design analysis: Designing a paint colour

Car Design News speaks to the CMF team at Envisage to delve into the highly specialised area of paint design

Alpine design boss Antony Villain on the A290

Car Design News caught up with Alpine head of design, Antony Villain, to learn more about the tough second album that was the A290

Interview: Alena Gersonde, senior colour and material designer, Mazda Motor Europe

From a spell working as a motorsport journalist to shaping the look and feel of new cars, the German-Italian designer discusses the collaborative aspect of CMF, smart surfaces and transporting European flavours to Japan

Q&A: Francois Leboine on the new Fiat Panda family

Car Design News spoke to head of Fiat design Francois Leboine about Giugiaro and the 2019 Centoventi concept car, the new Panda range and why plug-n-play accessories could be an important part of his new design approach

“Alfa Romeo is a car for egoists” – Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos

Car Design News visited Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos at Alfa Romeo’s studio in Turin to hear about the Junior and the designer’s hopes for the future of the brand

Andreas Mindt on the ID. GTI concept and complexity in car design

In a surprise appearance at the SMMT Test Day, the head of VW group design turned up to talk through the ID. GTI concept’s design language. Car Design News grabbed a few minutes with the busy designer to ask him about the increasingly complex nature of automotive design

Kia EV3 confirms Habib’s strong design direction

Car Design News had an early look at the new Kia EV3, a compact SUV that continues a theme set by the EV9

Don’t forget to have fun, says GAC’s Stephane Janin

GAC has built a new mantra around design and the third concept from its Car Culture series shows this is a studio built around agility

“Just do it” - Changan design director Klaus Zyciora on agile car design

The ex-Volkswagen and now Changan design boss is enjoying his time in China and has found the “light speed” pace of development a refreshing change. Here he speaks with CDN editor James McLachlan during the Design4Production conference in Munich.

Klaus Zyciora VP design of Changan on the Nevo E07

Klaus Zyciora, newish VP of design for Changan spoke to Car Design News about ‘China Speed’, why engineering and design departments are much closer in China, material innovation and the striking new EV E07 SUV/pickup crossover. Ethan Robertson, our man on the ground in China, has more

An audience with celebrated designer Marc Newson

The celebrated designer Marc Newson discusses his beginnings, surf culture, a nomadic existence, and more

“I don’t want only the design leaders presenting to me – I banned PowerPoint, full stop”

Car Design News paid a visit to Gothenburg to meet with Jeremy Offer, Lisa Reeves and Nick Gronenthal who form part of Volvo’s design leadership team

Inside the studio: General Motors, Advanced Design UK

Car Design News paid a visit to General Motors Advanced Design UK in Leamington. And while the work itself is shrouded in secrecy, CDN discovered a studio relishing its role as creative friend to the mothership in Michigan

Car Design Review X: Lisa Reeves, Volvo

Volvo’s Lisa Reeves shares her personal approach to design in this exclusive Car Design Review X interview

Car Design Review X: Aurelien Doisy

Tata’s Aurelien Doisy shares his personal approach to design in this exclusive Car Design Review X interview

Car designers urged to be bolder moving forward

At the recent Car Design Event in Munich, Car Design News brought together a mix of designers to discuss brand transformation and, inevitably, what AI means for the next generation of designers. As it happens, many of them were sitting in the room and were more than happy to get involved in the discussion

Car Design Review X: Shao Jingfeng, SAIC

SAIC’s Shao Jingfeng shares his personal approach to design in this exclusive Car Design Review X interview

Car Design Review X: Maximilian Missoni, Polestar

Polestar design boss Maximilian Missoni shares his personal approach to design in this exclusive Car Design Review X interview

“We make luxury sportscars – the Polestar 5 and 6 will show that”

During a recent visit to Gothenberg, Car Design News stopped by to speak with Polestar design director Maximilian Missoni whose design team has once again claimed the Car Design Review production car of the year award

Car Design Review X: Gorden Wagener

Mercedes design boss Gorden Wagener shares his personal approach to design in this exclusive Car Design Review X interview

Car Design Review X: Derek Jenkins, Lucid

Lucid design boss Derek Jenkins shares his personal approach to design in this exclusive Car Design Review X interview

Volvo on People Awards win and lighting design

Since taking home the award for best lighting team at the 2023 People Awards, Volvo’s designers spoke to CDN about what’s next and how it feels to be recognised on a global stage

Cyberster the start of something special, says MG

Carl Gotham, design director at SAIC’s London studio, chats about the resurgence of the new-look MG brand and the role design has played in that

Car Design Review X: Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini

Lamborghini design boss Mitja Borkert shares his personal approach to design in this exclusive Car Design Review X interview

Interview: Javier Garcia-Gallardo on heading up Zeekr’s new Shanghai studio

Javier Garcia-Gallardo will head up Zeekr’s new Shanghai studio. Car Design News caught up with the designer at the brand’s Gothenburg studio to find out a little more

Car Design Review X: Florian Seidl, Lavazza

Florian Seidl of Lavazza shares his personal approach to design in this exclusive Car Design Review X interview

Peter Wouda: “Where are the new design icons?”

At the Geneva Motor Show 2024, Peter Wouda, design director of VW Future Center explains the importance of proportions, graphics and optimism