Behind the Design: Volkswagen's Marco Pavone

VW’s Head of Exterior Design, Marco Pavone (left) has to work digitally. Photos: Volkswagen

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Volkswagen designers’ have been working even more frequently in the form of virtual reality, and business trips are no longer necessary. 

Marco Pavone used to be a frequent flyer. Spain, China, USA – hardly a month in which the Head of Exterior Design at the Volkswagen brand was not on the road. 

“For us, it was clear that important decisions are best-discussed face-to-face. Design thrives on the fact that you look at shapes from the same perspective and can demonstrate changes,” says Pavone. 

Then came Corona – and business trips were taboo. “At first it was a shock,” Pavone confesses.

But the shock has passed. In the meantime, the designers have learned to replace a large proportion of travel with online meetings. Existing technology has been improved. It is one of many examples that show how Volkswagen is becoming a more digital and sustainable company during the pandemic.

Marco Pavone said his international design teams must have online meetings.

Pavone describes one of his recent meetings as follows: Instead of going to the airport, he goes to the Wolfsburg Design Centre in the morning. Only a few colleagues await him in the large presentation hall – and an 18-metre LED wall. Participants from China and Brazil, who would otherwise have travelled to the meeting, are connected.

Pavone presents the virtual model of a new vehicle. 

He explains what his team has changed since the last meeting – and why. He can even show details in razor-sharp clarity on the video wall – almost like in a real car.

“We know we can trust the technology,” says Pavone.

The designers were helped by the fact that they had already digitised many work steps before the pandemic. One example is the use of data glasses, which designers, engineers, and other development partners use to work together in virtual reality. The demand for physical vehicle clay models had also fallen significantly even before Corona. 

The advantage: faster decisions and savings in the millions.

A large presentation hall at the Wolfsburg Design Centre has an 18-meter LED wall.

Now the designers are going one step further: the aim is to design a show car for a motor show next year for the first time using exclusively virtual means. Without an intermediate step via a clay model, the engineers will build the car directly from digital designs. 

“The 3D world almost feels like reality. We would never have thought this possible in the past,” says Pavone.

For many employees, the possibilities for digital collaboration are an asset. Like many departments, designers currently work predominantly from home and only meet at the workplace for special reasons. 

The designers want to use the expanded digital possibilities even after the pandemic. Would it be possible in the long term to do without such encounters altogether? Pavone shakes his head. 

“As good as the digital possibilities are – you can still overlook mistakes. Perfect design can only be created when we see the model outside in sunlight, in the real world. After all, the car will later be driving on real roads – and not on the screen.”

Article courtesy of Volkswagen Media