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Designworks

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Designworks
Industry
Founded1972
FounderChuck Pelly
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
,
United States[1]
Number of locations
3
Key people
Number of employees
140+ (2019)
ParentBMW
Websitewww.bmwgroupdesignworks.com

Designworks is a global creative consultancy owned by BMW and based in Santa Monica, California, United States. Designworks has two further studios, in Munich, Germany and Shanghai, China. Established independently in 1972 by Chuck Pelly, it became a wholly owned BMW Group subsidiary in 1995, and was instrumental in the design of the BMW XL Sports Activity Vehicle and the BMW 5 Series. Other development projects at Designworks have included the BMW electric car, BMW 8 Series (E31) seat, BMW 3 Series (E46), BMW Z8, BMW 7 Series interior, and BMW 100- and 1200 Touring motorcycles.[1]

Origins

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The design studio was founded in 1972 by designer Charles Pelly[2] with the name DesignworksUSA (renamed Designworks in 2015). The company began in Malibu Canyon with three designers. Early customers included Hyster and the Otis Elevator Company.[citation needed]

In 1978, the company expanded and moved to Van Nuys, and set up its first sister studio, D2, in Detroit. In 1986, Designworks designed the seats for the BMW 8 Series (E31), which was the company's first involvement with BMW. In the same year, the company moved to Agoura. In 1988, Designworks moved to Newbury Park, and began designing for Nokia[3], Compaq, Siemens[4] and Adidas.[citation needed]

BMW ownership

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In 1991, BMW acquired a large percentage of the company, and Designworks started its first car exterior design project in 1993 for the 1998 BMW 3 Series (E46). In May 1995, BMW purchased the remaining percentage of Designworks. At this time artist David Hockney painted an Art Car in the studio. In 1998, Designworks opened a studio in Munich, and in 1999, Henrik Fisker was named president.

In 2001, Adrian van Hooydonk became president. In 2002, Designworks expanded its automotive studio in Newbury Park.

Verena Kloos was president from 2004 to 2009. In January 2006, the company opened a new studio in Singapore, and in 2007 unveiled their new studio wing in Newbury Park. On December 1, 2009, Laurenz Schaffer, formerly director of Designworks's Munich studio, became president. In April 2012, Designworks opened a new studio in Shanghai.[5]

From 1 August 2016 Oliver Heilmer was appointed as the new president of Designworks. He remained in the role until 2017, when he moved to Munich to take over responsibility of Mini Design.

Holger Hampf was appointed to the role of president on 1 September 2017.

The current head of Designworks is Anders Warming. Appointed in the role on 1 October 2024[6], Anders originally joined Designworks in 1997 as an automotive designer and later held roles at BMW Group Design as the head of MINI and Rolls-Royce.

In addition to work for BMW, Designworks has worked with a range of clients, largely in the mobility/transportation and consumer electronics industries, including Embraer,[7] Hewlett Packard,[8] Starbucks,[9] Coca-Cola,[10] Konica Minolta,[11] EVA Air,[12] Pilatus Aircraft,[13] John Deere,[14] Bavaria Yachtbau,[15] ASUS,[16] and Singapore Airlines.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Jacobus, John L. (2013). The Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild: An Illustrated History. McFarland. Page 180. ISBN 9780786493388.
  2. ^ "BMW's Idea Lab: Driving Design For More Than Cars". www.forbes.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Nokia 2110". iF Design. 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  4. ^ "Designworks is designing a new generation of metro for Siemens (10/2022)". BMW Group PressClub. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  5. ^ Neil, Dan (May 5, 2012). "The Ferrari With The Dragon Tattoo". The Wall Street Journal. p. D2.
  6. ^ "Innovative, holistic, future-forward: BMW Group Design team implements new organisational structure". BMW Group Pressclub Global. BMW Group. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  7. ^ Gerzanics, Mike (27 April 2010), "FLIGHT TEST: Embraer Phenom 300", Flightglobal, Reed Business Information, retrieved 28 March 2015
  8. ^ Glaskowsky, Peter (3 April 2009). "Sizing up new high-end machines from HP, Apple". CNET. Red Ventures. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  9. ^ "BMW Group DesignworksUSA designs iconic espresso machine for Starbucks Coffee Company". BMW Group Pressclub Global. BMW Group. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Green Good Design Awards 2013" (PDF). The Chicago Athenaeum Website. Chicago Athenaeum. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Konica Minolta turns the page". Technology Reseller Magazine. Kingswood Media. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  12. ^ Lyon, John (5 October 2018). "BMW's Designworks Creates Personal Oasis in the Sky". Robb Report. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  13. ^ "PC-12 NGX". Pilatus Website. Pilatus Aircraft. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  14. ^ "John Deere collaborates with Designworks, BMW's innovation studio, on industrial design". John Deere Website. John Deere. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  15. ^ "BMW Designworks USA Creates A Yacht". MotorTrend. Motor Trend Group. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Drive ahead - ROG partners with BMW Designworks Group to explore the future of gaming laptops". Republic of Gamers Global. ASUS. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  17. ^ "SIA Appoints World-Renowned Design Firms For Next Generation of Cabin Products". Singapore Airlines Website. Singapore Airlines. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
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