From handbags to winches: A designer’s unexpected sources of inspiration

Unmatched attention to detail provides Nissan and INFINITI customers a seamless, comfortable experience

In a sea of luxury SUVs, what makes a flagship vehicle stand out? Tom Hu, a senior interior designer on the all-new INFINITI QX80 team, says that in a large vehicle, the little things matter most.

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In a sea of luxury SUVs, what makes a flagship vehicle stand out? Tom Hu, a senior interior designer on the all-new INFINITI QX80 team, says that in a large vehicle, the little things matter most. “There are fine details throughout that provide a high sense of Japanese craftsmanship,” he said. (Photo: Business Wire)

“There are fine details throughout that provide a high sense of Japanese craftsmanship,” he said.

Hu joined Nissan Design America in San Diego after graduating from the renowned ArtCenter College of Design in nearby Pasadena in 2017. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed using subtle visual cues to enhance the driver’s experience.

This is especially true in QX80, whose interior design concept was created by Hu. He pointed to one feature in particular: a large swath of leather-appointed trim on the right side of the dashboard, in front of the passenger seat.

“It’s definitely my favorite part of the design,” Hu said.

The trim’s plush, soft appearance underscores the luxuriousness of the vehicle. It was inspired by designer handbags, and its theme is repeated throughout QX80 – such as on the doors and center console trim.

“It’s kind of like writing an essay,” Hu explained. “You have a thesis, and with every paragraph, you’re writing toward that thesis – reinforcing that same topic. When you have a unique gesture in design, you want to repeat it as much as possible to reinforce that message.”

Hu said this approach is encouraged by David Woodhouse, vice president of Nissan Design America, who asks designers to always think deeply about the human element of the design.

“I push my team to provide ‘deep thinking’ to their output,” Woodhouse said. “With the QX80 interior, Tom and Antonio immersed themselves in the luxury landscape outside of automotive and developed ideas that truly create a very special customer experience.”

From the world-first Front Wide View camera to dual 14.3-inch monolith-style displays, QX80 is brimming with technology. Hu said he and his colleagues prioritized making the tech a cohesive part of the interior.

“It’s a seamless environment. The large screens are there, but we wanted to them to feel like they’re integrated into the overall design.”

QX80 is the second time Hu’s interior design concept has been selected for a new vehicle. The first came less than a year after he joined Nissan, when his idea for the current-generation Frontier won the global competition within the company.

To bring the legendary truck into the modern era, Hu turned to a simple item for inspiration: a towing winch. He wanted the dashboard to have two distinct sections with a bold, horizontal and upright appearance.

“The overall theme was something that’s very strong and capable,” Hu said. “We tried to instill that into the instrument panel. It had a very protective feeling.”

When creating a new vehicle, designers and engineers are constantly collaborating to incorporate thousands of technical components while trying to preserve the original design.

“It was a challenge to get Frontier from the stage of the initial sketch to the final product that can be manufactured. Maintaining the horizontal nature and strength of the instrument panel was a priority,” he said.

The result: an instrument panel that is rugged yet refined – reflecting Frontier’s capability while incorporating clean design cues.

And although Hu’s concept provided a roadmap for the production vehicle, he credited his Nissan Design America colleagues for making the vision become a reality. He said Antonio Manzari, senior manager, interior design at Nissan Design America, brought the sketches to life.

“Antonio mentored me and guided me throughout the project,” Hu said.

While Frontier and QX80 are vastly different vehicles with equally different audiences, Hu said both design processes were a truly collaborative effort because he and his colleagues share the same passion.

“Everyone here loves design, cars or both. It’s inspiring,” he said. “It takes a team of very diverse thinkers and people with a wide variety of skillsets to make a design work.”

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