Autoblog

J Mays set to overhaul Ford's global design

Dan Roth — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:56:00 EST

Rather than have disparate design wings flung across the globe, all speaking in a different tongue, Ford's tasking J Mays with teaching everyone the design equivalent of Esperanto. The new, unified, global design language will replace the "Kinetic Design" that Ford of Europe employs, as well as superseding the "Bold American" motif we get here in the United States. We're not likely to see the Edge pick up any Mondeo themes any time soon, but Mays is looking forward about six years to see the convergence come to fruition on a new generation of vehicles.

Ford is looking inward, trying to divest some of the PAG largesse while simultaneously reinvigorating the core Ford brand. New, cohesive, and most of all exciting design is key to transforming Ford, and Mays will serve as overlord from his London base of operations. While you'd think that something as important as global design for such a huge automaker would be cloistered in the bowels Dearborn, Mays says that Alan Mulally is comfortable with him working remote. We think it will be good to have the design chief living abroad, able to take in a wider sampling of automotive fashion than what we can find here in the US. Besides, we're sure there's an XK in the Mays garage, ready to rip on down to Carnaby Street to study fashionistas in their natural habitat.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

J Mays set to overhaul Ford's global design originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac names new global design chief, elation ensues

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 02:22:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Crossover, Cadillac

Cadillac's much ballyhooed design revival just got a bit more compelling with the addition of Clay Dean, a GM designer whose work we've seen, and enjoyed, for the last two decades.

Heading the newly formed Cadillac global design team, Dean will be heading up the styling direction for a number of new products over the next few years. Dean's past endeavors have centered on small and mid-sized vehicles since 2004, primarily the Pontiac Solstice and its sibling, the Saturn Sky. In addition to the two roadsters, Dean has had his hands in three different GM platforms and led the design teams that developed the Chevy Cobalt, HHR, the new Malibu and the Saturn Aura, recent winner of the North American Car of the Year award.

What's on the horizon for Mr. D? Two new vehicles from Caddy, specifically a sedan priced below the CTS and a small crossover. Our interest is piqued, and we can't wait to see what he brings to the table.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Cadillac names new global design chief, elation ensues originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 02:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Auto Show: A conversation with Ed Welburn

Alex Nunez — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, GM

Yesterday, we sat down for a few minutes with Ed Welburn, GM's Vice President, Global Design, to get his thoughts on the current design direction at GM. He's overseeing a wholesale change in the General's approach to vehicular design inside and out, and for the first time in years, people -- journalists and regular folks alike -- are pointing at General Motors' new cars and trucks not to deride them for how they look, mind you, but as examples of how to do it right.

Cars like the Saturn Aura, the upcoming Saturn Vue, the upcoming Malibu, the Camaro, and the GMT900 family of trucks and SUVS demonstrate that General Motors has thrown its old approach out and is playing the game on an entirely different level. The man leading the way is Ed Welburn, whose team of talented designers has produced a string of highly compelling vehicles that GM hopes will lead them through a product-based turnaround.

We asked Ed to share the story of his first contact with General Motors with us, and then we spoke at length about the current state of design at the automaker. The anecdote Ed shared with us is below, and you'll find the remainder of the interview after the jump.

Ed Welburn - GM Vice President, Global Design
North American International Auto Show
January 7, 2007

Autoblog: I remember an interview you did with Tavis Smiley a while back where you recounted the story about when you were 11 years old and you sent a letter to GM. Can you share that with our readers? It's a good story and I think our readers would be interested in hearing it.

Ed Welburn: You know, my interest in automobile design and cars goes back to early childhood -- age 2½, 3. I was drawing cars. Very primitive cars, but I was drawing, that's what I drew. By age 11 I'd decided that car design is what I wanted. I wrote General Motors at age 11, told them I wanted to be a car designer, and that I wanted to know what kind of courses to take in school, what kind of schools I should go to, and they sent me great information -- I mean terrific information. I just really followed their lead and today when young people write me asking about careers in design I do the same. I make sure they get great information about schools of design and how to pursue a career.

Continue reading Detroit Auto Show: A conversation with Ed Welburn

Detroit Auto Show: A conversation with Ed Welburn originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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