DesignworksUSA is an industrial design company based in California, United States. Established independently in 1972 by Charles Pelly, it was acquired by BMW in 1995. Now led by Verena Kloos with a staff of over 150, it provides design strategy, premium design development, and brand communication for companies including Microsoft. As of December 1, 2009, Laurenz Schaffer, will take over as president, and Kloos will move to BMW's Munich studio.[1]
Founded in 1972 in Malibu Canyon, early customers included Hyster and the Otis Elevator Company. In 1978, the company expanded and moved to Van Nuys, and set up its first sister studio, D2, in Detroit. In 1986, because of its extensive knowledge in seating design and ergonomic development, DesignworksUSA received its first project, the BMW 850 seat. In the same year, the company moved to Agoura. In 1988, DesignworksUSA moved to Newbury Park, and began designing for Nokia and Siemens.
In 1991 BMW acquired a large percentage of the company, and DesignworksUSA started its first car exterior design project for the 1993 BMW 3 Series (E36). In May 1995 BMW AG purchased the remaining percentage of DesignworksUSA. In celebration, artist David Hockney painted Art Car in the studio. In 1998 DesignworksUSA opened an office in Munich, and in 1999, Henrik Fisker was named President. As a result, the company acquired work from Compaq and Adidas.
Adrian van Hooydonk became director, and in 2002 DesignworksUSA opened its state of the art studio. In January 2006, the company opened a new branch studio in Singapore.
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