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Ian Callum in the Jaguar style center next to the prototype I-PACE, Page 11: F-PACE Jaguar model sketch detail by Ian Callum
the first 100% electric SUV Jaguar nominated World Car of the Year 2019

On our mood boards in the studio we often have pictures

of yachts, both motor yachts and sailing yachts, as a form

of inspiration.

Ian Callum, a main player on the world car design scene, encoun- advent of electric cars. However, these days the car design busi-
ters Protagonist to describe his design philosophy and choices ness is a hugely eclectic mix of different disciplines and it really
that brought about his success. From Ford to Aston Martin up to depends on what any individual wants to focus on. It could be ex-
becoming Director of Design Jaguar in 1999, Ian Callum’s career terior design, interior design, color and materials, or digitization.
speaks of the future, the avant-garde, and the creative process
that includes risks, aspirations, and great milestones. MM: How important are creative thinking and deter-
mined spirit in this profession?
Matteo Milaneschi: What has inspired you and influ- IC: The importance of creative thinking and determined
enced your work? spirit is absolutely essential. In fact, the whole idea of creativity in
Ian Callum: In the early days of my career, I was influenced modern society is completely essential these days. We are going
by other designers, particularly Italian designers like Giugia- through a period where problem-solving will become the number
ro and Pininfarina. Later on my influence came from my own one priority in so many people’s jobs and functions. After gener-
thought process and a notion to move my work forward from one ations of learning how to process and follow through in order, I
stage to the next and bettering it each time, rather than from out- think the time has come for people to start thinking out of the box
side influences. I’m inspired by artists, designers, and objects— more, absorbing different functions within one aspect at a time
something that makes me look twice, that I can admire, or enjoy. and therefore creating new ideas to resolve our current needs.
It might be anything from architecture to a photograph—even Without creativity and determination it’s not going to work—it’s
music. I’m looking for a point of view I want to capture, not to the very essence of what we do.
physically copy it, but to capture the ethos it stands for.
On our mood boards in the studio we often have pictures of MM: Can you talk about the process that goes into mak-
yachts, both motor yachts and sailing yachts, as a form of inspi- ing a luxury automobile?
ration. There is a sense of purity about a beautiful yacht that is IC: The process in actually generating a new car is fairly ge-
second to none and is something I can appreciate fully. They can neric, taking around four years. It involves hundreds of people and
be hugely inspiring when you get into the combination of func- many different functions, from the first sketch through to 3D mod-
tion, design, and details. eling and, of course, engineering every single component to work
as one. For a luxury car, this process would include more attention
MM: Can you give us an idea about the skills required to to detail and the opportunity to use more sophisticated methods
pursue design automobiles of the future? and materials. The presence of a luxury car is hugely important.
IC: The main skills are to be able to draw and think in three For me, it needs to have an essence of powerful simplicity and
dimensions. That is absolutely essential for any designer, but espe- presence. We can do this through stance and silhouette, paying
cially a car designer. A fundamental understanding of manufac- attention to the formal language to create something that looks
turing as well as some basic engineering of how cars are built is re- elegant but confident—essential for Jaguar. For instance, the XJ is
quired. For the future automotive world it would be advantageous a perfect example of these attributes and time has shown that the
to have skills and an understanding of physics, considering the aesthetic of luxury can last.

8 Cars Protagonist Protagonist Cars 9