Chris Bangle is appointed to DesignSingapore Council's Advisory Panel

The Singapore government has appointed the BMW Group's director of
design, Mr Christopher E. Bangle, to an International Advisory Panel
(IAP) for design. In this capacity, Mr Bangle is expected to advise on
how Singapore can develop its design and creative industries. This
includes providing a global perspective on the scenarios, trends and
challenges, advising on international best practices, proposing how
Singapore can leverage its strengths and address its weaknesses and
providing feedback on design and design promotion issues identified by
the DesignSingapore Council. Commenting on the appointment of Mr
Bangle, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Lee
Boon Yang said: "Although recognised for his bold expressions in
car design, Chris is also well versed in the broader genre of product
design. He is a world-class designer who dares to think differently,
and possesses a strong vision balanced by a practical understanding of
market forces. Chris' advice would be invaluable in advancing
Singapore's growth towards a creative, knowledge-based economy."
The DesignSingapore Council is part of the Ministry for Information,
Communications and the Arts. In its statement announcing the formation
of the IAP, the ministry explained that in pursuing its goals of
developing design excellence in Singapore and positioning Singapore as
an international design hub, it must actively engage in dialogue and
consult with both the local and international design community. Mr
Roland Krüger, Managing Director of BMW Asia Pte Ltd in Singapore
said: "The BMW Group is honoured and delighted to be given this
opportunity to contribute to Singapore. BMW cars are renown the world
over for its premium image, cutting-edge design and innovation, the BMW
Group through Mr Bangle will be an asset to the IAP." As part of
his visit to Singapore from Nov 4 to 5, 2004, Mr Bangle is holding a
dinner-talk with local CEOs about how to use design as a competitive
tool and a public lecture to students and young designers about the
future of design. Both events are organised by the DesignSingapore
Council and supported by BMW Asia Pte Ltd. In his capacity as the BMW
Group's Director of Design, Mr Bangle also oversees California-based
DesignworksUSA, a wholly owned subsidiary that is doing car, product
and communication design for the BMW Group as well as a broad range of
non-automotive design and consulting for external customers. Mr Bangle
is one of the prominent personalities appointed to the IAP. The other
members appointed thus far are: Mr Edmund Cheng (Chairman,
DesignSingapore Council); Mr. Steve Hayden (Vice-Chairman of Ogilvy
& Mather Worldwide); Mr. Toyo Ito (one of the world's most
innovative and influential architects); Mr. Toshiyuki Kita (architect,
industrial and furniture designer and author); Mr. Richard Seymour (one
of Europe's leading industrial/product designers). Christopher E.
Bangle Director of Design BMW Group Chris Bangle oversees a team of
over 250 people that are engaged in the design of BMW, Rolls-Royce and
MINI cars, as well as BMW motorcycles and lifestyle products. The BMW
Group also has a subsidiary in California called DesignworksUSA that is
doing car, product and communication design for the BMW Group as well
as a broad range of non-automotive design and consulting for external
customers. His team comprises of design engineers, artists, colour
experts, ergonomic specialists, materials scientists, clay modellers and
computer wizards. Over the last few years, Bangle has been the most
talked-about designer in the world, especially following the
introduction of the new BMW 7 Series in 2001 that ushered in a new
design language for BMW cars. A new surface language introduced in the
new BMW Z4 roadster followed the new sculptural forms seen in the 7
Series. These designs, together with Bangle's eloquent and passionate
discourses on modern design, shook up the normally conservative car
industry. BMW Group products have won awards from the Industrial
Designers Society of America (IDSA), the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of
Architecture and Design, Germany's iF International Forum Design and
red rot design award.