With a renewed focus on designing, building and selling the world's best vehicles, General Motors today announced the opening of the Seoul Advanced Design Studio in the heart of the 2010 World Design Capital. The studio is based in the city's Gangnam area, which is considered not only the most exciting and stylish part of Korea's capital, but also one of the world's trendiest neighborhoods.
"Our car designers get inspiration from life and Gangnam is a place where people worship design, style and fashion," said Ed Welburn, GM Vice President of Global Design. "Our Korean designers will sample perfection every day surrounded by some of the top brands and fashion houses in the world and this ideal location will nurture their creative souls."
GM Daewoo President and CEO Mike Arcamone said that design will continue to be a key to the company's success. "Our award-winning Korean designers were responsible for the Chevrolet Cruze, Spark and yet to be launched Aveo (sold domestically as Lacetti Premiere, Matiz and Gentra)," said Arcamone. "Seoul Advanced Design Studio demonstrates GM's support of GM Daewoo, and in turn, our support for Seoul's year long initiative aimed at capitalizing on its World Design Capital status."
One of 10 GM global design centers and the design base for GM's global mini and small vehicles, the GM Daewoo Design Center has relocated its advanced design function to Seoul from its headquarters in Bupyeong, Incheon, in order to enhance its function and specialty.
Its location in Gangnam puts the Seoul Advanced Design Studio in the heart of the nation's center of culture, the arts, fashion and industry. It will enable the new organization to participate in the extensive series of design programs being carried out in Seoul, which succeeded Torino, Italy, as World Design Capital. Gangnam is one of Seoul's most affluent neighborhoods and a shopping mecca home to dozens of global and Korean brands, and hundreds of trendy clubs and restaurants and art galleries.
Thirty designers and other employees are based at the Seoul Advanced Design Studio. They specialize in both exterior and interior styling of global mini and small vehicles, research on trends in colors and materials, and advanced electronics, digital design, and studio engineering. Their work will help set the future design direction for GM Daewoo and General Motors.