Interview

What is your philosophy of automotive design?

I wasn’t a “car person” when I was little, but I always liked to draw and think about design. The complexity of cars drew my attention, as did their beautifully sculpted surfaces. Today, I feel that automotive design is the most emotional design field. Unlike a cellphone or a lamp, a car is like a living creature, designed to be in motion. This fosters a special attachment and empathy.
Even as a child, I admired the way each Nissan vehicle had a different look while still being recognizably part of the same family. Other auto companies can seem to approach variation in terms of size, but Nissan respects the individual characteristics of each vehicle. Maxima, Altima, X-Trail, Patrol—each has its own distinct DNA and heritage to uphold. That was one of the main reasons I wanted to join Nissan.
Adopting different personas is an important skill for a designer. When you design a car, you have to develop a clear idea of your target buyer, and then put yourself into their shoes: I have two children, my income is such-and-such . . . What do I want in a car? It’s similar to the way actors sometimes stay in character even when the cameras aren’t rolling. You find the right persona for the project, and then develop your own concepts from there.
In this sense, Nissan truly respects the individual. Each car does have its own heritage and target market, but within this framework new ideas are always welcome and designers are empowered to express themselves. That kind of freedom makes Nissan a great place to work.

What does your work as an exterior designer involve?

As an exterior designer, my work ranges from pencil sketches to modeling. When a project kicks off and the basic direction is decided, I start sketching. Next come Photoshop renderings to clarify my ideas, and then quick 3D models to visualize them. During this upstream phase in particular, inspiration is key to keeping me creative. Inspiration can come from anywhere—images from the internet, books, movies, travel—but it also comes from collaboration with other people. This is one of my favorite parts of the job, actually. I love sitting down with the clay modeling team, because when they bring your design to life in three dimensions, you see it in a whole new way, which in turn sparks new ideas. These days, I work with people from several other departments, including product planning and engineering, and they have unique perspectives to share as well.
From my earliest days in the company, I enjoyed the design process here—the way it welcomes new ideas and encourages interaction. The more you interact with others, the clearer your design gets. Nissan’s American and Japanese design studios have team members from a range of backgrounds, and the sheer variety of life experiences creates an exciting energy that encourages exploration. Everything is an opportunity to learn.