Former Bmw designer Chris Bangle goes to Samsung, wants to design gadgets

Korean consumer electronics company Samsung is said to be the new home of former BMW designer Chris Bangle. He is most recognized for his work on the E65 7-Series but claims credit for the styling of many recent models from BMW such as the original X5 crossover, E90/E92 3-Series, the Z4 Roadster, and the new 1-Series. The E65 was criticized for its bulbous styling and “Bangle Butt” trunk but it had become BMW’s
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Steve - 3/17/2011 10:36:19 AM

-2 Boost

Before armchair critics start poking fun at Mr. Bangle, speculating that his tablet designs will have awkardly large and mistyled access panels, I feel it needs to be said that Bangle and his team were responsible for creating some of the most beautiful cars BMW has ever made, and these are *before* the era of "Flame Surface". The timeless Z8 comes to mind.

Bangle's greatest sins were that he delivered upon what was asked of him by the BMW Ivory Tower: His team produced three designes, one conservative, one moderate, and one pushing the envelope of styling. The Ivory Tower chose the "pushing it" designs and put it into production. And the world then came to know the 2002 model year 7 series, with its gagly hodge-podge of design elements (e.g., a trunk that looked like it belonged to another car, complete with lights that didn't match the rest of the car). The ugly duckling 5 followed, as did the weirdly creased Z4. Yuck and more yuck.

Bangle's second sin was that he was an outstanding BMW employee. Rather than distancing himself from what was so obviously a bad decision by those above him, he went on a public campaign to support it, towing the BMW line, and thereby becoming a magnet for the fall-out of the Ivory Tower's style decisions. In short, Bangle became a scape-goat.

Just my two cents, for those who are interested.

Steve - 3/17/2011 2:32:37 PM

-1 Boost

grysko: Talk to any number of unemployed consultants who are cursed with "knowing" what's right ("*MY* way", the grysko approach), while their prospective clients hire someone else who "understands the customer". These unemployable guys at least have their principles intact ;-)

The BMW Ivory Tower was very pleased with what Bangle delivered. They were *looking* for something that "Flame Surface" fulfilled nicely. If not Bangle, then someone else who could "do the job." It was the BMW Ivory Tower that gave us Flame Surface. All the other players were incidental.

Give me a call when you become chief designer at BMW. I'd like to be the first to congratulate you, buy you dinner, while I eat crow.

B7FAN - 3/17/2011 2:43:27 PM

+1 Boost

WOW my favorite car designer going to my favorite cell phone manufacturing company to design phones and tablets I cant wait to see what he can produce. that was a nice move by samsung

t_bone - 3/17/2011 8:00:59 PM

+1 Boost

"The Z8 was the production variant of the 1997 Z07 concept car, which was designed by HENRIK FISKER at BMW's DesignworksUSA in Southern California."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z8

uhn2000 - 3/17/2011 12:36:55 PM

+1 Boost

Bangle is incredible and really took BMW to new heights. Great find for Samsung..

P.S. Nice write up Steve..

ECU2011 - 3/17/2011 1:26:57 PM

-1 Boost

Look out Apple

internationalmanofmystery - 3/17/2011 3:34:07 PM

+2 Boost

"Look out Apple"

Yeah, over Steve Jobs' dead body..oh, never mind! Sorry, Steve. Here's to your health!

kussimek - 3/17/2011 6:10:38 PM

0 Boost

I think bangles era was bmws nicest designs ever! Every car that BMW designs now looks like the 3 series. I can't tell the diff between the 3 and 5 . Also how the new grille sticks out is very ugly to me. Still the best driving german car to me but Benz and Audi have better designs now.