Chris Bangle quits auto industry.

[hoffmeister_fan]

I just got to say that we are on page 12 ( i think) and it's been 5 days since we heard this nugget of information, and we are still talking passionately of what he has done. The fact that people feel rather strongly one way or another is a testament of what he has accomplished. By trying to challenge us, "his" designs has evoked something that's visceral from most of us. I don't think there have been many designers in this medium lately that has accomplished that. Initially I was mortified with what he has done, but eventually I've appreciate it. Even now, when I see an E65 7er, I still study its lines. There aren't many modern cars I do that with. My opinion changes many times I see his designs. I think, in the long-term, what he did is great because it shook many of us out of complacency. I think that the "Bangle-butt" is a great example of form-following-function that works. But I did not like it initially. Maybe I'm biased (heck, with a screen-name like mine, it's kind of expected, but I do appreciate most makes), but I'm content with what he has done. I'm also happy that BMW is also going back to emphasizing their engineering roots with their Efficient Dynamics premise. I'm waiting to see how ED (still can't stop snickering when I say that ) plays out.

Cheers!

 

[Osnabrueck]

I regret that I was out of town for the past week and unable to participate in this discussion. I caught this shocking nugget of information about four days ago and my head immediately swelled with all kinds of mixed feelings.

With few exceptions, automotive design is the most sophisticated, complicated, multifaceted - and I'd imagine - most politically complex discipline under the sun. I haven't read through the 12 pages of this thread, but my take right now is akin to those of Chris Harris and Hoffmeister Fan's.

Bangle made us yell about design and moved the goalpost more than in any figure in recent automotive history. In one generation of product, he managed to violently dump preconceptions about BMW on their head and sold cars at the same time.

Even now, I have mixed feelings about most of his cars. The 7er's beltline feels low and ponderous in the rear, the 5er's greenhouse looks unseeingly large at certain angles, the Z4 isn't well resolved, the 6er isn't the sum of its parts, the X3 was a travesty...

Yet, with all that... there was always a visceral severity to his work that was at one moment theatrical yet sincere that compelled you to come back for a deeper look, even if it was to examine what was totally wrong with the picture.

I ran across a row of new 7ers parked at a hotel near the Brandenburg Gate last week. I was excited - really excited - to get a glimpse of this car for the first time... I was crushed with disappointment - It's not that the F01 isn't a strikingly handsome car, it's not that it doesn't have an imposing curbside presence, it's not that it doesn't look every penny the alpha-car that it is... It's that the amazement, the shock, the bleeding-edge drama - the relentless audacity to do something new and unsafe was gone. BMW is keeping its powder dry and that's the way things are gonna be.

Of course, does the credit go entirely to Chirs? What about Hooydonk? What about the BOD? These are things we'll never entirely know - what we do know is that there's been a shift in the winds at BMW that has repealed the avant garde design spirit that was in full swing five years ago. While I welcome BMW's recent parade of superb-looking cars, another part of me is starved for the parade of shock, awe and brutal newness that was the period from E65 to E90.

 

[martinbo]

^ Well damn, if that isn't the best post on the subject I've yet read. Impressive.

Guru Josh isn't a DJ - he's Osnabrueck.

 

[EnI]

In the latest interview for BusinessWeek Bangle says the following:

- he decided to move on & leave BMW already a year ago
- his children are grown up, he is building new house in Italy, his career is at its peek
- he has a lot of new & fresh ideas to introduce
- he talked to his boss Draeger (BMW R&D chief), and they decided to let Bangle go at the best time possible
- Adrian van Hooydonk shares his vision, and is a perfect for a new design boss - was doing great as BMW design boss lately
- BMW bosses decided to let Bangle go in a quick & clean move ... and Bangle said now when new BMW models were coming out it was the best time to do it - to emphasize the new era
- he will work in design field, yet not going working for another automotive company again
- his work will focus on lecture & tenure around the world - he will try to convince design lecturers & bosses to change the design perception (giving it more sustainability & meaning) - especially in automotive branch
- he will be more free expressing his ideas as an independent consultant than working for some big company
- he got great insights in automotive designe whil working for GM / Opel, Fiat & BMW

He also says:
- he liked to be a lightning rod for all the criticism regarding new BMW design language - since as a lightning rod he "sat on a top of a roof - having a great sight all around, seeing much further then others"
- he felt strange when media credited him for a work of a certain exterior designer who had actually designed the car, and saying that wasn't fair
- he likes E65 7er, 6er, Z4 & 5er most ... and GINA. But his dearest is the 5er - since a touchy story lies behind its design: exterior designer Davide Archangeli had died of leukemia before the car was even set for production - so Davide didn't have an opportunity to see his work IRL



Summary:

Bangle started to feel too restrained working for BMW AG, and decided to go on his own so he could express & share his ideas on the future of design / automobiles / mobility.

