Aamer Mahmud

Professional experience of over 20 years as an Automotive Designer from 3 major European Design Studios of Peugeot SA (France), Mercedes-Benz AG (Germany) and SAAB/GM Automobile AB (Sweden).

Studied industrial design at Napier University, Edinburgh and subsequently Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art, London with a scholarship from Peugeot.

After graduating in 1983 went to Paris and worked in the production and advanced design studios of Peugeot. Produced the initial interior and exterior concept ideas for the XM launched in 1989. After 5 years moved to Mercedes-Benz in 1988 and worked on the initial conceptual and detail production design on most of the product range. The highlight was to be involved on 2 brand new cars in the product portfolio, the SLK (1996) and A Class (1997). With the A Class designed and developed the interior for production.

In 1997 was asked to join Saab design in Sweden as Head of Interior Design and was later promoted to Chief Designer with overall responsibility for the exterior and interior design for the 9³ car line. This culminated in the following production cars 9³ Sport Sedan (2002), 9³ Cabriolet (2003) and 9³ Sport Kombi (2005).

Beginning of 2004 returned to the UK as a consultant designer, mainly working for clients in the USA, and pursued a career in teaching design. From 2005 until 2007 lecturer at Bradford University for the Automotive Design Technology and Product Design honours courses, until my present appointment at Coventry University in September 2007 as Course Tutor for the MA Automotive Design course. Research interest in the areas of pedagogy (vehicle design history, creativity and processes focus), digital v’s analogue visualisation techniques. SAIC Global Design Challenge juror. Current role: Course Director Automotive Design and Associate Professor in Automotive Design.