Design language - All Comments

re: How to design cars for a global brand

john bon — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:56:06 GMT

What I don't understand is why GM is competing with itself, importing chevy's to compete with vauxhall-opel.

The idea that this will somhow push vauxhall/opel 'upmarket' is bizarre.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

Mario B — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:44:31 GMT

I like it as an easily recognizable symbol but it does look a little awkward. Nevertheless, to me it is nothing like as awkward as the leaping cat stuck on the rump of the current Jags.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

brompton — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:14:31 GMT

Never knew it was supposed to be a bow tie - but really apart from some male medics, does anyone wear them these days? Chevy to the levee, dudes in pick up trucks wasn't it a pink carnation?????

re: How to design cars for a global brand

Uncle Mellow — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:45:11 GMT

My idea of a Chevy is a '57 Bel Air, not a rebadged Daewoo. Since I couldn't afford the thirst of a Bel Air there will never be a car with a bow tie badge on my drive, whatever way they re-shape it.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

optimal_909 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:51:03 GMT

"I want to end up with something with a little more personality than what VW does..."

They still don't get it, it seems.

What I find odd, that despite the rapidly ageing poulation of the developed world -and soon also that of China- most manufacturers want to please the young even as their desire to own a car fades.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

jackjflash — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:10:33 GMT

Either design could have been created by a 5 year old child with a protractor and ruler. It has nothing to do with the symmetry/influence of the designs either; it has more to do with the deeply embedded perceptions of the viewer. BMW manufactures cars for the social elite and those that want to appear as the social elite (read poseurs) while Chevrolet (Chevy) is a car made for the middle class, and here in the states it represents honest value for a meager price. I understand the root of your perception though because of the rebadged product you get there.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

Los Angeles — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:07:00 GMT

"They could try sinking it into the surrounding surface, like BMW does with the roundel." Hilton

The will need to do more than that.

As you know, the BMW badge is superb abstract symbolism from the days when art deco design was very fashionable. It began life as a quality enameled badge.

The Chevy bow tie was copied from an advert in a Virginian newspaper around 1912 for Coalettes Coal - " The little coals with the big heat." Therefore, it's origins belong to another. It has little significance beyond being Chevy's bland trademark.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

sirwiggum — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:04:15 GMT

The badge has history, and brand recognition. Even for those who aren't familiar with rebadged Daewoos, seeing the badge on US sports events / sportscars / advertising / films and TV for years it has great brand recognition, the kind that companies would give their right arm for!

re: How to design cars for a global brand

HiltonH — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:45:00 GMT

That's a good point, WHS.

They could try sinking it into the surrounding surface, like BMW does with the roundel.

There again, as Chevy goes global - and Chevy production is creeping into Europe - maybe a re-think of the badge is needed. It looks odd.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

whsBrowser — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:01:09 GMT

As I posted once before, to me there still seems something about the shape of the bow tie that makes it difficult for designers to blend it in without it looking like a stuck-on afterthought, particularly on car fronts. Maybe that it's wide and shallow, or not being symmetrical ? Can't put my finger on what.

Does ex-designer Hilton have any views?

True that if he's been promoting it hard for a couple of years Ed Welburn wouldn't want to resurrect some other GM heritage badge in its place

re: How to design cars for a global brand

matsoc — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:42:47 GMT

I think that some design cues could be imposed worldwide, but the cars still had to stay different from market to market, because the needs are not the same. I am not talking of front grill like Audi does, I am talikng of some small details...it's not easy but frankly I am very disappointed of car designs nowadays, it's rare to see something really new and beautiful

re: How to design cars for a global brand

TegTypeR — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:17:25 GMT

It's not a job I'd want!

The phrase, "You can't please all of the people all of the time" comes to mind here.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

Pistachio — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:30:23 GMT

Hmmm So the quality of the vehicles doesn't matter obviously as we get Daewoo's with Chevy badges, US gets Opel/Vauxhalls with Chevy badges !!! oh and while that is going on they destroy a great brand like SAAB…Sorry but Chevrolet does not cut it over here it just stands for cheaper than vauxhall/opel not a viable challenger for VW.

Wake Up GM and stop trying to make a square peg fit in a round hole.

re: How to design cars for a global brand

Londonist — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:19:53 GMT

Yeah, right. From where he's standing - the very place where you take the Daewoo badge off, put the bow tie on and all of a sudden its a Chevy - I bet VW looks like it's in a whole heap of trouble....

re: Audi LED running lights? No thanks

JordanB2710 — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:02:02 GMT

I agree that once all new cars have these lights its arguable as to how much any car will stand out but I do like Audi's use of the technology as its not like all the models have the same arrangement and they are just killing it with light design at the moment.

I think the 2nd generation of Audi lights on the A1 which are similar to the Saab 9-3 look great by using fibre optics to give the effect of a seamless glowing line like a light sabre. After market jobs look real bad on the whole. Audi has a dept dedicated to this technology so its pretty well thought out and not just some rush job.