the engine - as well as making it smaller allows for greater possibilities in terms of creating new design shapes. Nagano says there are three aspects that foster change in car design.Ĭhanging the position of the powertrain unit - i.e. Designers are given a lot of flexibility to think creatively but they are also responsible for business successes. Nagano says design is fundamental to Nissan's business. That was one of the things that we should know." He says: "It's not just the cultural attitudes from people but also the environment in which they live that has an impact on the design. In addition to different cultural outlooks he says understanding how different environments impact on design was fundamental to his whole perception of design. Nagano said one of his most significant memories was the culture shock of returning to Japan after studying in California. He described this project as challenging but satisfying because it created an entirely new segment at Nissan. It was the most important project for me as a designer."Īs Product Chief Designer he was also involved in the concept and design of the Nissan Murano and Infiniti FX45 - the first crossover vehicles from the Nissan Group. I still remember that project because that was what changed my career. He says: "I drew the sketches and made the scale model and did the working from scratch. Nagano cites the success of the 2-door coupe Surbia model S13 - a Nissan coupé which was particularly popular in Japan and the US - as one of the turning points of his career. During more than 30 years at Nissan he has overseen and been involved in the concept and design of in excess of 40 models. Nagano now divides his time between Yokohama, Japan and London, UK. He was appointed to his current role as vice president of NDE in April 2013. In 2004, after spending 3 years as general manager of Nissan's Exploratory Design Department in Japan he became Infiniti's first design director, supervising the design of second generation Infiniti models including the FX, EX, G Sedan and G Coupe. Three years later he returned to Japan as project chief designer. He returned to Japan as a designer for Nissan in 1987 before being sent to Munich, Germany in 1994 as chief designer at NDE, where it was then based. In 1986 he was sent by Nissan to study for a year at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. As a young man in Japan car designers were the "heroes of design" and while his best friend went on to work for Toyota, Nagano admired Nissan. His father was an art teacher and his uncle was a painter so he always had an appreciation for art and design. Nagano joined Nissan in the design department in 1980 immediately after graduating from Kyushu Institute of Design. His regular travel around the world means he is constantly inspired by other cultures which impact upon his designs. A keen artist and calligrapher Nagano constantly finds inspiration in nature and his surroundings to fuel his design work with Nissan. He is one of the few executives who will see cars from concept through to completion. In addition to carrying out his managerial duties Nagano takes time to talk to the designers at NDE and involve himself in design projects, a role which he sees as very important. Nagano describes the relationship between the different design centres as one of "friendly competition". The design work carried out at NDE is a combination of modification of models from either the Global Design Centre in Japan or Nissan Design America for the European market but also the design of completely new models. He spends one third of his time in the UK for Nissan Design Europe (NDE) and sees his role as being responsible for the total creativity of the designers based at their Paddington design centre both in terms of quality and making sure that it meets the required direction of the project. He also is Executive Design Director for Nissan brands Datsun and LCV (a Japan-based role) as well as General Manager of Design Strategy at Nissan Design Centre in Japan. As Vice President for Nissan Design Europe (NDE), based in London, he is responsible for running the design centre managing the creativity and the organisation's operations. Nagano has three global roles within Nissan. Availability: phone interviews, radio, TV.
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