So who is looking for a new job in this declining economy? If opportunities are a little skimp in your area there is always the booming China to move to. It looks like China is going to put some thought into their designs rather than do blantent copies of what works elsewhere. One benefit of working there, it is probably easier to keep to your cost target.

Officials in China push for an increase in innovation,
and a shift beyond manufacturing to product design

China’s stunning economic growth in recent years has been based on its ability to efficiently manufacture key products desired by consumers worldwide.
The next step in economic development for the nation may be an expansion into the world of product design.
A recent exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, United Kingdom reflected China’s push to go from factory-floor production, to developing and designing products.
In 2006, government officials in China said the future of the economy depended on innovation. Between 2003 and 2006, China spent 1.5 percent of its GDP (gross domestic product) on research and development – a huge increase from previous years.
Approximately 500 schools offering design courses have been established across China, but there is a shortage of design teachers. (Associated Press)

The Scion brand is kind of like a fish out of water right now. Started out swimming strong, but now is struggling with the introduction of some new models. Did their underground niche become too mainstream? Or does everyone know that it is just another Toyota now? Either way it is an interesting brand with a strong marketing strategy. This years Hako Coupe concept was deffinitely a stretch, but was it bad?

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So this great weather has caught us slacking a bit, sorry about that, but there is nothing better than spending a couple days detailing cars and shining up those summer rims. Spring is finally here. With spring usually comes new inspiration. Here is a good interview of Jay Shuster done by Alias Design.

I will spare you Jay’s bio since it is covered in the interview. Here is the short of it, the off spring of a GM designer, graduate of CCS and works now at Pixar. His most recent project was the movie Cars which really hit home since he was from Detroit. He is also responsible for the next hit this summer Wall-e.

This is a great article talking about his process and inspiration. I was privileged to have a few beers with him over this years Detroit show and he is a great modest guy. Here is one question I have…..Jay, I am a bit of a collector of concept art books, when is yours going to come out?

So if your car interior says more about you than the exterior, why do consumers not like their interior as much as the exterior?

The solution sounds simple, create an interior that consumers actually like. Why is this so hard? I don’t know, but here is an article talking about what we do in our cars. Mostly making a mess out of them.

American drivers have an ‘inferior interior’ complex about
their cars, according to survey from Milliken & Company

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