Jump to content

Designworks

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Designworks
Industry
Founded1972
FounderCharles Pelly
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
,
United States[1]
Number of locations
3
Key people
Holger Hampf, President
Number of employees
140+ (2019)
ParentBMW
Websitewww.bmwgroupdesignworks.com

Designworksis a global creative consultancy owned byBMWand based inSanta Monica, California,United States. Designworks has two further studios, inMunich, GermanyandShanghai, China.Established independently in 1972 byCharles 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 theBMW 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 Seriesinterior, and BMW 100- and 1200 Touring motorcycles, among many others.[2]

Origins[edit]

The design studio was founded in 1972 by designerCharles Pelly[3]with the name DesignworksUSA (renamed Designworks in 2015). The company began inMalibu Canyonwith three designers and early customers includedHysterand theOtis Elevator Company.[citation needed]

In 1978, the company expanded and moved toVan Nuys,and set up its first sister studio, D2, inDetroit.In 1986, Designworks designed the seats for theBMW 8 Series (E31),which was the company's first involvement with BMW. In the same year, the company moved toAgoura.In 1988, Designworks moved toNewbury Park,and began designing forNokia,Compaq,SiemensandAdidas.[citation needed]

BMW ownership[edit]

In 1991, BMW acquired a large percentage of the company, and Designworks started its first car exterior design project in 1993 for the 1998BMW 3 Series (E46).In May 1995, BMW purchased the remaining percentage of Designworks. At this time artistDavid Hockneypainted anArt Carin the studio. In 1998, Designworks opened a studio inMunich,and in 1999,Henrik Fiskerwas named president.

In 2001,Adrian van Hooydonkbecame 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 inShanghai.[4]

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 ofMiniDesign. The current president of Designworks is Holger Hampf. Appointed in the role on 1 September 2017, Holger originally joined Designworks in 1998, responsible for Product Design. From 2002 to 2010 he was a member of Designworks management team in Los Angeles.[5]

In addition to work for BMW, Designworks has worked with a range of clients, largely in the mobility/transportation and consumer electronics industries, includingEmbraer,[6]Hewlett Packard,[7]Starbucks,[8]Coca-Cola,[9]Konica Minolta,[10]EVA Air,[11]Pilatus Aircraft,[12]John Deere,[13]Bavaria Yachtbau,[14]ASUS,[15]andSingapore Airlines.[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^Jacobus, John L. (2013).The Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild: An Illustrated History.McFarland. Page 180.ISBN9780786493388.
  2. ^Jacobus, John L. (2013).The Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild: An Illustrated History.McFarland. Page 180.ISBN9780786493388.
  3. ^"BMW's Idea Lab: Driving Design For More Than Cars".www.forbes.com.Retrieved13 January2018.
  4. ^Neil, Dan(May 5, 2012). "The Ferrari With The Dragon Tattoo".The Wall Street Journal.p. D2.
  5. ^"Designing the future".nextvisionaries.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-01-30.
  6. ^Gerzanics, Mike (27 April 2010),"FLIGHT TEST: Embraer Phenom 300",Flightglobal,Reed Business Information,retrieved28 March2015
  7. ^Glaskowsky, Peter (3 April 2009)."Sizing up new high-end machines from HP, Apple".CNET.Red Ventures.Retrieved6 March2023.
  8. ^"BMW Group DesignworksUSA designs iconic espresso machine for Starbucks Coffee Company".BMW Group Pressclub Global.BMW Group.Retrieved6 March2023.
  9. ^"Green Good Design Awards 2013"(PDF).The Chicago Athenaeum Website.Chicago Athenaeum.Retrieved6 March2023.
  10. ^"Konica Minolta turns the page".Technology Reseller Magazine.Kingswood Media. 5 June 2017.Retrieved6 March2023.
  11. ^Lyon, John (5 October 2018)."BMW's Designworks Creates Personal Oasis in the Sky".Robb Report.Penske Media Corporation.Retrieved6 March2023.
  12. ^"PC-12 NGX".Pilatus Website.Pilatus Aircraft.Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2023.Retrieved6 March2023.
  13. ^"John Deere collaborates with Designworks, BMW's innovation studio, on industrial design".John Deere Website.John Deere.Retrieved6 March2023.
  14. ^"BMW Designworks USA Creates A Yacht".MotorTrend.Motor Trend Group.29 January 2009.Retrieved6 March2023.
  15. ^"Drive ahead - ROG partners with BMW Designworks Group to explore the future of gaming laptops".Republic of Gamers Global.ASUS.23 April 2019.Retrieved6 March2023.
  16. ^"SIA Appoints World-Renowned Design Firms For Next Generation of Cabin Products".Singapore Airlines Website.Singapore Airlines.14 August 2012.Retrieved6 March2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Designworks&oldid=1158741701"