Female Auto Designers
The automotive industry until today is still perceived to be dominated by men. However, more women are stepping in and making changes in the auto industry. You may have your favourite car, but do you know some of them are designed by women? The design of a car is also an important factor in buyers’ decision making. Here are some women who changed the auto design game!
Martina Starke (BMW)
Image source: https://www.carbodydesign.com/
She is the Studio Director of Designworks Munich and leads the team with strategic thinking and design approach. She oversees the exterior, interior, as well as material, colour and details of the vehicle. When she started working in BMW, there were no women in the design department and today, they have more females in the design department. With her main focus on human-centred design, she enjoys encouraging interaction and working with various disciplines and mind-sets in her team.
Michelle Christensen
Image source: http://www.carblogmy.com
Believe it or not, the iconic Acura NSX is designed by her! When the company re-launched the car in 2016, they appointed Michelle to work on the design and was the company’s first female exterior designer. She was a car geek because she grew up in a big car family. Her dad was the main person who opened up the world of automotive to her because she initially thought it was an obscure career choice. The car today is timeless and loved by many car enthusiasts.
Agneta Dahlgren (Renault)
Image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYStdMLss3c
She is the Director of Electric Vehicle Design at Renault and was always interested in cars since young. She also love working on mechanical projects with her father and brother. She was responsible for the compact-sized vehicles including the scenic minivan. In 1991, she started as an intern in Renault where she was included in the strategic design identity of the Renault and Volvo brands. She also loved managing the design development for the Renault Zoe electric car. In an interview with autonews.com, she said “Breaking these barriers and bringing about more equality is a priority. In the automotive industry, there should be more done to let women know that this is a place for them”.
Sharon Gauci (General Motors)
Image source: https://www.nytimes.com/
She is the Executive Director for Industrial design at General Motors. When she was young, she did not know there was such thing as transportation design; with the thought of being a furniture or product designer. However, she had the chance to meet Paul Gibson at the Melbourne Auto Show and he introduced her to the world of car design. She was immediately hooked onto the idea because of its high degree of creativity and her interest in details. Today, she is one of the top design leads in General Motors.
Susan Lampinen
Image source: https://www.askpatty.com/
She is the Group Chief Designer of Colour and Material Design of the Lincoln Motor Company. She oversees her team of designers who create bold colours and material design that allow customers to express themselves. She’s passionate for art and that is what makes her work stands out. Colour plays an important aspect in people’s lives and even impact the decision making of a buyer. The 2020 Lincoln Aviator showcase a broad palette of blues that emphasize on elegance and calming interiors. According to Susan, “The experience of blue inspires trust, serenity, confidence and harmony. It is like the endless sky or tranquil sea waters”.
There are many other female auto designers out there and we are so very proud of their achievements! Although the industry is generally dominated by men, that doesn’t mean as a woman, you can’t be successful in this field. The sky’s the limit in the automotive industry. If you’re a female and love to explore the auto industry, check out TOC Automotive College! FUN FACT: The CEO of TOC is also a woman!