AFF Technical Resources - New Ford Design Director Calls Australia Home

August 13 2010

Christopher Svensson, Ford's recently appointed Director of Design, Asia Pacific and Africa, is developing the company's future styles from Melbourne, Australia.

The leading designer was appointed Director of Design, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa, in June 2010. In this position, he has overall responsibility for the design of new products developed within the Australasia, Asia and Africa regions. He is based in Ford's Asia Pacific and Africa Product Development Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and reports directly to Martin Smith, Executive Design Director, Ford of Europe.

Since joining Ford in 1992, Svensson has held a number of key positions in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, and now in Australia.

Svensson was previously Chief Designer, Commercial Vehicles (CV), Ford of Europe, a position he held since 2007. He had cross-platform responsibility for all next-generation commercial vehicles, including global programs, as well as both Interior and Exterior Design responsibilities. Based in the UK, he was also studio head for the UK Dunton Design Studio.

From 2001 to 2007, Svensson was Chief Designer for Pre-Programs. During this period he was instrumental in the development of the Design Strategy Group, responsible for concept and pre-program execution for Ford of Europe Design.

Highlights included pre-program development of third-generation Focus, second-generation C-Max and Ka, sixth-generation Fiesta as well as concept cars such as the Ford Visos. His work in this area also included collaborating with the film industry, such as supporting the development of the Pink FAB1 car for the 2004 movie Thunderbirds.

In 1997, Svensson moved back to the UK after a prior assignment in Ford North America to be the B-platform Exterior Design Manager in the Ford of Europe Design Studio based in Dunton, England. He continued in this role through 2001, during which he oversaw the development of the Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion.

During his one-year assignment from 1996 to 1997 in Ford North America’s Advanced Design Studio, Svensson worked on two concept vehicles, the Mercury MC2 and the Ford P2000 Hydrogen car. Svensson also worked on the development of conceptual holographic design tools and was also a development tester for Alias CAD introduction within the North America Design Studios.

Prior to that, from 1992 to 1996, Svensson worked on varied car programs such as first-generation Focus and Mondeo. During this period he was the exterior designer responsible for development of the design themes chosen for the Ford Ka, Ford Puma and the Ford Cougar.

Svensson joined Ford in 1992 as an exterior designer in Ford of Germany’s Design Studio in Köln, after his graduation from the Royal College of Art in London.