Hyundai Motor America design chief Piaskowski resigns
The Genesis Coupe isn't even out yet and the primary pen behind it is leaving the company. Joel Piaskowski, Hyundai Motor America's chief designer since 2003, is walking out the door.
Besides his work on the upcoming Genesis Coupe, Piaskowski is also known as being the driving force behind Hyundai's HCD concepts like the Hellion (above), and has been credited with beginning to develop a consistent design language among the automaker's vehicles.
For an interesting interview on car design featuring Piaskowski, General Motors' Ed Welburn, Franz von Holzhausen (formerly of Mazda, now with Tesla), and the New York Times' Phil Patton, check out this video on the Charlie Rose show by clicking here.
Piaskowski's tenure ends at the end of this month, and there is no word yet on where he is expected to end up.
[Source: Automotive News, Sub Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kumail 10:35AM (12/23/2008)
i think he was doing a really good job... let's hope the new person can fill his shoes, and then some...
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GENESISFORUMS.ORG 10:53AM (12/23/2008)
Yeah we reported on this last night (http://genesisforums.org/misc-hyundai-news-announcements/351-hyundais-chief-designer-resigns.html). We're kind of bummed about this news. I would have thought he would have stuck around to see the Coupe being released in the States first as it was one of his projects.
http://Genesisforums.org
none 10:45AM (12/23/2008)
I think after seeing the rendering of the next Sonata which is derived from the Genesis sedan which in itself has a lot of cues from models of other luxury car brands, it was the last straw for him. I mean deriving a model from a copy? What's in the head of the CEO?
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none 10:50AM (12/23/2008)
Hyundai got no sense about designs. The worst mistake was to not put the badge on the Genesis for lack of confidence. If the president lack confidence in his own brand then it would be better not even have created it in the first place.
BoneHeadOtto 3:53PM (12/23/2008)
be careful what you ask for. Derivative design is often the best. I wish the Acura TL and TSX were more derivative, like say, the european accord. I wish the Mazda 3 had a more derivative front grill.
And as for the grill without the hyundai emblem, they took a vote and people liked it best without the emblem. Chevy could stand less bowtie as well.
jsjs 12:41PM (12/24/2008)
None -
For the umpteenth time, Hyundai went w/ the badgeless "klingon" grill b/c that is what the CONSUMERS WANTED.
Hyundai allowed the public to comment on 2 different grills, one more typical w/ the Hyundai logo and the "klingon" grill.
The public voted overwhelmingly for the "klingon" grill.
In addition, Hyundai correctly assessed that the Hyundai badge didn't exactly connote luxury (not a simple, elegant design) - just as the Toyota badge doesn't denote luxury as the much more simple/clean and elegant Lexus emblem.
blogee9 3:58PM (1/08/2009)
@none
Quote;
"The worst mistake was to not put the badge on the Genesis for lack of confidence. If the president lack confidence in his own brand then it would be better not even have created it in the first place."
Corvette never wears a Bowtie.
Sometimes a product is larger than its brand. I thought it was pretty smart for Hyundai to present Genesis as a brand.
H. Kraz 10:49AM (12/23/2008)
Sorry I'm not impressed with his design work. The Hellion looks like a car that belongs in a Disney catoon movie. The Genesis coupe design doen't impress me either
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JN 11:15AM (12/23/2008)
Amen ... if all I had to go on was the picture of him with that fugly car shown above, well, yeah, I'd say "Good riddance!"
RSR 10:47AM (12/23/2008)
From the upper management to the top designer, I am wondering why so many talents are leaving Hyundai. They seem to be improving rapidly, so what gives?
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Fernando 10:51AM (12/23/2008)
that car look like a toy, what a bad taste... like hey... im here.. close to a hammer... damn ugly. Move away from car design! go to mattel
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Gardiner Westbound 11:11AM (12/23/2008)
Hyundai is one tough gig. They go through CEOs like crap through a goose.
Acura needs him. The fugly front ends on current models drove me to buy an Infiniti.
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Fooman 4:22PM (12/23/2008)
Agreed! unless he designed the front end of the Genesis. In that case please move along.
Acura had some of the best looking cars until they killed the Legend and replaced it with the tl and rl, pure boring designs. Legend coupes still look awesome today.
maxvi 11:30AM (12/23/2008)
It's a good news for Hyundai. I hope he find a new job other than designing cars lol
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ken_aisin 11:42AM (12/23/2008)
I hope he takes over at BMW.
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Merc 11:45AM (12/23/2008)
I went to school and worked with Joel for some years. He's a super talented designer and artist. Those belittling him have no clue how the design end of the car business works. Hyundai designs took a leap forward after hiring him. I suspect there is a clash with upper management warranting the resignation.
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Cheech 12:18PM (12/23/2008)
..."Those belittling him have no clue how the design end of the car business works. "
I agree with you 100% and that goes for all the others posting their "...they should do this.." and "...they should do that".
Currently working in development at the other big H, I can tell you that things look much different from the inside out. Just talk to any person on the inside of any OEM or any person at a Tier1 supplier that is involved in development.
Cheech
M 12:42PM (12/23/2008)
Merc and Cheech are quite correct, design is a unique business where things aren't always as simple as they seem from the outside looking in.
I also have worked for Joel, and let me tell you he is a very talented guy. Not only can he design with the best of them, but he's also a savvy politician, honest and fair, and quite at ease speaking to large crowds and national media. To top it off he doesn't have the slightest bit of huge ego many others at his level seem to suffer from.
It's not surprising at all that he has been poached from Hyundai, and I sincerely wish him the best!
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AZZO45b 2:38PM (12/23/2008)
Well, fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. Went to school at CCS with his brother & worked with his Dad at Chrysler. The Piaskowski family are good people.
tuna 1:46PM (12/23/2008)
The heavy hand of Korean management strikes again. This reminds me of GM back in the day. Just when things were starting to be right, they make a decision based on politics and end up... well, we all know where GM ended up.
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