How Hui Chen turns everyday observations into automotive design
Unlike many automotive designers, Hui Chen didn't grow up dreaming about cars.
Instead, Hui was fascinated by design itself. While studying industrial design at university, Hui discovered automotive design and was drawn to the challenge of bringing together different disciplines, cultures and ways of thinking.
That curiosity eventually led Hui to Nissan Design China (NDC), where Hui now works as a Project Lead Design Manager. Hui has contributed to production and advanced projects including NX8, Terrano and Frontier Pro, taking primary responsibility for the color design of NX8 and Terrano, from the initial concept and CMF (color, material, finish) direction through development, refinement and final realization.
- While Hui works on vehicles, the starting point is often something much broader. "Design is a way of understanding how people live, what they value, how culture shapes the way they see things, and what they may want next. These observations are then translated into future products."
Learning from everyday life
For Hui, inspiration often comes from looking beyond the automotive world.
Fashion, architecture, product design, exhibitions and everyday life all influence the way Hui thinks about color, materials and vehicle character. Travel also plays an important role, not because of specific landmarks or objects, but because of the emotions and impressions it leaves behind.
- "When I travel, I often remember the atmosphere of a place more than any specific object," Hui says. "Those impressions stay in the back of my mind and sometimes come back naturally when I'm thinking about the mood or character of a design."
Rather than asking what colors are becoming popular, Hui prefers to understand what kinds of lifestyles people are becoming attracted to and why.
Rethinking comfort for a new generation
This way of thinking played an important role during the development of NX8.
While researching younger Chinese customers, Hui and the team noticed that comfort was no longer defined only by softness, space or traditional luxury. People were paying more attention to atmosphere, natural materials, softer colors and technology that blended naturally into everyday life instead of constantly demanding attention.
Interestingly, these insights did not come from studying cars alone.
They came from ordinary places such as homes, cafés, interior brands, consumer electronics and the changing lifestyles all around them.
Those observations helped the team explore how Nissan's long-standing reputation for comfort could be interpreted for a new generation, creating something warmer, more natural and more connected to the way people live today.
When color shapes character
Later, while working on Frontier Pro, Hui began to see the role of color differently. Rather than selecting an appropriate color after the vehicle had already been defined, the team considered from the concept stage how the vehicle should feel, who it should speak to and what kind of presence it should have in the market.
While CMF team and styling always work closely together, this project showed Hui how color could do more than complement a design, it could actively shape the personality and character of the vehicle.
Different perspectives, better designs
For Hui, great design rarely comes from a single person or discipline.
During projects like Terrano, different team members often approached the same challenge from different perspectives, leading to discussions that improved both the vehicle's appearance and overall character.
That openness is one of the things Hui values most about NDC.
While people might imagine an automotive design center as a place filled with formal discussions about vehicles, Hui says some of the most interesting ideas emerge from everyday conversations. A recent trip, an exhibition or a photo shared between colleagues can spark a completely new way of thinking.
And perhaps that's what defines Hui's own journey as a designer. Not simply designing vehicles, but constantly observing people, places and cultures, then transforming those insights into products that connect with customers in meaningful ways.