Photo: Ford
It's always fascinating to get inside the minds of automotive designers. In a world full of engineers and technicians, they're the ones bringing a bit of artistic thinking into what is otherwise a pretty black or white affair.
Unfortunately, the only way to do it is by reading an interview or by taking one yourself, so the opportunities are limited. To make matters worse, the massive amounts of money involved in the industry these days means that very few people actually speak their minds during a sit-down with the press. Instead, they think carefully about every word and sometimes even get kicked in the shin under the table by the PR representative accompanying to them when they get too carried away.
Luckily, J Mays does not work in the industry anymore. He did once and was quite successful at it, but nowadays he's enjoying a more quiet lifestyle by acting as a design professor and movie consultant. He ended his career in early 2014 as head designer at Ford after spending 16 years with the Blue Oval company.
Now a professor at the London Royal College of Art, Mays can provide a rare outside view of the industry from somebody who knows what they're talking about. And he seems to have set his sights on the German manufacturers.
Having worked for both Audi and BMW, Mays is probably upset at the current run of models from these brands, along with Mercedes-Benz. "I'm a big stickler for cultural relevance," he told Automotive News. "If you're going to go to work in Italy, France or Germany, you really want to make sure the brand represents the mindset of the culture it comes from. I think the British do a pretty good job — they seem to produce cars that look British."
The Germans? Not so much, according to J Mays. "I don't think the Germans, with the exception of Porsche, are really doing that at the moment. I think BMW and Audi are close, but it could be improved," he reckons. In case you're wondering where does Mercedes-Benz sit in all this, wonder no more: "I could not tell you what Mercedes is doing, but it's not German."
So, who does do a good job according to Mays? Believe it or not, it's the South Koreans at Hyundai and Kia. "Roll back the clock before Peter Schreyer arrived at Hyundai and you would have said the South Koreans will never be able to design a car, but today they're designing some of the best cars in the world."
Well, you don't have to agree with Mays - or anyone else, for that matter - but he's not alone. Chris Bangle, former design chief at BMW, was equally harsh on an unnamed brand in Frankfurt (probably the same Mercedes-Benz). It does feel as though designers at certain brands are getting (or are allowed to get) less and less adventurous, and that shows in the products that reach the market. Is Mercedes-Benz one of those brands? Before the AMG Project ONE reveal, we would have answered a definite "yes."
Luckily, J Mays does not work in the industry anymore. He did once and was quite successful at it, but nowadays he's enjoying a more quiet lifestyle by acting as a design professor and movie consultant. He ended his career in early 2014 as head designer at Ford after spending 16 years with the Blue Oval company.
Now a professor at the London Royal College of Art, Mays can provide a rare outside view of the industry from somebody who knows what they're talking about. And he seems to have set his sights on the German manufacturers.
Having worked for both Audi and BMW, Mays is probably upset at the current run of models from these brands, along with Mercedes-Benz. "I'm a big stickler for cultural relevance," he told Automotive News. "If you're going to go to work in Italy, France or Germany, you really want to make sure the brand represents the mindset of the culture it comes from. I think the British do a pretty good job — they seem to produce cars that look British."
The Germans? Not so much, according to J Mays. "I don't think the Germans, with the exception of Porsche, are really doing that at the moment. I think BMW and Audi are close, but it could be improved," he reckons. In case you're wondering where does Mercedes-Benz sit in all this, wonder no more: "I could not tell you what Mercedes is doing, but it's not German."
So, who does do a good job according to Mays? Believe it or not, it's the South Koreans at Hyundai and Kia. "Roll back the clock before Peter Schreyer arrived at Hyundai and you would have said the South Koreans will never be able to design a car, but today they're designing some of the best cars in the world."
Well, you don't have to agree with Mays - or anyone else, for that matter - but he's not alone. Chris Bangle, former design chief at BMW, was equally harsh on an unnamed brand in Frankfurt (probably the same Mercedes-Benz). It does feel as though designers at certain brands are getting (or are allowed to get) less and less adventurous, and that shows in the products that reach the market. Is Mercedes-Benz one of those brands? Before the AMG Project ONE reveal, we would have answered a definite "yes."
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