New Ford Design Director

[russellw]

Christopher Svensson, Ford's recently appointed Director of Design, Asia Pacific and Africa, is developing the company's future styles from Melbourne, Australia.

The leading designer was appointed Director of Design, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, in June 2010. In this position, he has overall responsibility for the design of new products developed within the Australasia, Asia and Africa regions. He is based in Ford's Asia Pacific and Africa Product Development Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and reports directly to Martin Smith, Executive Design Director, Ford of Europe.

Since joining Ford in 1992, Svensson has held a number of key positions in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, and now in Australia.

Svensson was previously Chief Designer, Commercial Vehicles (CV), Ford of Europe, a position he held since 2007. He had cross-platform responsibility for all next-generation commercial vehicles, including global programs, as well as both Interior and Exterior Design responsibilities. Based in the UK, he was also studio head for the UK Dunton Design Studio.

From 2001 to 2007, Svensson was Chief Designer for Pre-Programs. During this period he was instrumental in the development of the Design Strategy Group, responsible for concept and pre-program execution for Ford of Europe Design.

Highlights included pre-program development of third-generation Focus, second-generation C-Max and Ka, sixth-generation Fiesta as well as concept cars such as the Ford Visos. His work in this area also included collaborating with the film industry, such as supporting the development of the Pink FAB1 car for the 2004 movie Thunderbirds.


In 1997, Svensson moved back to the UK after a prior assignment in Ford North America to be the B-platform Exterior Design Manager in the Ford of Europe Design Studio based in Dunton, England. He continued in this role through 2001, during which he oversaw the development of the Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion.


During his one-year assignment from 1996 to 1997 in Ford North America’s Advanced Design Studio, Svensson worked on two concept vehicles, the Mercury MC2 and the Ford P2000 Hydrogen car. Svensson also worked on the development of conceptual holographic design tools and was also a development tester for Alias CAD introduction within the North America Design Studios.


Prior to that, from 1992 to 1996, Svensson worked on varied car programs such as first-generation Focus and Mondeo. During this period he was the exterior designer responsible for development of the design themes chosen for the Ford Ka, Ford Puma and the Ford Cougar.


Svensson joined Ford in 1992 as an exterior designer in Ford of Germany’s Design Studio in Köln, after his graduation from the Royal College of Art in London.



Source: Ford Media

[Jason[98.EL]]

looks like we will see more euro design in the au cars then

Is this a good move or is it more to do with the one ford stuff thatis being pushed from ford hq

Jason

[phillyc]

Good to see more and more design work being based in Melbourne / Australia. Further confirmation of the commitment of Ford Australia and the high regard with which it's work is held by Detroit.

[Iggypoppin']

More of point two you made Jason.
One ford will make it's presence known in a few years, globalization of models and so forth will, I believe, be a big thing at ford in a few years. Bring it on I say!

[buggo]

Originally Posted by russellw

Highlights included pre-program development of third-generation Focus, second-generation C-Max and Ka, sixth-generation Fiesta as well as concept cars such as the Ford Visos. His work in this area also included collaborating with the film industry, such as supporting the development of the Pink FAB1 car for the 2004 movie Thunderbirds.


Source: Ford Media

All these designs are quite 'loud' if you know what I mean. For example, look at the current fiesta to the previous model, same as focus, ka, so on.
I wonder if his design style will continue on and leak into future Falcons? Will he be in charge of or oversee that design, or is that still butterworth?

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/77980/fo...-in-melbourne/

Ford’s new design director based in Melbourne
By Tim Beissmann | August 13th, 2010

Ford’s new director of design for Asia Pacific and Africa will pen the Fords of the future from Australia.



Christopher Svensson was appointed to the role in June and is currently responsible for designing new vehicles developed in Africa, Asia and Australasia.

Reporting to Ford of Europe executive design director, Martin Smith, Mr Svensson is based at Ford’s Asia Pacific and Africa Product Development Centre in Melbourne.



Joining Ford in 1992, Mr Svensson began as an exterior designer for Ford of Germany at the Design Studio in Köln. Between 1992 and 1996 he was responsible for the design themes of the Ka, Puma and Cougar and also worked on the first-generation versions of the Focus and Mondeo.



In a year at Ford North America’s Advanced Design Studio Mr Svensson worked on the Mercury MC2 and Ford P2000 Hydrogen concept vehicles.



Returning to Europe in 1997, he oversaw the development of the Fiesta and Fusion, and was more recently involved in the pre-program development of the second-generation Ka and C-Max, third-generation Focus and six-generation Fiesta. He also collaborated on the Visos concept car and the Pink FAB1 from the movie Thunderbirds.



In 2007 he was appointed Ford of Europe’s chief designer of commercial vehicles, working both on interior and exterior designs.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by phillyc

Good to see more and more design work being based in Melbourne / Australia. Further confirmation of the commitment of Ford Australia and the high regard with which it's work is held by Detroit.

That's the big news in this story.

[vztrt]

Ford Australia names new design chief

Svensson steps in as Ford’s regional design chief as Strong returns to Detroit

16 August 2010

By TERRY MARTIN

FORD Australia has announced the appointment of Chris Svensson as its new director of design for the Asia Pacific and Africa region, which includes Australia.

Replacing Scott Strong, who has returned to the US to become interior design director for North America, Mr Svensson is based at the regional product development centre at Ford Australia headquarters in Broadmeadows, north of Melbourne.

In addition to influencing the design of Australian-built vehicles, Mr Svensson will oversee programs throughout the region, such as an expected all-new SUV and other models based on the Australian-developed T6 Ranger light commercial platform.

His previous role as designer of commercial vehicles for Ford of Europe will come into play in his new assignment, although Ford Australia spokesperson Sinead McAlary told GoAuto this week that his broad experience – which has involved a host of European passenger cars – would be used to good effect across a range of new vehicle programs.

“Chris’ most recent role was in a commercial vehicle area, but he has spent a lot of time working on passenger cars as well,” Ms McAlary said.

“He’s the right person for the job because they’re developing a number of different vehicles across the region.”

Reporting to Ford of Europe executive design director Martin Smith, Mr Svensson has worked in Europe, the UK and North America since joining Ford in 1992.

As well as European commercial vehicle design chief – a role which included global programs and both interior and exterior design – he was also head of Ford’s Dunton design studio in the UK.

From 2001 to 2007 he was chief designer for pre-programs in Europe, developing a ‘design strategy group’ responsible for concept and pre-program execution for a range of vehicles, including the third-generation Focus, second-generation C-Max and Ka, sixth-generation Fiesta and concept cars such as the Visos.

He has also had a hand in the Mercury MC2 and Ford P2000 Hydrogen concepts, plus the first-generation Focus, Mondeo, Ka, Puma and Cougar.

Ms McAlary said Mr Strong’s return to Detroit after four years in his second stint at Ford Australia – he came back to the role in March 2006, replacing Simon Butterworth, after earlier working Down Under from 1999-2001 – was part of the “usual movements within the design community”.

Meanwhile, Audi Australia’s marketing manager Immo Buschmann has returned to Germany to become general manager of sales for parent Volkswagen AG’s far-east region, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.

A replacement for him is still to be announced, with marketing communications manager Belinda Harris holding the fort as marketing chief for the time being.