ABSTRACT
Designers play a key part in the process of creating new models in the car industry. The designer's role in this process is one of visualizing the product concepts, and ensuring that the design has a good appearance. The importance of designer's contribution is increasing with the growing dependence on platform sharing. Harley Earl was at the centre of the development of the American approach to car design. The world of car design has become more international, and approaches have converged to incorporate elements in both traditions. The Discovery 3 was an entirely new design, which did not share a single component with its predecessor. The overall management of the design process for the introduction of the new model was in the hands of design director Geoff Upex. It is interesting to compare the design process employed by the Land Rover design team in the development of the Discovery, with that employed subsequently in the design of the Freelander.
