Ford and the AIA identify common trends in automotive and architectural design

Ford Motor Company and the American Institute of Architects, or AIA, have come together to discuss how the two industries move in parallel, how to interpret trends they seem to share and how to learn one from the other. To that end they are setting up a panel called Design with a Conscience with the mission of identifying and analyzing social trends and influences in architectural and automotive design.The panel will have experts in car design and innovative San Francisco-based architects discussing the ways social trends inspire and influence both architecture and the automobile industry.“As a car designer, our goal is to create a car that has a timeless style and yet operates functionally the way the customer needs it to” said Freeman Thomas, director of strategic design at the Ford Motor Company. “A car is more than just a pragmatic choice, and it’s the design that makes a difference, creating an emotional connection with the customer”. The emotional connection customers feel comes from an instant, positive response to the design along with a sense of responsibility, Thomas said. “Consumers want more than something that just looks good – they also want to feel like they are doing the right thing when they make a purchase. The Ford Fusion Energi is a testament to that, combining unprecedented style with an outstanding sustainable resume” he said.