Nissan Asia and Oceania recently interviewed Wasaporn Sritulyachot , or Poy, about her career in the world of automotive design.
Ever wondered how they cars of the future will be designed? Nissan asked Wasaporn Sritulyachot, Color and Trim Designer at Nissan Regional Design Center in Bangkok about her inspirations and aspirations, dreams and dilemmas.
What is a ‘Color and Trim’ car designer?
I work on the design elements of the interior and exterior of range of Nissan cars for the Asia and Oceania region. I take care of color trends and car color planning.
Is red, just red?
No, I don’t think you can say a color is just a color. For example a red could have a highlight of orange, yellow or purple – which affects people’s feelings when they see it. One red might be sporty, one is modern, darker red gives a luxury feeling. It’s all psychology.
As a color designer, we have to know that color also reacts differently inside a showroom versus daylight and a sunny or overcast day. The shape of a car also looks different depending on where the light is, so car color is much more than just picking a simple palette. And it isn’t about the colors I like – it needs to express the car’s concept and the owners’ desire
You say that cars are a part of your destiny. What’s the story behind that?
The day I was born, instead of a regular gift on the birth of a baby – my grandparents gave my parents a classic car to celebrate! I know this isn’t unusual, but it means I have literally grown up with a classic car. My birth will always be linked to a car. It’s like my destiny. My parents still have the car.
The other funny thing is, when I was a child my parents decided to re-paint this car from beige to a bright copper color. It was my first experience of seeing a car change completely with just color, and it always stayed with me.
What’s the part of your job that is most interesting?
To design a car we need to constantly look at now and future. The designs we do now are usually in the market in three to five years and need to be trendy through the life cycle of a car. So in a way you need to see the future now. And it’s much more detailed than people expect.
The magic is in the details. For example the seat – it needs to be comfortable, look good, but be durable and be an impressive design that can be implemented easily. The most important thing is when a customer gets in the car, they must feel like it’s their space.
Tell us the craziest thing or place you get inspiration from?
I believe that the weirdest places can give you the coolest inspirations. One of my favorites is an old second-hand toy store here in Bangkok – it has all kinds of old toys, colors and ideas. It stimulates me every time.
Recently I was in an almost empty carpark. The sunset light made a random car become a crazy blue/orange and pink blend. People must have thought I was crazy taking pictures in an abandoned carpark. But it’s these small things that make you see differently, my every day inspirations.
What is your ultimate car, and why?
My best ‘car-love’ moment happened when I was 19. My boyfriend liked car racing and I went with him to one of the races. A Skyline C110 drove past me – I remember it vividly. I thought it was an older car but it looked so cool. The shape, the lines — It was truly a classic and today – it’s the exact car I keep in my mind when I’m at work.
For the full interview Nissan Asia & Oceania did with Wasaporn Sritulyachot click here.
