{{Short description|BMW owned creative consultancy}} {{Infobox company | name = Designworks | logo = Designworks Logo.svg | image = | image_size = 250px | image_caption = Designworks headquarters in Newbury Park, California | industry = {{Unbulleted list|Industrial design, interaction design, automotive design, service design, digital product design, innovation management}} | founded = 1972 | founder = Chuck Pelly | hq_location_city = Santa Monica, California | hq_location_country = United States<ref name="jac"/> | num_locations = 3 | key_people = {{Plainlist| * Anders Warming (Head of Designworks) * Julia de Bono (CEO) }} | num_employees = 140+ (2019) | parent = BMW | website = [https://www.bmwgroupdesignworks.com www.bmwgroupdesignworks.com] }}
'''Designworks''' is a global creative consultancy owned by BMW and based in Santa Monica, California, United States. Designworks has two further studios, in Munich, Germany and Shanghai, China. Established independently in 1972 by Chuck Pelly, it became a wholly owned BMW Group subsidiary in 1995, and was instrumental in the design of the BMW XL Sports Activity Vehicle and the BMW 5 Series. Other development projects at Designworks have included the BMW electric car, BMW 8 Series (E31) seat, BMW 3 Series (E46), BMW Z8, BMW 7 Series interior, and BMW 100- and 1200 Touring motorcycles.<ref name="jac">Jacobus, John L. (2013). ''The Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild: An Illustrated History''. McFarland. Page 180. {{ISBN|9780786493388}}.</ref>
== Origins == The design studio was founded in 1972 by designer Charles Pelly<ref>{{cite web|title=BMW's Idea Lab: Driving Design For More Than Cars|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahelliott/2012/08/01/bmws-idea-lab-driving-design-for-more-than-cars/#5e8b96df79b8|website=www.forbes.com|access-date=13 January 2018}}</ref> with the name DesignworksUSA (renamed Designworks in 2015). The company began in Malibu Canyon with three designers. Early customers included Hyster and the Otis Elevator Company.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
In 1978, the company expanded and moved to Van Nuys, and set up its first sister studio, D2, in Detroit. In 1986, Designworks designed the seats for the BMW 8 Series (E31), which was the company's first involvement with BMW. In the same year, the company moved to Agoura. In 1988, Designworks moved to Newbury Park, and began designing for Nokia,<ref name="v128">{{cite web | title=Nokia 2110 | website=iF Design | date=2022-03-08 | url=https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/nokia-2110/20206 | access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref> Compaq, Siemens<ref name="c462">{{cite web | title=Designworks is designing a new generation of metro for Siemens (10/2022). | website=BMW Group PressClub | url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/photo/detail/P90484720/designworks-is-designing-a-new-generation-of-metro-for-siemens-10/2022?language=en | access-date=2024-12-02}}</ref> and Adidas.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
== BMW ownership == In 1991, BMW acquired a large percentage of the company, and Designworks started its first car exterior design project in 1993 for the 1998 BMW 3 Series (E46). In May 1995, BMW purchased the remaining percentage of Designworks. At this time artist David Hockney painted an Art Car in the studio. In 1998, Designworks opened a studio in Munich, and in 1999, Henrik Fisker was named president.
In 2001, Adrian van Hooydonk became president. In 2002, Designworks expanded its automotive studio in Newbury Park.
Verena Kloos was president from 2004 to 2009. In January 2006, the company opened a new studio in Singapore, and in 2007 unveiled their new studio wing in Newbury Park. On December 1, 2009, Laurenz Schaffer, formerly director of Designworks's Munich studio, became president. In April 2012, Designworks opened a new studio in Shanghai.<ref>{{cite news|last=Neil|first=Dan|title=The Ferrari With The Dragon Tattoo|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 5, 2012|author-link=Dan Neil (journalist)|page=D2}}</ref>
From 1 August 2016 Oliver Heilmer was appointed as the new president of Designworks. He remained in the role until 2017, when he moved to Munich to take over responsibility of Mini Design.
