Tsutomu "Tom" Matanois an advertising agent,automotive designer,and automotive journalist. Matano was born in Nagasaki, Japan, and continued to live in Japan until after his studies in university. He began an Analysis Engineering Major atSeikei Universityin Tokyo, Japan, in April 1965 and graduated in March 1969. Following his graduation, Matano moved to the United States in September 1970[1]via his uncle's container ship, landing himself inSeattle,then to Los Angeles, and finally New York City.
Tom Matano | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tsutomu Matano Nagasaki,Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Occupation | Mazda's chief designer |
| Employer(s) | Mazda North American Operations, Mazda Motor Corporation Japan |
| Known for | Design and R&D of theMazda MX-5 Miata(NA/NB) andMazda RX-7 (FD) |
Once in America, he continued his education with a semester of language school, ditching plans to transfer to Environmental Design, and graduated in 1974 for a job in Detroit withGeneral Motors.Consequently, due to Matano's work visa and the rising oil crisis, GM moved him to Australia to work for Holden Design alongside Phillip Zmood, mostly working on the GM Holden Torana, departing in 1977 for Germany and BMW inMunich,Germany.
In 1983, Matano joined Mazda as Chief Designer forMazda North American Operations,then moved up to become the Vice President of Design and eventually the Executive Vice President of Western Operations for Mazda R&D North America, Inc., as well as the Executive Designer and Director of Mazda North American Operations.[2]In his career with Mazda, his notable designs stand out in many vehicles, such as theMazda RX-7,Mazda MX-5,the Miata "M-Coupe" concept car, and numerous other projects with his large group of design teams he created.
In recent times,[when?]Matano works as a journalist for the Western Automotive Journalists[3]
He also makes an appearance in the World Map mode of Gran Turismo 7
Career timeline
edit- Before 1983Numerous design positions withinBMW,Volvo,andGM.
- 1983–1999Executive VP, Mazda Research and Development of Mazda North American Operations
- 1999–2002Executive Designer forMazda Motor Corp., Japan
- 2002–presentExecutive Director, School of Industrial Design,Academy of Art University, San Francisco
- 2008–presentVP of Design, Next Autoworks (Previously V-Vehicle)[4]
- PresentJournalist for Western Automotive Journalists
Automotive designs
edit
Mazda MX-5 Miata
editPart of Matano's history with Mazda in the years 1983–2002 was spent on the design of theMazda MX-5 Miatawith fellow designerC. Mark Jordan.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Mazda Miata MX-5 designer Tom Matano a.k.a Mr.Miata and me".WHEELS.ca.RetrievedMarch 14,2017.
- ^"Tom Matano, IDSA".Industrial Designers Society of America – IDSA.April 9, 2012.RetrievedMarch 14,2017.
- ^Dominguez, Sally."Tom Matano".Curve.RetrievedMarch 14,2017.
- ^"Man behind Miata decides there's a Next act in design".Automotive News.RetrievedMarch 14,2017.