SLIDESHOW
The unexpected side projects of famous car designers
Everybody is entitled to a day off. But what do car designers do when they’re not designing cars? The qualities and expertise needed to design cars lend themselves quite easily to many other objects, it turns out – and not just other four-wheeled metal ones. And some car designers even prefer their non-car work. So stick on your best polo-neck sweater and grab a macchiato, because we’re about to reveal all.
Giorgetto Giugiaro Watches
Giugiaro was born in 1938 and named Car Designer of the Century in 1999. The Lotus Esprit, Mk1 Volkswagen Golf and Mk1 Fiat Panda are three of his most famous car designs. As well as designing firearms, Giugiaro also turned his hand to watches. In the early 1980s, Seiko asked him to design a collection of new watches for young motorcyclists and car drivers. The Seiko Speedmaster (pictured) was worn by Sigourney Weaver’s character in the 1986 film Aliens. Giugiaro even designed a new shape of pasta called Marille in 1983 and later said he was more famous for that than his cars. He has also designed SLR cameras for Nikon and trucks for Scania and was involved in the crafting of the organ in Lausanne Cathedral.