This unusually cool morning started off in the BBC studios here with an equally fiery discussion about Nissan's design strategy and vision between Mr Tsunehiro Kunimoto, project design director, and Rico Hizon, the program's anchor. As serious as the tone of the live interview was, the rhythm of the discussion was vivaciously gripping.
Obviously, the rain did nothing to cool the flames of passion when the team of visiting designers from Nissan starts to think and talk design.

Nissan's project design director, Tsunehiro Kunimoto, chatting with Rico Hizon of the BBC.

So when friends from the media started streaming in, they were treated not only to an impressive display of the works of Imagination Factory, but were also met by eager faces from Nissan's design and communications teams.
Some 20 journalists - from the customary automotive and business media to a couple of new faces from design and lifestyle media - showed up for the presentation by the designers.

Design Display

Nissan's designers each took turns to explain the different aspects of the company's design approach. Mr Kunimoto took us on a discovery journey through the history of Nissan design, including the philosophy, turning points and milestones, and to the pivotal developments of recent years.

Nissan's project design director, Tsunehiro Kunimoto, presenting Nissan Design at the media preview.

Alfonso Albaisa walked us through the design process by giving us the story of 21 year-old Adam from the echo boomer generation in the US. Adam yearns for a sports car that is open, free and yet allows him to stay connected with his friends and his games. He flirted with the idea of having a motorcycle but his parents wanted him to be safe. That got our designers thinking and dreaming up a car for Adam and friends - a process that led to the creation of a sports concept car aptly named, the Urge.

Nissan's Alfonso Albaisa explains the role of design to Channel News Asia's reporter, S Ramesh.

Exchanging ideas with the next generation of aspiring designers was the intention behind the student workshops. Each student team comprising 2 students was asked to present concepts relating to “Design and DNA - The Future of a Vehicle: Industrial Design from Asia to the World” in front of almost 100 students, lecturers and media, and each team was in turn given feedback and design advice by Nissan's own designers. Impressed they were for sure, being the “selected” batch to attend this workshop and many of them have already returned to their drawing boards to work on those ideas.

Students from Nanyang Technological University trying to convince Nissan's designers with their concept.

“Functional and Emotional Design” - that was the theme of the forum held between Nissan's designers and eight designers from different disciplines here.
As a designer, would you abide by the tenet of ‘form follows function’ or ‘form follows emotion’? Or maybe, you need to invoke both. Exploring the melding of art forms, aesthetics, emotions and culture with the utilitarian, the panelists set forth a fiery exchange sharing perspectives from the fields of architecture, illustration, fashion, publishing, product and interior design.

Panelists expressing their views on evocative designs.

As dusk draws closer, the fervent vivacity of the Forum switched into a groovy calmness as the soulful melody of Maya's Close To You filled the air and greeted the guests attending the vernissage. The ambience was filled with grandeur, laughter and appreciation. The scintillating guests included design and creative luminaries such as world-acclaimed designer, Toshiyuki Kita; fashion designer Wykidd Song; award-winning designers Brian Ling and YJ Ban, and of course, the trend-setting and fashionable Tara Barker, editor-in-chief of the Singapore Womens’ Weekly and David Fuhrmann-Lim, editor of FHM Singapore and Malaysia.

Talking design at the vernissage of the Nissan Design Forum

Beyond the functional, the evening episode of the Nissan Design Forum was definitely one filled with fun, fashion and well-designed memories. And guess what? It ended on a high note too, as Maya scaled the octaves in the final refrain of How deep is your love.

Maya got us all with the rhythm of the night.