Anyone ever wonder on the usefulness of the opinions gathered at styling clinics ?

Here's an interesting story:

http://www.detnews.com/2004/insiders...side-39101.htm

 

the question is, why are styling clinics even needed??? the very people who are designing and engineering cars within the companies, the most qualified of all to have opinions on what's what, should know what would be "good" or "useful" or "bad" or they shouldn't be getting payed for what they do. I realise the problem might be office politics. Actually I think that might be it. The bean counters don't see anything except the bottom line and the engineers don't ever have a position high up enough on the chain to make thier opinions count.

the true test of whether a product is "good" is when people who have had a hand in making it actually PREFER it over a competing one based on its qualities.

if a GM big wig drives into office in a BMW 7 series or a Mercedes, what does that say about the products of the company he works for?

 

I think clinics have there place.....but sometimes I wonder, just how useful the input of unknowledgeable people is on future products. I mean...isn't it better to have knowledgeable industry insiders lead the way?

Even on this forum, where we are a handful of focused enthusiasts, who come here....specifically...to talk future Camaros......I'd feel uncomfortable with some of us giving input on future products.

 

Althought I've never been involved in one, I've always viewed them as a barometer of opinion rather than dictating direction.

Like this forum, there are those who will be pissed at the world if the 5th gen isn't a clone of a '69, just as others of us would be pissed if it was that (I would be the latter).

I think the clinics are good to throw new ideas at people to see how they react to something they've never seen.

 

You cannot teach style or teach someone to have an eye, you either have it or you don't.

It's like race car drivers, yeah you can teach somebody to drive well, but very few people possess the ability to actually feel what the car is doing and balance it on the edge at all times, maybe its because they've been doing it since they were in diapers, but its something you cannot teach.

 

I dont have much problem with them being used as a "I like it" or "I dont like it" type of thing... but I don't know that I'd take specifdic styling directions from the attendees.

Pretty much put something in front of people and ask them if they like or or not... if they do, great. if they don't... go back to the drawing board.

 

Also, the attendees at such clinics have to make decisions on future styling elements which may not even be in vogue for several years. Don't you artificially sway your findings toward older or more conservative styling....styling the attendee feels comfortable with TODAY.....not four years from now.

I give you exhibit A....the '04 Malibu. Apparently, it looks the way it does, mainly from focus group input.

Another thing. We have a segment on this board that isn't too picky about styling, or quality, or sophistication, or really anything other than a Camaro ought to be really cheap and fast.

Can you imagine if a bunch of those guys ended up at a clinic?

 

That's where the Aztek came from

 

All excellent points. Especially one in particular.

After seeing some of the weird designs coming out of Toyota, the OK but not great looking new Grand Prix, and the Ford Bronco concept (and there are plenty others), I think designers need some way to keep things in check.

The chassis engineers actually do have a pretty high position since they have to make a design usable & conform with safety and duribility (ie: cooling, packinging, etc...) standards. They actually are the ones that can completly change a vehicles proportions and looks over the original design.

I feel the problem isn't with the clinics themselves, but who they pick to go to them, and who they actually choose to listen to. Pick up any dipstick just because they happen to own that particular car, then give their opinion the same weight as say someone who has owned a few vehicles of that particular market isn't the smartest play IMHO.

Better to choose someone who has owned multiple sporty cars, or someone who has owned at least a couple of minivans, or someone who has had at least a couple of mid sized sedans for those related markets.

 

Maybe the automakers should pick their attendees using an application process.
It should be an open call to anyone who is qualified. Anybody and everybody could apply, but each applicant would go thru a sort of interview process. They automakers would look thru their applications, see who's initially qualified, If that pans out, then they would have to be interviewed. If the automaker likes what they see, they add that person to the list. When a clinic is needed, these people would be called up and asked to attend.
There would be many people in the pool, to make sure there would be enough people to go around in case some couldn't make it.

There would be 2 major benefits to this method.

1) The people in the pool would be qualified to be making automotive type decisions.

2) They actually WANT to be there.


The types of people that should be allowed in the pool would be artists, stylists, designers, engineers, and probably some owners of the types of vehicles being critiqued.