LOS ANGELES, March 3 /PRNewswire/ — On March 10, 2009, the Motor Press Guild (MPG), North America’s largest professional automotive media association, will host a design panel composed of some of today’s foremost automotive designers. The panel will include Henrik Fisker, chief executive officer, Fisker Automotive; Dave Marek, chief designer, Honda R&D Americas and Freeman Thomas, design director, Ford Motor Company. The panelists will discuss how design can resolve the current challenges facing the U.S. auto industry, as well as how design affects — and is affected by — new technologies and ecologies. The discussion will be moderated by Eric Noble from automotive consulting firm The CarLab.
Henrik Fisker, Chief Executive Officer, Fisker Automotive, Inc.
Henrik Fisker is a leading automobile designer and CEO of Fisker Automotive, Inc. Earlier in his career, Fisker served as president and CEO of DesignworksUSA, and later as Design Director for Aston Martin. Some of his best-known work includes the exterior of the production BMW Z8 roadster, the Aston Martin DB9 and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Today, he heads up Fisker Automotive, which will soon release the Karma, a luxury plug-in hybrid. Fisker’s other current venture is Fisker Coachbild, where he and Bernhard Koehler, build and sell tailor-made cars based on production platforms.
Dave Marek, Director of Advanced Design, Honda R&D
Dave Marek is the Chief Designer and Senior Manager of the Automotive Styling Group at Honda Research and Development–Americas. He is also an instructor and member of the Alumni Council at Art Center College of Designin Pasadena, CA (where he graduated with honors in 1987). Marek has been instrumental in bringing numerous sponsored projects to Art Center’s Transportation Department. With Honda, he served as project leader for the 1994 Accord Wagon and the 1997 Acura CL.
Freeman Thomas, Design Director, Strategic Concepts Group Ford Motor Company
Freeman Thomas is the Design Director for Ford Motor Company’s Strategic Concepts Group. Previously, Thomas worked at Volkswagen’s California design studio with J. Mays, where he was involved in the design of the Volkswagen New Beetle and Audi TT. Later, he served as head of DaimlerChrysler’s Pacifica Studios in 2002. Some of his other design credits include the Audi A4, Audi A6 and Chrysler Pacifica. He also developed the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, and the Dodge Charger along with Ralph Gilles.
MPG Meeting Details:
What: 2009 Motor Press Guild Automotive Design Panel
Henrik Fisker, Chief Executive Officer, Fisker Automotive, Inc.
Dave Marek, Director of Advanced Design, Honda R&D
Freeman Thomas, Design Director, Strategic Concepts Group Ford
Motor Company
When: Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Social - 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon - Noon
Where: The Proud Bird Restaurant
11022 Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 310-670-3093
Price: Members - $25
Non-Members and Guests - $30
(cash or check; open seating/no reservations)
Contact: MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org
For more information about MPG news, upcoming events, and directions to the Proud Bird, please visit http://www.motorpressguild.org/news.
About Motor Press Guild
The Los Angeles-based Motor Press Guild (MPG) is a non-profit professional association dedicated to promoting education and information exchange within the motoring press. MPG has more than 800 global members, including staff and freelance journalists, photographers, broadcasters, public-relations representatives from vehicle manufacturers, industry suppliers, aftermarket companies, consumer groups, governmental bodies and other motoring-related firms and organizations.
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