GM engineers dressed in drag while designing new SUVs
During the development of General Motors' new GMT900 SUVs, the team in charge of design was taken out to the company's Milford Proving Grounds and made to dress in drag as an exercise. They wore high-heels, fake press-on nails and garbage bag skirts to simulate what The Car Connection refers to as "female handicaps" (are we really calling them that?) while operating various features of their new 'utes. The result was at least three features on GM's new SUVs that wouldn't have been there otherwise: retractable running boards for easier entry/exit in a skirt, a larger center console that can hold a purse and an easier to operate rear lift gate.The idea for this excursion into androgyny came from Mary Sipes, a vehicle line director at GM and a woman with a mission to make her company's vehicles more user friendly for females. Since women comprise more than 50-percent of the buying public, she realized it would only help the company's bottom line to consider them more when designing new vehicles. Since the design teams are still very male dominated, Sipes decided to dress her teams in drag to force them to consider their vehicles from a female perspective. Hmmm... perhaps a better solution than playing dress up would be to just hire more women. Regardless, the intent was commendable, but we're wondering if our female readers can think of any other missing features that might make their lives a little easier.
[Source: The Car Connection]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
jeffinToronto 8:32AM (8/09/2007)
I guess nobody had the idea of getting real live females! If I were GM, this would be the last story I would give to the press.
Reply
Viv 8:37AM (8/09/2007)
Getting the average women off the street wouldn't help them much. You need somebody with the designer frame of mind. What is so wrong about this story getting to the press? Is it so wrong they care about their female consumers?
EM 8:52AM (8/09/2007)
Yeah, Viv, we all know there is a shortage of female designers out there *rolls eyes*
Whatever happened to focus groups and test subjects. Take 10 soccer moms and watch them get into a car. I'm pretty sure that's how they designed the trucks for construction users and the like.
Moreover, how degrading is this to male engineers?
Hi, I'm you're boss, now dress like a woman! In any other jobs that would constitute for sexual harassment.
Yaroukh 10:34AM (8/09/2007)
Viv:
> You need somebody with the designer frame of mind.
Why? You need customer's opinion, not designer's one...
Bill 10:56AM (8/09/2007)
It's only degrading if you think being a woman is degrading. It's not like they put them in a wig and makeup. They just had some gloves with fake nails, some heels, and hefty bag simulating a dress. Big deal. It's called learning to understand your customer, and it's pretty smart business. It's no different than trying to design a pickup truck without taking into account pedals with big boots, or trying to operate the controls and switches with bulky gloves on.
Don 3:16PM (8/09/2007)
Especially with RuPaul as your spokes-"it".
Dr. J 7:33PM (8/15/2007)
if you want to think like a woman its quite simple. You start with a man...take away all common sense and logic and Vavoom! There you go!
Myrna Callahan 2:58AM (8/20/2007)
I commend Ms. Sipes for making men on their design team to feel some of the inconciences that women feel in automobile designs.
I must say though in all fairness to GMAC that they do listen to their female customers who give them ideas, and have taken them to heart for years.
Years ago when women's hats were fashionable I wrote to them about raising the head room and they did. Hats are again coming into fashion, so this is again a big concern.
Last year I suggested that they put an overhead console in their Chevrolets and they did it.
Now I am asking them not to build any intereior dashboards in black or red.
Plus, not to put any black handles on any vehicle. Why accentuate the ugly and break the optical illusion of the entire lenght of a vehicle?
When chrome was used it was a pretty accent, but did not stick out like a sore thumb.
There is a larger growing segment of senior citizens. Myself included. I wish that they would allow their passenger seat to fully recline.
They also took my advise on my suggestion for an overhead consolel however, there was no way I could purchase the model they put it into because of the black dash board.
They need to understand that women are very color consious, but that many women get headaches from looking at too dark, or too bright colors while traveling. I will NEVER purchase a car with a black, or red interior.