Holger Hampf was appointed to the role of president on 1 September 2017. He remained in the role until 2024, when he moved to Munich to take over responsibility of Mini Design.<ref name=":0" />
The current head of Designworks is Anders Warming. Appointed in the role on 1 October 2024,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Innovative, holistic, future-forward: BMW Group Design team implements new organisational structure. |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0445035EN/innovative-holistic-future-forward:-bmw-group-design-team-implements-new-organisational-structure |website=BMW Group Pressclub Global |publisher=BMW Group |access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref> Anders originally joined Designworks in 1997 as an automotive designer and later held roles at BMW Group Design as the head of MINI and Rolls-Royce.
In addition to work for BMW, Designworks has worked with a range of clients, largely in the mobility/transportation and consumer electronics industries, including Embraer,<ref name=fg2010>{{citation |first=Mike |last= Gerzanics |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/flight-test-embraer-phenom-300-341010/ |title=FLIGHT TEST: Embraer Phenom 300 |work=Flightglobal |publisher=Reed Business Information |date=27 April 2010 |access-date=28 March 2015 }}</ref> Hewlett Packard,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glaskowsky |first1=Peter |title=Sizing up new high-end machines from HP, Apple |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/sizing-up-new-high-end-machines-from-hp-apple/ |website=CNET |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=3 April 2009}}</ref> Starbucks,<ref>{{cite web |title=BMW Group DesignworksUSA designs iconic espresso machine for Starbucks Coffee Company |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0012339EN/bmw-group-designworksusa-designs-iconic-espresso-machine-for-starbucks-coffee-company?language=en |website=BMW Group Pressclub Global |publisher=BMW Group |access-date=6 March 2023}}</ref> Coca-Cola,<ref>{{cite web |title=Green Good Design Awards 2013 |url=https://www.chi-athenaeum.org/assets/pdf_archives/green/2013_GD_GREEN_LIST.pdf |website=The Chicago Athenaeum Website |publisher=Chicago Athenaeum |access-date=6 March 2023 }}</ref> Konica Minolta,<ref>{{cite web |title=Konica Minolta turns the page |url=https://www.technologyreseller.uk/news/konica-minolta-turns-the-page/ |website=Technology Reseller Magazine |publisher=Kingswood Media |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=5 June 2017}}</ref> EVA Air,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lyon |first1=John |title=BMW's Designworks Creates Personal Oasis in the Sky |url=https://robbreport.com/motors/aviation/bmw-designworks-personal-oasis-sky-2821459/ |website=Robb Report |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=5 October 2018}}</ref> Pilatus Aircraft,<ref>{{cite web |title=PC-12 NGX |url=https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en/fly/pc-12 |website=Pilatus Website |publisher=Pilatus Aircraft |access-date=6 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219205107/https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en/fly/pc-12 |archive-date=19 February 2023}}</ref> John Deere,<ref>{{cite web |title=John Deere collaborates with Designworks, BMW's innovation studio, on industrial design |url=https://www.deere.com/en/stories/featured/deere-collaborates-with-bmws-designworks/ |website=John Deere Website |publisher=John Deere |access-date=6 March 2023}}</ref> Bavaria Yachtbau,<ref>{{cite web |title=BMW Designworks USA Creates A Yacht |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/eurp-0901-bmw-designworks-usa-creates-a-yacht/ |website=MotorTrend |publisher=Motor Trend Group |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=29 January 2009}}</ref> ASUS,<ref>{{cite web |title=Drive ahead – ROG partners with BMW Designworks Group to explore the future of gaming laptops |url=https://rog.asus.com/articles/rog-gaming-laptops/drive-ahead-rog-partners-with-bmw-designworks-group-to-explore-the-future-of-gaming-laptops/ |website=Republic of Gamers Global |publisher=ASUS |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=23 April 2019}}</ref> and Singapore Airlines.<ref>{{cite web |title=SIA Appoints World-Renowned Design Firms For Next Generation of Cabin Products |url=https://www.singaporeair.com/es_ES/es/media-centre/press-release/article/?q=en_UK/2012/July-September/14Aug2012-1846 |website=Singapore Airlines Website |publisher=Singapore Airlines |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=14 August 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{BMW}} {{Automotive industry in the United States}}
Category:BMW Category:Companies based in Ventura County, California Category:Design companies of the United States Category:Industrial design firms Category:Automobile designers