Ken Okuyama

Ken Okuyama (1959-) is an automobile designer who worked for Pininfarina designing or supervising projects such as the Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari P4/5.web cite|url=http://www.newscenter.philips.com/About/article-14699.html|title=Ken Okuyama, creative director, Pininfarina S.p.A.|publisher=Philips|accessdate=2007-01-14] web cite|url=http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/ultimi/p4_5|title=Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina: A Dream Come True|accessdate=2007-01-14|publisher=Pininfarina] His given name is "Kiyoyuki Okuyama" (奥山清行) but goes by "Ken Okuyama" (ケン・オクヤマ) outside Japan. He was born in Yamagata City, Japan but now lives in Italy speaking Japanese, Italian and English fluently.

History

Okuyama graduated from the Art Center College of Design in 1986. For the next 3 years he was a visiting professor at Tohoku University of Art and Design as well as being Chief Designer for Honda's NSX project. In 1991 he returned to teach part time at the Art Center College of Design in California. Between 2000 and 2004 he was Chair of the Transportation Design Department at the College but in 2004 he was offered a job at Pininfarina.web cite|url=http://www.designtaxi.com/news.jsp?id=171&monthview=1&month=2&year=2004|title=Ken Okuyama returns to Pininfarina as Creative Director|accessdate=2006-01-14]

Ken Okuyama worked for General Motors and Porsche helping design the new generation Porsche 911 (aka 996) as well as the Boxster. Before moving to Pininfarina he worked for General Motors in the Advanced Concepts Center in California. During the first tenure at GM in the early 90's he was in charge of designing the Camaro and the C5 Corvette.

On 10 May, 2004 Ken Okuyama began work as Creative Director at Pininfarina. He had been working with Pininafarina before, supervising the design of the Enzo Ferrari. [web cite|url=http://www.car.co.nz/performance.asp?articleid=4364|title=Ferrari Enzo|accessdate=2007-01-14|publisher=Car.co.nz] As Creative Director Ken oversaw projects including the Ferrari 599, Mitsubishi Colt CZC, Maserati Birdcage 75th and Ferrari P4/5.web cite|url=http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/ultimi/coltCZC.html|title=Mitsubishi Colt CZC, Dynamic and Functional|accessdate=2007-01-14|publisher=Pininfarina] web cite|url=http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/ultimi/ferrari599.html|title=Ferrari and Pininfarina: The Story Continues|publisher=Pininfarina|accessdate=2007-01-14] [web cite|url=http://www.cardesignnews.com/site/home/whats_new/display/store4/item49796/|title=Ken Okuyama parts company with Pininfarina|publisher=Car Design News|accessdate=2007-01-14|date=2006-09-15]

In 2006 Okuyama left Pininfarina and set up his own design firm, Newton Design Lab. His current work includes humanoid robots and furniture. He is also known for the design of a small robot called Nuvo.

In late 2007 , Okuyama launched the "Ken Okuyama Eyes collection", an eyewear collection manufactured in Japan.

In 2008, Ken Okuyama presented his first concept car under his own name - the K.O. 7 Spider, a carbon fiber and unpainted aluminum two-seater. The K.O. 7 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008. Ken Okuyama has cooperated with the luxury watch producer TAG Heuer, having fitted the TAG Heuer Grand Carrera at the dashboard of the car. The interior of the concept car was suggested by the design of the TAG Heuer watch.

In 2008, Ken Okuyama's design studio will produce the first 20 models of the K.O. 7 Spider, already pre-sold to an 'inner circle' of designer's fans. It will be followed by the production of 99 cars in 2009 and 99 more in 2010. [ [http://watches.infoniac.com/tag-heuer-grand-carrera-car-designers-muse.html Ken Okuyama's K.O. 7 Spider and TAG Heuer] ]

Awards

The following were awarded to either Ken Okuyama or a car he worked with others to design:
*The Pininfarina Metrocubo won "The Best Interior Design of the Year Award" in 1999
*The Ferrari Rossa, designed by Okuyama, won "The Best Concept Car of The Year" award in 2000
*The Maserati Birdcage 75th won the "Best Concept" prize at the Editors Choice Awards by Autoweekweb cite|url=http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2060210.016/country/ecf/Pininfarina/pininfarina-wins-louis-vuitton-classic-concept-award|title=Pininfarina Wins Louis Vuitton Classic Concept Award|publisher=World Car Fans|accessdate=2007-01-14|date=2006-10-02]
*The Maserati Birdcage 75th won the "Louis Vuitton Classic Concept Award" which Pininfarina gave to Okuyama

References

External links

* [http://www.kenokuyama.jp/ Ken Okuyama's website (Japanese)]
* [http://www.yamagatakoubou.jp/ yamagata koubou website]