- Expertise: Automobile design
- Availability: phone interviews, radio, TV
- Locations: Yokohama, Japan; London
- Languages spoken: Japanese, English
- DOB: 31-Aug-1957
Who is Koji Nagano?
Nagano has three global roles within Nissan. As Vice President for Nissan Design Europe (NDE), based in London, he is responsible for running the design centre managing the creativity and the organisation's operations. He also is Executive Design Director for Nissan brands Datsun and LCV (a Japan-based role) as well as General Manager of Design Strategy at Nissan Design Centre in Japan. He spends one third of his time in the UK for Nissan Design Europe (NDE) and sees his role as being responsible for the total creativity of the designers based at their Paddington design centre both in terms of quality and making sure that it meets the required direction of the project.
The design work carried out at NDE is a combination of modification of models from either the Global Design Centre in Japan or Nissan Design America for the European market but also the design of completely new models. Nagano describes the relationship between the different design centres as one of "friendly competition".
In addition to carrying out his managerial duties Nagano takes time to talk to the designers at NDE and involve himself in design projects, a role which he sees as very important. He is one of the few executives who will see cars from concept through to completion. A keen artist and calligrapher Nagano constantly finds inspiration in nature and his surroundings to fuel his design work with Nissan. His regular travel around the world means he is constantly inspired by other cultures which impact upon his designs.
Career History
Nagano joined Nissan in the design department in 1980 immediately after graduating from Kyushu Institute of Design. His father was an art teacher and his uncle was a painter so he always had an appreciation for art and design. As a young man in Japan car designers were the "heroes of design" and while his best friend went on to work for Toyota, Nagano admired Nissan.
In 1986 he was sent by Nissan to study for a year at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He returned to Japan as a designer for Nissan in 1987 before being sent to Munich, Germany in 1994 as chief designer at NDE, where it was then based. Three years later he returned to Japan as project chief designer. In 2004, after spending 3 years as general manager of Nissan's Exploratory Design Department in Japan he became Infiniti's first design director, supervising the design of second generation Infiniti models including the FX, EX, G Sedan and G Coupe. He was appointed to his current role as vice president of NDE in April 2013. Nagano now divides his time between Yokohama, Japan and London, UK. During more than 30 years at Nissan he has overseen and been involved in the concept and design of in excess of 40 models.
Achievements at Nissan
Nagano cites the success of the 2-door coupe Surbia model S13 - a Nissan coupé which was particularly popular in Japan and the US - as one of the turning points of his career. He says: "I drew the sketches and made the scale model and did the working from scratch. It became a hit globally. I still remember that project because that was what changed my career. It was the most important project for me as a designer."
As Product Chief Designer he was also involved in the concept and design of the Nissan Murano and Infiniti FX45 - the first crossover vehicles from the Nissan Group. He described this project as challenging but satisfying because it created an entirely new segment at Nissan.
Personal Memory
Nagano said one of his most significant memories was the culture shock of returning to Japan after studying in California. In addition to different cultural outlooks he says understanding how different environments impact on design was fundamental to his whole perception of design.
He says: "It's not just the cultural attitudes from people but also the environment in which they live that has an impact on the design. That was one of the things that we should know."
Why is Nissan Different
Nagano says design is fundamental to Nissan's business. Designers are given a lot of flexibility to think creatively but they are also responsible for business successes.
Future Predictions
Nagano says there are three aspects that foster change in car design.
Changing the position of the powertrain unit - i.e. the engine - as well as making it smaller allows for greater possibilities in terms of creating new design shapes. Meanwhile, every 30 years there is a change of the trend which challenges designers to think about what the consumer wants. Finally, safety regulations and tests always affect the flexibility of the design. As regulation around new technology evolves there will be greater freedom for designers in terms of the appearance of new vehicles.
Nagano says his ambition is to design something "very simple but still very elegant and compact." He adds: "The car is such a dreamy object. It should not be only functional. I would like to create the ultimate beauty in car design."
Education and Awards
- Attended Kyushu Institute of Design where he majored in industrial design 1976-1980
- Attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California 1986-87
In Koji Nagano's Personal Time
Nagano is a keen squash player who can sometimes be found on the golf course. He also still makes time to do water colour drawings and Chinese calligraphy. He is married to his wife, Ari.
Koji Nagano's Current Ride
In Japan he drives a Fuga (Infiniti M). His first car was a Nissan Skyline which he bought once he joined Nissan.