I guess at his 53 he started to feel it's time to go more academic / theorethical.

 

[coolraoul]

I regret that I was out of town for the past week and unable to participate in this discussion. I caught this shocking nugget of information about four days ago and my head immediately swelled with all kinds of mixed feelings.

With few exceptions, automotive design is the most sophisticated, complicated, multifaceted - and I'd imagine - most politically complex discipline under the sun. I haven't read through the 12 pages of this thread, but my take right now is akin to those of Chris Harris and Hoffmeister Fan's.

Bangle made us yell about design and moved the goalpost more than in any figure in recent automotive history. In one generation of product, he managed to violently dump preconceptions about BMW on their head and sold cars at the same time.

Even now, I have mixed feelings about most of his cars. The 7er's beltline feels low and ponderous in the rear, the 5er's greenhouse looks unseeingly large at certain angles, the Z4 isn't well resolved, the 6er isn't the sum of its parts, the X3 was a travesty...

Yet, with all that... there was always a visceral severity to his work that was at one moment theatrical yet sincere that compelled you to come back for a deeper look, even if it was to examine what was totally wrong with the picture.

I ran across a row of new 7ers parked at a hotel near the Brandenburg Gate last week. I was excited - really excited - to get a glimpse of this car for the first time... I was crushed with disappointment - It's not that the F01 isn't a strikingly handsome car, it's not that it doesn't have an imposing curbside presence, it's not that it doesn't look every penny the alpha-car that it is... It's that the amazement, the shock, the bleeding-edge drama - the relentless audacity to do something new and unsafe was gone. BMW is keeping its powder dry and that's the way things are gonna be.

Of course, does the credit go entirely to Chirs? What about Hooydonk? What about the BOD? These are things we'll never entirely know - what we do know is that there's been a shift in the winds at BMW that has repealed the avant garde design spirit that was in full swing five years ago. While I welcome BMW's recent parade of superb-looking cars, another part of me is starved for the parade of shock, awe and brutal newness that was the period from E65 to E90.

That is indeed one hell of a post. Karma deserved. I completely share your views...but you said it better!

 

[far2000]

I regret that I was out of town for the past week and unable to participate in this discussion. I caught this shocking nugget of information about four days ago and my head immediately swelled with all kinds of mixed feelings.

With few exceptions, automotive design is the most sophisticated, complicated, multifaceted - and I'd imagine - most politically complex discipline under the sun. I haven't read through the 12 pages of this thread, but my take right now is akin to those of Chris Harris and Hoffmeister Fan's.

Bangle made us yell about design and moved the goalpost more than in any figure in recent automotive history. In one generation of product, he managed to violently dump preconceptions about BMW on their head and sold cars at the same time.

Even now, I have mixed feelings about most of his cars. The 7er's beltline feels low and ponderous in the rear, the 5er's greenhouse looks unseeingly large at certain angles, the Z4 isn't well resolved, the 6er isn't the sum of its parts, the X3 was a travesty...

Yet, with all that... there was always a visceral severity to his work that was at one moment theatrical yet sincere that compelled you to come back for a deeper look, even if it was to examine what was totally wrong with the picture.

I ran across a row of new 7ers parked at a hotel near the Brandenburg Gate last week. I was excited - really excited - to get a glimpse of this car for the first time... I was crushed with disappointment - It's not that the F01 isn't a strikingly handsome car, it's not that it doesn't have an imposing curbside presence, it's not that it doesn't look every penny the alpha-car that it is... It's that the amazement, the shock, the bleeding-edge drama - the relentless audacity to do something new and unsafe was gone. BMW is keeping its powder dry and that's the way things are gonna be.

Of course, does the credit go entirely to Chirs? What about Hooydonk? What about the BOD? These are things we'll never entirely know - what we do know is that there's been a shift in the winds at BMW that has repealed the avant garde design spirit that was in full swing five years ago. While I welcome BMW's recent parade of superb-looking cars, another part of me is starved for the parade of shock, awe and brutal newness that was the period from E65 to E90.

You just wanted the Karmas didnt you.....Given,.....



Farouk

 

[rsxlmz]

please come back...many people dont to value

 

[Deleted member 25]

Even more interesting reading.
http://darmano.typepad.com/for_blog/BMW_case_study.pdf

This is gold stuff.

 

[7saen]

I met Chris Bangle few weeks ago in Stuttgart and talked to him for the first time - I met him before at BMW but never talked to him till that day.
He did a presentation at the Art Academy in Stuttgart about the Gina concept principle. Very intertaining and informative stuff. He is without a doubt one of the smartest and most visionary persons to ever work in the automotive industry.

He said -among other things- that he asked BMW to take the GINA idea with him. he said that his vision is to found GINA studios all over the world. These Studios won't only be specialized on Design, but also on architecture and other creative fields.

