CHRONEVO has had the pleasure of catching up with Tony Hunter. Tony is a well recognised automotive designer, having spent his career with companies such as Rover, BMW, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover. His work has graced the silver screen, and many of us have obviously enjoyed his interior and exterior designs, sitting in them daily whilst traveling to work in our own cars, or partaking of some traveling adventures. Tony was raised the son of a British Military man, and his life traveling the globe has enhanced his cosmopolitan design style.
Cosmopolitan
Design
Style
We ask Tony more about his background and where his passion for motoring design has come from?
As I child I spent a lot of time sitting and drawing, much of it was simply copying everything around me, people, places, cars, and aircraft. As I got a little older I started being more choosy, the focus became things that represented freedom, mainly cars and aircraft but occasionally boats too, and I began not just copying but putting my own touches to them. By my early teens this had evolved into me making up my own vehicles, and at one point I actually considered specialising in aeronautical design but after skipping school to visit the degree course open day at Glasgow University I discovered to my dismay it was all engineering and maths, not just sketching planes! Then one day when I was 16 I read in Autocar magazine that there actually was a proper job that involved drawing and inventing cars…and my path was set! |
In late 2000 after completion of my design for the BMW MINI interior I was transferred across to Land Rover, where I got to work on some exciting film related projects which many will quite possibly have seen in movie theatres or on TV. I was involved with “Tomb Raider”, working on Defenders and some of the other cars for the film, and whilst seconded to Ford I worked on FAB1, Lady Penelope’s 6 wheeled flying pink limousine made for the “Thunderbirds” movie. That was immense fun and I worked very closely with the crews at Pinewood Studios to help build it.
I was involved
with
Tomb Raider
What was the greatest car you have owned?
I’ve been lucky enough to own quite a few great cars, but my 1969 E-type had to be a favourite. It was pretty old and battered, but I drove it daily for 9 months till it broke down and then spent 7 years restoring it to its original glory. The “E” is justifiably regarded as one of the most beautiful cars in the world, and I always loved the way it looked and sounded.
How do you feel when creating your designs?
I find the whole process of creation incredibly exciting, no matter what it is that I’m working on. There’s something amazing about being able to pull ideas out of the back of your head and then shepherd them into reality with sketches, models, and prototypes until this thing you imagined is sitting there in front of you on the street. I never get bored of it…and I can’t imagine ever stopping. I’ll happily work on any project because they all bring different challenges and lessons to learn, which then influence and help with other projects. Interesting you ask how I “feel” though because that’s usually my focus, the experience that I’m creating for the customer (though I generally approach problems as if the customer was me…how I’d feel on seeing or sitting in or using a particular piece of design). There’s a joy to be had in getting the snap of a curve or the blend of a surface just right or adding in a cheeky little detail that later will bring a smile to someone’s face when they notice it, and hopefully pass on some of the passion I felt in its creation. |
James has a most positive and illuminating view of the world, finding soul and animation in our ever-manufactured global environments.
A traveler by nature, James has grown his professional and diverse career in Supply Chain, Photo-journalism and Digital Marketing management by acquainting himself with different traditions and cultures of more than 35 countries around the world. Capturing memories, creating identities, and gaining great perspectives.
In addition, James takes on the recent challenge of founder and creator to push his internationally recognized freelance and corporate experiences into new and exciting times with the advent of Brand Command. A brand and marketing company recognizing the creative talents of others around the world and placing soul and emotion into the image of its clients.