Sketch demonstrations by the Nissan designers
Demonstations of digital sketching in Photoshop, and digital modelling using Alias|wavefront Autostudio, Opticore Realizer
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The new studio combines design resources previously located near Munich in Germany and Cranfield in the UK. Nissan Design Europe has increased its staff by 25 percent, an indication of the importance of the studio to Nissan’s global design operations.
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Nissan Design Europe was established in Munich, Germany in 1992. The Munich-based team has joined design colleagues from Nissan's UK Technical Centre in Cranfield at the new London studio. The design center comprises approximately 50 international designers, modellers and support staff.
Nissan Design Europe comprises three design teams led by Shuji Takano, Vice President. Mr Takano joined Nissan in 1979, and has worked in Nissan design studios in Japan, Belgium and Germany. He is a graduate of Kyushu Institute of Design, and the Royal College of Art in London.
The individual design teams are led by three Studio Chief Designers: Christopher Reitz, Stéphane Schwarz and Makoto Yamane.
Christopher Reitz graduated from Art Center Europe in Switzerland, and began his career at VW, before joining Audi in 1996, where he worked on the inthe interior design for the Audi A4, A6, A2 and the AL2 concept. He joined Nissan Europe in 1999, where he led the design of the Crossbow 4x4 concept, unveiled at the Frankfurt Show in 2001.
Stéphane Schwarz, also an Art Center Europe graduate, began his career wth Pininfarina, and joined Nissan Design Europe in1994, where he worked on the Primera and Primera Estate concept and production projects, as well as the Kino concept, shown at the last Tokyo Motor Show.
Makoto Yamane graduated from the Nihon University College of Art in Tokyo, and began his career at Nissan in Japan in 1988, where his work included the exterior design of the Silvia and Presea. After further study at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, he returned to Nissan to work on the Stagea and GT-R concept, exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001.
A separate cross functional team is led by David Godber, general Manager of NDE. This team comprises several groups including colour and trim design, digital design, modelling, design strategy, communication and business development.
Other Nissan studios worldwide include the Nissan Design Center in Atsugi City, Kanagawa, the Product Design Department at Nissan Shatai Co Ltd in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa, and Creative Box Inc., situated in the heart of Tokyo's fashion district Shibuya.
There are two design studios in North America: Nissan Design America Inc. in San Diego, California (founded in 1979), and the North America studio, NDA Farmington Hills Studio in Michigan (founded in 1989).
Nissan Design website: www.nissan.co.jp/DESIGN
Related stories: Nissan announces London studio
Photos: Brett Patterson
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