When people think of automotive design, the picture that most often comes to mind is that of a group of people sitting in front of high-tech computer monitors rotating skeletal car images in 3-d form or slick renderings of innovative models not yet on the market. Though there is that aspect, less recognized is another dimension to the overall design picture that is just as important and can impact new car sales immensely.

Brenda Parkin and her team of three women, Moira Becker, Anna Clough and Anke Mazzei, along with seven other team collaborators located between Nissan’s Farmington Hills, Michigan studio and La Jolla are responsible for the materials and colors for every new car that comes their way. That includes not only selecting exterior and interior color and finishes for the body of the car; it also encompasses flooring, custom fabric designs, and working in conjunction with their Japanese counterparts to create an overall cohesive design mix. Other functions include testing fabric for durability and fit and working with product manufacturers to find solutions if problems arise. This is more than interior decoration for the car, it’s design science.

The starting point often comes from the exterior design team; maybe it’s a phrase or word that sets the tone or the personality of the car. From there, individual members of Brenda’s team have their own approach to a new design. Each person is responsible for a single car project and they take it from beginning to end, with a turn around time that can run as much as four years to as little as two years for minor changes. After that length of time Brenda notes the connection to the car is very close. “It’s like your baby, and there’s nothing like seeing your car for the first time coming down the highway.”

mmmmm


One of the team members tells me she collects objects in the beginning of a new project, collaging images and ideas together on a board to help her envision a concept and focus on the new scheme. It might be the color of a leaf, a piece of material, anything that resonates and fits the reference point. Surprisingly, computers play a secondary role in this department, a team that depends more on creative instinct and physical samples to achieve their goal.

The trading of information back and forth from Japan as pieces of the new design are made in model form enables a collaborative effort, a phrase that seems to describe the work essence at the Nissan Design America. Everywhere people are building, painting, testing. On the walls are vignettes of possible material boards. While not a typical design job, it’s evident that there is a sense of appreciation for the product here and that team work is integral to the achievement of a successful outcome.