THE PANELS

THE PANELS

We’re dedicating a whole day to exploring the future of the automotive design industry and community. Throughout the day, you will be able to choose from twelve expert-led panels that will offer insights into how your day as a designer, modeller, visualisation artist, or in any other capacity within an automotive design studio, might evolve in the years ahead. The Mobility Design Conference brings together renowned leaders and visionaries, mixes them with the core responsible for the day-to-day life of a studio, to discuss the latest innovations, trends and the future of mobility and beyond.

The complete line-up of speakers and moderators is almost fully revealed. Representing more than 20 OEMs from all over the world, they will provide the most comprehensive overview of the automotive design community and industry to date.

Main Stage

  • Welcome & Introduction from Martin Groschwald, CEO at Konzepthaus.

  • Description:

    As the industry transforms, the role of UX is increasingly questioned. While many studios have tried to integrate UX into the Design teams, very few have achieved a truly holistic Design department. So, where is UX Design heading within the automotive Design world? This panel delves into the possibilities that lie ahead.

    Stream: UX & Brand

    Moderator: Christian Eckert

    Speaker:

  • Description:

    Digitalisation is transforming every corner of design, and CMF is no exception. This panel dives into the future of the CMF process, exploring how digital tools will be reshaping processes, education, and roles – in both positive and challenging ways.

    Stream: CMF

    Moderator: Laura Burstein

    Speakers:

  • Partner Presentation: Pininfarina

    Speakers:

  • Description:

    For years, Europe has been looking to the US or China for experience innovations within the car sector. Yet, oftentimes, it seems to lag behind. Why is that? Get ready for globally experienced trailblazers to share their take on how these foreign markets are impacting the work of European designers.

    Stream: UX & Brand

    Moderator: Christopher Butt

    Speakers:

  • Description:

    AI isn’t the only disruptor of creative processes on the horizon. Explore the radical shifts in processes and manufacturing that will redefine the roles of industrialisation and modelling in the coming years.

    Stream: P&T & Creativity

    Moderator: Martin Groschwald

    Speaker:

  • This summer, the German-based creative studio Khalil Design ran a design competition to empower the next generation of designers to rethink how materials and products are used focusing on innovation, sustainability, and real-world impact.

    Join us for the big reveal of this year’s winners, celebrating outstanding future talents!

  • Goodbye & see you at the Designers Night at 7 PM!

  • Closing of the day

Red Stage

  • Description:

    Time pressure is the new normal, but how do we protect creative spaces and safeguard time for design ideas to grow in an increasingly fast-paced industry? This talk dives into practical strategies to optimise design time for better quality.

    Stream: P&T & Creativity

    Moderator: Martin Groschwald

    Speakers:

  • Description:

    80 percent of what makes a Design department run is rarely seen. Yet, the massive amount of support in the background is crucial. Get an insider view of the backbone of every Design department – from modellers, to viz artists, programme managers, and more.

    Stream: P&T & Creativity

    Moderator: Oliver Vogt

    Speakers:

  • Description:

    Two core pillars of automotive design, Experience and CMF, are starting to increasingly converge. In this session, industry renowned experts in both fields will take a behind-the-scenes look at how these disciplines – one fundamentally digitally driven, the other highly physical, yet both fuelled by experience and emotion – are evolving toward deeper collaboration, and what the future holds when two worlds become one.

    Stream: CMF

    Moderator: Laura Burstein

    Speakers:

  • Description:

    CMF Design is stepping out of the shadows. Once embedded within their Interior Departments, many studios are now elevating CMF to report directly to the Design Chief – a significant shift in its strategic importance. Industry trailblazers will examine why this change is happening, what’s holding others back, and what must evolve for CMF leadership to reach its full potential.

    Stream: CMF

    Moderator: Laura Burstein

    Speakers:

Blue Stage

  • Description:

    Gender and culture increasingly influence products and experiences. In a world where we are experiencing a male dominated industry and more local market products, Design Studios need to develop and integrate new thought processes to cater to a wider range of people. Expert speakers will share their takes on implementing a new, future-oriented and diverse perspective in Design.

    Stream: CMF

    Moderator: Laura Burstein

    Speakers:

    • Benjamin Nawka – Head of Design @ Daimler Truck Asia

    • Linda Meiby– Head of TRATON Group ID & HMI Design Operations @ TRATON

  • Description:

    Marketing and Design have long been debating who “owns” the brand. While the debate continues, more and more studios are pushing to own the creative direction. In this session, expect a deep-dive into what this shift means for the role of the Design studio, its responsibilities, and how it can – or should – be run.

    Stream: UX & Brand

    Moderator: Christopher Butt

    Speakers:

  • Partner Presentation: Ink Invent

    Speaker:

    • Paul Mijnen – CEO & Founder, Developer of the 3D Visibility Label @ Ink Invent BV

  • Description:

    With little to no plan moving into the future, many design studios face an extremely challenging few years ahead. This session tackles how to attract, develop, and retain the creative minds who will shape mobility today – and for years to come.

    Stream: P&T & Creativity

    Moderator: Ben Curwood

    Speakers:

  • Description:

    Porsche, Puma, Haribo – they're all iconic German brands. But what does it actually mean to be a "German brand"? This talk explores what defines being German globally, and how people perceive a German brand – beyond the automotive world.

    Stream: UX & Brand

    Moderator: Christopher Butt

    Speakers:

    • Heiko Desens – Vice President Creative Direction & Innovation @ PUMA SE 

    • Raphael Gielgen – Trendscout Future of Work Life & Learn @ Vitra

Streams

Colour, Materials & Finish

We have selected four CMF-focused panels that will have a significant impact on jobs, processes and developments in the near future.

User Experience & Brand

This stage will focus on the core topic of User Experience & Brand design. Although this topic has been widely discussed, it has yet to be fully implemented in modern design organisations.

Process, Tools & Creativity

No other area will evolve more than the operational and structural arrangements of a design studio in the coming years. In this stream, we will explore the four biggest areas of change, discuss how they will evolve, and consider how we need to adapt and what impact this will have on the studio in the coming years.

Moderators

  • Christian Eckert

    Chief Experience Officer, Founder
    NXT NXT

  • Ben Curwood

    Unit Leader Learning
    Konzepthaus

  • Christopher Butt

    Design Critic
    Freelance

  • Laura Burstein

    Design Journalist and Creative Strategist
    Freelance

  • Martin Groschwald

    CEO
    Konzepthaus

  • Oliver Vogt

    Partner
    Konzepthaus

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