I am waiting to purchase a new Chevy when they bring back the design that was so convenient with the station wagon were the back hatch window went down into the door that opened like any door with side hinges. Any woman could open that. Short , weak or handicapped.
They need to consider handicapped people, again mysefl included. There is no way I can pull down a door that opens overhead because of a bad shoulder, but I had absolutely no trouble opening my old station wagon's left hinge back door.
Also, I now have a Suburban, but it is too hard to utulize the back space. I loved my old Station wagon becasue with an easy flip of a seat I had full access to rear cargo area.
I live about 20 miles from a metropolitian city, and when I go shopping I want to be able to bring my purchases home, with me.
I loved my station wagon because I could have a flat surface to transport all my landscaping purchases.
It provided the utility of a truck, with the beautity of a larger car.
Also, it was great for long distance traveling when we had a small child. I was able to put a piece of Samisonite hard luggage directly behind the passenget seat and put a pillow on top of it, then I had room for child's mattress in the back. Plus it had enough length to put another piece of luggage at the foot of the mattress and we had the length of a twin bed in the back. This was fantastic! It allowed us to travel places we would not have been able to go when we were younger, because the two adult drivers were able to take turns driving long distances. This allowed us to travel further in less time, and for less money because we did not have to stay at as many hotels. This is something that appeals to young married, and also senior citizens who have an imfirmed patient. It served as covienent as an ambulance, on more than one occasion.
It also allowed families to carry all the sports equipment that children need then, and today.
I would trade in my Suburban tomorrow for the smoother riding station wagon I once owned. It was just the right height getting into. My husband's cobalt is cut , but too low for anyone with a bad back to enter or exit.
My Suburban is too high. It is hard to have to pick myself up to step onto the running board.
All the design people at GMAC have to do is just look around at how many handicapped people you see today, and design their automobiles to their convience.
PLEASE bring back the Model of Chevrolet STATION WAGON that had the pointed front that looked like a Cadilac with the roll down rear window into the rear door, and the left hand hinge on the back door, with the spare tire inside an interior well, and the hidden storage compartment in the back floor. In my humble opinion that was THE VERY BEST DEIGNED Chevrolet that GMAC EVER designed.
There are only a few improvements I would make on it. To have both CASSETTE and CD player radio. Have the overhead cnsole the entire lenght of the station wagon. Have a place to add a board for double level storage to accomidate two layers of 10" flower pots and their typical flowers, a roll out cover to cover packages for security, and to discourage break ins.
Let me know if ever they come up with a station wgon like this in a Sandtone with sandtone interior, because that is what I am going to hold out to get it.
I have always owned nothing but Chevrolets and love them, but I know what I want and am willing to wait until I can get it. When you get older and handicapped you have to have something that is both easy to enter and easy to exit and with access to the full rear access with the fold away seats like in that older model Chevrolets.
GMAC had a winner with that station wagon. Pernaps they never heard the old time saying "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it."
I am establishing August 21, 2007 as the date for my "Original design idea" with a request that GMAC purchase my idea for all new GMAC vehcles. Please have your legal departement contact me for us to draw up a contract.
During an evacuation I thought how nice it would be if somehow one seat could be a Vehicle Chemical Port- a -Potty
( copyrighted) Plus, for long distances on all seats: VEHICLE RING SEATS
( COPYRIGHTED) like tiolet seats, but with a v cut out for the tail bone. or similar to the ones designed for post surgical patients. These are extremely comfortable, and takes the pressure off a person's lower spine. Every new Mother, and anyone with back problems would be a potential customer, plus every trucker would be a potential customer.
If you don't believe me, have your design team put a child's blow up intertube under themselves the next time they travel. I believe this would change the design of all car seats in the future.
Another feature I would add would be a back seat cigarette lighter plug so I could plug in our ice chest.
This designs would provide GMAC with some added accessories they could sell: Like a hard sided luggage. the ice chest. A metal clothes hanging rod. , and zippered plastic cover to protect hanging clothes from sun bleach.
i1ucan2@aol.com
Myrna Callahan 2:33AM (8/20/2007)
I commend Ms. Sipes for making men on their design team to feel some of the inconciences that women feel in automobile designs.
