New Audi DNA

I'm a big Audi fan and I follow the brand very closely. I've own one now for about 7 years now. Over the past few years I have not been impressed on what they have been doing with the front ends, especially with the grills.

I saw the new A1 and took an immediate liking to it. I had no idea why at first but after taking a closer look I saw that they finally took a better approach with the grill itself.

With the A1(the one in red) the designers put a chamfer to the outer top corners to make a more dramatic and distinctive trapezoidal shape instead of rounding the corners off. I feel this shows a more progressive look for the brand. The question now is will this follow through to other model release.....?

What do you guys think?

Oh Oh....

When we were developing Ford's SHMI cluster, and this goes back to when I was working at Ford I was always asking to the question. Has NHTSA seen or approved any of this? What I'm talking about is the new in-car technology MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch from Ford Motor Company. These new technology's were to be Ford's big step into the world of SHMI components for in the car.

The issue today is that Roy LaHood, U.S. Transportation Secretary is concerned that all these new in-car technology's are too much for drivers. Well it looks like he is a little concerned. Click on the links to see what he has to say about this.

Detroit News
Autoblog

Scale Models

As I stated in my previous post I'm a big fan of people who are talented with their hands and the attention to detail they give. I came across this FLICKER account from my Audi Club that consists of some amazing scale model photography. Enjoy!

SCALE MODELS

Hand Lay Process

I am always in awe of craftsmanship especially when it comes to shoes. I came across this video on another blog and thought it would be great to re-post. Enjoy.

1YEAR - 5MONTHS - 27DAYS - 12HOURS - 15MINUTES

Well I'll be going from working on these



to working on this

That's right I'm back on the work force. I've accepted an offer at Navistar to become one off their new designer at their design studio in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I'm excited about the move and anticipating what I';ll be working on over there. I'll keep everyone updated on what's happening in Fort Wayne.

Finally..

Well the time has finally come that I can show some work. When I was at Ford I worked on Ford's new SHMI components. These new products were to be Ford's big jump into the electronic age. With the introduction of SYNC a few years back MyFordTouch is a piece of driver connect technology like SYNC, only much more advanced. In fact, you can think of MyFord as SYNC 2.0. Or, you could, if not for the fact that there already is a SYNC 2.0. Regardless, in-car technology can do myriad of things these days, and Ford thinks it's found a way to group and display all of a vehicle's functionality in a logical, intuitive and useful way. Sadly, Ford is internally calling this "simplexity," as in making the complex simple.

Below are a few blogs talking about the latest technology and I'll post some pics of my work on this as well.

Great job FORD!!

AUTOBLOG
LEFTLANE NEWS
AUTOMOBILE
PC WORLD
HUFFINGTON POST
TWITTER

The Decade That Was

The other night I closed out 2009 and the decade on a good note, with my friends surrounding me and a few drinks in my belly. This past decade has brought tragedy, growth, disappointment and excitement into my life all of which has helped me become who I am today.

Over this past decade I have lived through our generations version of Pearl Harbor. I watched on TV that morning a new reality in our lives. I don't think I will ever be able to go back to the way it was. I walked across a stage to accept my college degree, a feat that at one time in my life I don't think I was sever going to be able to do. But after a few years of hard work and perseverance I fulfilled that dream. I joined corporate America becoming a designer at Ford Motor Company. I saw the hardships of belonging to a corporate giant seeing many friends come and go and being the victim of corporate re-structuring as well and I saw a black man become our 44ht president.

I've appreciated how precess life really is and what are the more important things in life too, like friends and family. They are the ones that will always be your constant in these decades to come no matter what comes across your plate.

So here's to 2010 and beyond. May you bring it on.......