Best known as a chief designer of BMW Group, the American automobile designer is now in Korea as a design consultant for Samsung Electronics. He became famous for his controversial updates of the BMW 7 Series E65 in 2002. Despite much criticism of his revolutionary designs, the E65 generation became the best selling 7-Series of all time.

Bangle moved to West Germany after studying design in California to join Opel and was promoted to deputy head of the Interior Design Studio in 1983. He moved to Fiat in 1985 to head the company’s exterior studio. Bangle joined BMW in 1992 and became the first American to assume the role of design director at BMW.

After 28 years as an automobile designer, Bangle left the industry for his own firm called Chris Bangle and Associates based in Italy.

Bangle’s most recent high profile work is GINA with BMW, a concept car with stretchable fabric that changes shape according to temperature and speed.


Karim Rashid

One of the most prolific designers of all time, Karim Rashid has been an inspiration to many in the field with his more than 3000 products.

His strong identity is represented through his style which features goggle-like glasses and pink-white outfits. Most of the clients who have been working with Rashid are widely known brands such as Coca Cola, Prada, Citi Bank, and Audi. The industries vary as the designer encompasses different forms of design from packaging to space designs.

Rashid is famous in Korea for his production of Paris Baguette’s “Eau bottle” and Hyundai Credit Card’s “The Black.” His ingenious productions have surprised many users with their sleek and useful designs.

Rashid holds honorary doctorates for Ontario college of Art & Design and Corcoran College of Art & Design. His office is located in New York and his clients in Korea include Samsung, Arena, Audi, and Hanwha.


Simon Anholt

Simon Anholt is a British independent policy adviser, or a “national brand designer,” who builds the reputation of countries based on their unique attributes.

His definition of design may differ from the usual concept but its purpose is the same: grabbing people’s interest.

Coining the term “national brand” in 1996, Anholt suggested that every nation should design its future in a strategic and political manner to gain more power in global perception.

Anholt, who also worked with multilateral institutions such as NATO, the World Bank, and the European Union, helped improve more than 40 countries reputations and images.

The Korea Tourism Organization collaborated with Anholt in 2007 to find out ways to attract more foreign tourists to Seoul, in which the end product was “Korea, Sparkling,” the first national tourism brand in 2007.

He will be suggesting ways for the nation to become more attractive and approachable to foreign countries in overall sectors.

Martin Lindstrom

Martin Lindstrom is arguably the biggest name in the field of branding and neuro-marketing. The author of bestsellers ― “Buyology” (2008) and “BRAND sense” (2005) ― is the founder of branding organizations including Buyology Inc., and a former advertising executive at BBDO.

His theories focus on the importance of creative forces in the marketing world and how such forces will increasingly play a major role in determining what consumers will buy.

Lindstrom is a 2008 recipient of TIME Magazine’s “World’s 100 Most Influential People” and an adviser to numerous Fortune 100 companies including McDonald’s Corp., American Express, Microsoft Corporation, The Walt Disney Company and GlaxoSmithKline.

His latest book, “Brandwashed,” delves into the lengths companies will go to target consumers and how such efforts have influenced consumer behavior.

Kim Young-se

President of Inno Design Kim Young-se will be moderating a panel discussion on talks on industrial design on the second day of the iDEA Herald Design Forum.

The Korean industrial designer has won a swathe of international awards for numerous products including mobile phones from LG and Samsung, concept zippers to Barbie-branded MP3 players.

Often said to have placed Korean design at the center of global consumer tech scene, Inno Design chief Kim has won the gold, silver, and bronze IDEA awards.

After establishing Inno Design U.S. in Silicon Valley, California in 1986, the Inno Design president has been working as a design consultant in Korea and the United States. His company opened branches in Beijing, China, and Tokyo, Japan, and was honored for “World Top 10 Design Company’ by Nikkey BP in 2009.

(cynthiak@heraldcorp.com)
(monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)