I must say though in all fairness to GMAC that they do listen to their female customers who give them ideas, and have taken them to heart for years.
Years ago when women's hats were fashionable I wrote to them about raising the head room and they did. Hats are again coming into fashion, so this is again a big concern.
Last year I suggested that they put an overhead console in their Chevrolets and they did it.
Now I am asking them not to build any intereior dashboards in black or red.
Plus, not to put any black handles on any vehicle. Why accentuate the ugly and break the optical illusion of the entire lenght of a vehicle?
When chrome was used it was a pretty accent, but did not stick out like a sore thumb.
There is a larger growing segment of senior citizens. Myself included. I wish that they would allow their passenger seat to fully recline.
They also took my advise on my suggestion for an overhead consolel however, there was no way I could purchase the model they put it into because of the black dash board.
They need to understand that women are very color consious, but that many women get headaches from looking at too dark, or too bright colors while traveling. I will NEVER purchase a car with a black, or red interior.
I am waiting to purchase a new Chevy when they bring back the design that was so convenient with the station wagon were the back hatch window went down into the door that opened like any door with side hinges. Any woman could open that. Short , weak or handicapped.
They need to consider handicapped people, again mysefl included. There is no way I can pull down a door that opens overhead because of a bad shoulder, but I had absolutely no trouble opening my old station wagon's left hinge back door.
Also, I now have a Suburban, but it is too hard to utulize the back space. I loved my old Station wagon becasue with an easy flip of a seat I had full access to rear cargo area.
I live about 20 miles from a metropolitian city, and when I go shopping I want to be able to bring my purchases home, with me.
I loved my station wagon because I could have a flat surface to transport all my landscaping purchases.
It provided the utility of a truck, with the beautity of a larger car.
Also, it was great for long distance traveling when we had a small child. I was able to put a piece of Samisonite hard luggage directly behind the passenget seat and put a pillow on top of it, then I had room for child's mattress in the back. Plus it had enough length to put another piece of luggage at the foot of the mattress and we had the length of a twin bed in the back. This was fantastic! It allowed us to travel places we would not have been able to go when we were younger, because the two adult drivers were able to take turns driving long distances. This allowed us to travel further in less time, and for less money because we did not have to stay at as many hotels. This is something that appeals to young married, and also senior citizens who have an imfirmed patient. It served as covienent as an ambulance, on more than one occasion.
It also allowed families to carry all the sports equipment that children need then, and today.
I would trade in my Suburban tomorrow for the smoother riding station wagon I once owned. It was just the right height getting into. My husband's cobalt is cut , but too low for anyone with a bad back to enter or exit.
My Suburban is too high. It is hard to have to pick myself up to step onto the running board.
All the design people at GMAC have to do is just look around at how many handicapped people you see today, and design their automobiles to their convience.
PLEASE bring back the Model of Chevrolet STATION WAGON that had the pointed front that looked like a Cadilac with the roll down rear window into the rear door, and the left hand hinge on the back door, with the spare tire inside an interior well, and the hidden storage compartment in the back floor. In my humble opinion that was THE VERY BEST DEIGNED Chevrolet that GMAC EVER designed.
There are only a few improvements I would make on it. To have both CASSETTE and CD player radio. Have the overhead cnsole the entire lenght of the station wagon. Have a place to add a board for double level storage to accomidate two layers of 10" flower pots and their typical flowers, a roll out cover to cover packages for security, and to discourage break ins.
Let me know if ever they come up with a station wgon like this in a Sandtone with sandtone interior, because that is what I am going to hold out to get it.
I have always owned nothing but Chevrolets and love them, but I know what I want and am willing to wait until I can get it. When you get older and handicapped you have to have something that is both easy to enter and easy to exit and with access to the full rear access with the fold away seats like in that older model Chevrolets.
