28 http://www.evoIndia.com | July 2019
In conversation with Oliver Stefani, Skoda’s chief designer, on the future of design, and the
challenges faced by designers adapting to local markets“We have a strong design DNA... so simple
and so global, that it works everywhere”
On the shape of EVs and autonomous
cars
“I believe that for some time the cars will not
change dramatically because the driver is not
changing, the human body is not changing so
the car has to fit this and also has to fit to
his thoughts, likes and what he thinks the car
should be. It will transform, that’s for sure, and it
will transform maybe in the next 10 years but the
thing, the physical shape of the body will stay
because the human being is not changing.
“We have much more freedom for the interior
of course, taking the steering wheel away but
also on the same hand we have other problems
then. You have to sit somewhere, maybe you do
not always want to sit forward or face forward.
You have to grab onto something, you have to
hold onto something, so security then plays a
much bigger role and of course ergonomics so
that you have a lot of space to move around in
th e c a r.”On designing EVs
“Basically it’s the same process. You just have
different challenges. Aerodynamics is one, and
sometimes it's the proportions. But this is what
our job is about – to meet the challenges and to
have the chance to be very creative and find a
nice solution.”Designing for a Global Market
“Well, first of all, we have a very strong design
DNA at Skoda and we think that this is so simple
and so global that it works everywhere and by
the way, we talk to your customers.
“It also depends how much possibilities have