He also explained the design of the E65 7er and why the rear looked that way. Unfortunately I can't remember every aspect of that explaination so before I say something wrong, I'm not gonna say anything.

After the presentation I went to the front and seeked a conversation with him. I also took the chance to show him my portfolio and ask him for a feedback. And now as many of know me, I'm gonna show off a bit

I'm the green guy and that is my portfolio in his hands.

 

[LaArtist]

^would love to hear his comments on your work..

 

[Deleted member 25]

Yeah and maybe an odd question but did you speak in english or german guys ? Any slight idea on the real reasons of his departure Hussein ?

 

[7saen]

^would love to hear his comments on your work..

it's freakin hard to impress him. He thought the work was nice. he liked the sketching style and some ideas.. he actually liked the space ships stuff I did (it's what he's pointing at in the 2nd pic) and said that people were laughing at him when he used to do such stuff during his studies
I asked him for a signature (yes! I'm a fan!) He gave me one, and wrote on the cover of my portfolio:"Ok.. I've seen it and enjoyed it"

Yeah and maybe an odd question but did you speak in english or german guys ? Any slight idea on the real reasons of his departure Hussein ?

well he was speaking Banglish
This is an existing term amongst designers and journalists to describe the confusing (but not confused!) mixture of English and German he talks!
I was so nervous when I talked to him that forgot that he understands German perfectly so I was talking English most of the time, while he responded in Banglish!

The reasons he gave for his departure were the same you can find above in EnI's post.

 

[LaArtist]

Lol

Did you bring your MB scetches?

 

[EnI]

Yes, Chris is epic.

I can see Anders (Warming) going Bangle way - at least when it comes to communication, language & visions. Although Anders definitely posses no such charisma as Chris do. Adrian is a different material though. Although sharing visions with Chris, he has a completely different style than Bangle ... I don't know. But I found Adrian a bit snobbish - perhaps because he feels a bit distant & cold when you talk to him. Chris especially was on the other hand very accessible & warm.

And if Chris was more into art, Adrian is much more into fashion.

What I'm not sure is how good Adrian will be at defending the designs in front of the Board. Since Bangle was crazy, and was able to defend even the most crazy design. While Adrian is much more into dialog - and therefore more submissive to suggestions. I hope the Borad won't take advantage of that.

We shall see ...


PS: Hussein, I'm glad you've talked to Chris ... He is always such an entertainer. And a great guy to talk to - since he is very intellectual, and many do not understand his concepts & visions - although he is persistent, and is able to describe his thoughts in a way even a 6-year old would understand them.

 

[klier]

I need to meet Adrian van Hooydonk now, and have a little chat with him in Dutch

 

[Giannis]

I'd love to be able to see CB talking about design. I hope I'll be able to attend his lectures at Scuola Politecnica di Design at Milan in September, but I really doubt, since my work and studies don't leave any free time at all. I envy you Hussein

PS. EnI have you met CB or AvH?

 

[7saen]

PS. EnI have you met CB or AvH?

That would interest me too, because Adrian is anything but "snobbish"

 

[Centurion]

That would interest me too, because Adrian is anything but "snobbish"

I can sure handle that. Hopefully I'll have an encounter with him at the Frankfurt auto show. My love and enthusiasm for design is beyond measurability, and I look forward to attending an autoshow which will hopefully be attended by the finest designers in the auto industry. I'm keen on talking to Fisker and Bangle off course.

 

[EnI]

That would interest me too, because Adrian is anything but "snobbish"

As I said: I found him a bit distant. A bit cold. Something I usually associate with snobbish people. Although he is very simple indeed.
But I found Chris much warmer & approachable.
But it's hard to judge a person from a single encounter only.



Of course, H, you've had longer relationship with Adrian so you definitely know him better.

Perhaps he just wasn't in the mood on that particular day.

Otherwise BMW staff is very accessible at autoshows. You just have to find the right moment where there's no too much "traffic" around them.

 

[SCOTT27]

I would not consider Adrian Van Hooydunk to be snobbish , but at motorshows the pace is relentless as soon as the press conference is over it's like opening the lion enclosure gate.

But he is a lot more technical and clinical in his approach when discussing BMW design , with Chris Bangle a discussion would be in usual Chris speak with added emphasis where AVH talks about a design element he describes where it starts and where it stops , Chris just does the hand signals "woosh" down the side of the car . Which is good because he knows you will be paying attention.

The key important is that you understand what the designer is trying to communicate that is why there is a lot more emphasis in BMW's marketing regarding the latest designs because in the past we never really communicated our ideas just leaving it for you to decipher yourself what the intention was. So now we talk about the design , take you to the studio , describe elements and give the viewer a sort of personal introduction so they know what they are going into.