GMAC had a winner with that station wagon. Pernaps they never heard the old time saying "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it."
I am establishing August 21, 2007 as the date for my "Original design idea" with a request that GMAC purchase my idea for all new GMAC vehcles. Please have your legal departement contact me for us to draw up a contract.
During an evacuation I thought how nice it would be if somehow one seat could be a Vehicle Chemical Port- a -Potty
( copyrighted) Plus, for long distances on all seats: VEHICLE RING SEATS
( COPYRIGHTED) like tiolet seats, but with a v cut out for the tail bone. or similar to the ones designed for post surgical patients. These are extremely comfortable, and takes the pressure off a person's lower spine. Every new Mother, and anyone with back problems would be a potential customer, plus every trucker would be a potential customer.
If you don't believe me, have your design team put a child's blow up intertube under themselves the next time they travel. I believe this would change the design of all car seats in the future.
Another feature I would add would be a back seat cigarette lighter plug so I could plug in our ice chest.
This designs would provide GMAC with some added accessories they could sell: Like a hard sided luggage. the ice chest. A metal clothes hanging rod. , and zippered plastic cover to protect hanging clothes from sun bleach.
I have a hacker who changes my spelling, but I am hoping they are sleeping right now.
i1ucan2@aol.com
Gene 8:50PM (8/15/2007)
Typical male comment and thought process
epilonious 9:25AM (8/09/2007)
*shrug*
Maybe, just maybe... they had already gotten complaints from whatever focus groups and consumer research and emails saying things like "I almost lost a tooth when my shoe slipped off the door frame and I fell" and "I tore a $2000 designer dress on the seatbelt retention clip".
Thus, by making their designers wear a size 14 stilettos and big, poofy things made of flimsy material about their pelvis, they'll get an idea of how their car could be made better to avoid slips and snags (rubber-treads where the feet go? better/more-flush placement of plastic seat cladding?)
It also seems like something that took a day and was much cheaper than hiring/finding people, making them sign all sorts of NDA about future products, carting them to a test ground, and telling them "wear this couture and get in and out to see if you can rip it"
Also, maybe the engineers, both male and female, wear shop gear when running around the vehicles considering they need to be in, around, and under the cars a lot to make sure that everything is still holding together as they test them.
I say this hypothesizing and I'm pretty sure the other people blathering about how they think it might be sexist in some way are just as ignorant as I am about GM's design methodologies.
Reply
EnviroBob 9:33AM (8/09/2007)
Are you saying should GM have fired some male engineers so they could hire their female counterparts? Sounds like a sex descrimination lawsuit waiting happen...
Reply
Mr. Oak 10:47AM (8/09/2007)
Damned if you do, Damned if you don't. That they would go to such lengths, should be applauded.
Even if they got the 10 soccer moms, the engineers still need a first hand feel of whatever ails them, to be properly able to fix the problem.
As someone said earlier they already had their research done, now they needed to experience the issues raised, in order to address the problem.
Reply
Yaroukh 10:50AM (8/09/2007)
I'm sure they have had lots of fun during this experience :o)
Reply
Ken 10:53AM (8/09/2007)
Our country, Our trucks. General Motors.
Reply
jpdr1100 9:54AM (8/15/2007)
Our Country, our trucks?
And we'll build a lot of them in Canada and Mexico so we don't have to pay Americans.
Gene 8:48PM (8/15/2007)
Very nice comment Bill
deepakdogus 11:03AM (8/09/2007)
You guys need to relax. Have you heard of "think outside the box" Now maybe GM can finally come up with some vehicles that have better and more comfortable interiors.
Reply
intern 11:56AM (8/09/2007)
i agree they are thinking outside the box. The only problem is, they are so far outside the box they dont even know where the box is.
jamie 11:12AM (8/09/2007)
GM gives a whole new meaning to drag racing.
What would I like to see in future GM cars?
How about an oil slick dispenser that can be aimed at truckers peering down from their cabs. LOL
Reply