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Christopher BangleAutomotive designer is a real sculptor
Date of Birth: 14.11.1956
Country:  USA |
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Christopher Bangle: The Automotive Designer and Sculptor
Christopher Edward Bangle, born on October 14, 1956, in Ravenna, Ohio, is an American automotive designer known for his work as the head of design at the "BMW Group," where he was responsible for the styling of BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce automobiles.
Early Life and Education
Bangle spent his childhood in Wausau, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin, majoring in humanities from 1975 to 1977. He then continued his studies at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in industrial design.
Career
Bangle began his career at Opel, where he was in charge of developing interiors for new models. He later moved to Fiat, working as the chief designer for the Fiat Coupe. Bangle's approach to automotive design is that of a true sculptor, considering cars as sculptures in our everyday life. According to him, "We don't build cars as a means of transportation from point A to point B. We build works of art."
In 1992, Bangle was invited to join BMW as the chief designer for the entire company. The first car he worked on was the BMW Z9 Gran Turismo, which sparked intense debates among automotive designers, with widely differing opinions. Throughout his career at BMW Group, he played a significant role in the creation of more than 22 models, each of which ignited discussions among brand enthusiasts and other designers. Bangle's influence significantly transformed the appearance of BMW vehicles and left a lasting impact on the entire automotive design industry. His competitors even acknowledge that Bangle initiated a new era of creating cars with unconventional body lines.
Bangle achieved tremendous success with his work on the BMW X5 crossover. However, conservative BMW fans did not embrace his style. With each new car, they found more and more details that, in their opinion, deviated from BMW traditions. The BMW 7 Series, presented in Frankfurt in 2001, was even considered by some as the worst car in the brand's history. Nonetheless, design experts unanimously claim that Bangle's work was ahead of its time. This explains why many people did not initially appreciate his cars. Despite the criticism, BMW eventually secured a leading position in the premium segment. Until February 2009, Bangle led the design studio without directly participating in the creation of new models, but rather setting the stylistic direction.
In February 2009, Christopher Bangle shocked the automotive community with his decision to leave BMW. He announced his departure from the automotive industry altogether, although he did not disclose his future plans. Bangle had revolutionized car design, and now he likely intends to make a similar impact in other manufacturing sectors.
