Daniel Simon
Encyclopedia
Daniel Simon is a German concept designer and automotive futurist best known for his visionary book Cosmic Motors.
, Pforzheim).
(Wolfsburg) under the control of Hartmut Warkuss and designed cars for Seat
and Lamborghini
under the supervision of Walter de'Silva
. In 2001 he was contracted by the Volkswagen
Group's Advanced Studio (Design Center Europe, Sitges), where Simon also participated in the reincarnation of the Bugatti
brand.
In 2005 Simon left the Volkswagen Group
as a Senior Designer after completing a concept car supervision.
In 2005 he founded Daniel Simon Studio, his Berlin based design consultancy, that offers design services to major clients within the automotive industry as well as movie studios. In parallel Simon designs futuristic virtual vehicles for his brand Cosmic Motors. Simon is also part of the Hollywood Concept Design Group.
In 2007 his futurist vehicle designs were exclusively released by California-based publisher Design Studio Press. The book Cosmic Motors contains text in English and German. This 176 page design portfolio was also released in Japanese by Japanese publisher Born Digital. The book is supported with positive critics from design icons like Chris Bangle
, Freeman Thomas
, Syd Mead
and Ryan Church
.
In 2011, Simon was appointed to "create a dynamic new corporate image" for the Hispania Formula One
team's second season in Formula 1. He designed the livery of the team's F111
car, using red, black and white on the car and depicting a chequered flag on its side.
by the Disney Studios
.
Early life
Simon was raised in the north of Germany (Stralsund) and obtained his degree in Vehicle Design (University of applied scienceFachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
, Pforzheim).
Automotive career
He began his design career in 1999 at VolkswagenVolkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
(Wolfsburg) under the control of Hartmut Warkuss and designed cars for Seat
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
and Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
under the supervision of Walter de'Silva
Walter de'Silva
Walter Maria de'Silva is an Italian car designer who is currently Head of Volkswagen Group Design, and is currently responsible for oversight on the design of all Volkswagen Group passenger car brands including Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda as well as Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti...
. In 2001 he was contracted by the Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
Group's Advanced Studio (Design Center Europe, Sitges), where Simon also participated in the reincarnation of the Bugatti
Bugatti
Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti....
brand.
In 2005 Simon left the Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
as a Senior Designer after completing a concept car supervision.
In 2005 he founded Daniel Simon Studio, his Berlin based design consultancy, that offers design services to major clients within the automotive industry as well as movie studios. In parallel Simon designs futuristic virtual vehicles for his brand Cosmic Motors. Simon is also part of the Hollywood Concept Design Group.
In 2007 his futurist vehicle designs were exclusively released by California-based publisher Design Studio Press. The book Cosmic Motors contains text in English and German. This 176 page design portfolio was also released in Japanese by Japanese publisher Born Digital. The book is supported with positive critics from design icons like Chris Bangle
Chris Bangle
Christopher Edward "Chris" Bangle is an American automobile designer. Bangle is known best for his work as Chief of Design for BMW Group, where he was responsible for the BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce motor cars.- Biography :...
, Freeman Thomas
Freeman Thomas
Freeman Thomas, born , is an American automobile and industrial designer who has worked for Porsche, Volkswagen Group, DaimlerChrysler and Ford.-Background:...
, Syd Mead
Syd Mead
Sydney Jay Mead, commonly Syd Mead, is a "visual futurist" and concept artist. He is best known for his designs for science-fiction films such as Blade Runner, Aliens and Tron...
and Ryan Church
Ryan Church (concept artist)
Ryan Church is an American-born concept designer best known for his designs of vehicles, planets, and architectures as a concept design supervisor on George Lucas's Star Wars Episode II, Episode III, and of the tripods in Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds.He worked on James Cameron's Avatar ...
.
In 2011, Simon was appointed to "create a dynamic new corporate image" for the Hispania Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
team's second season in Formula 1. He designed the livery of the team's F111
Hispania F111
The Hispania F111 is a Formula One racing car developed for Hispania Racing. The car competed in the 2011 Formula One season and was the first Formula One car designed by the team as HRT's entry into the 2010 season, the F110, was designed by Dallara...
car, using red, black and white on the car and depicting a chequered flag on its side.
Film work
Simon is the vehicle designer on Tron: Legacy, the sequel to 1982's TronTron (film)
Tron is a 1982 American science fiction film written and directed by Steven Lisberger, and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It stars Jeff Bridges as the protagonist Kevin Flynn; Bruce Boxleitner in a dual role as security program Tron and Tron's "User", computer programmer Alan Bradley; Cindy...
by the Disney Studios
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
.
External links
- http://www.cosmic-motors.com/ - The official website
- http://www.danielsimon.com/ — Daniel Simon's personal art