Interior Motives Europe Designs for the Future

Turin, the cultural capital of Italy, will this year play host to senior designers and design managers from across the automotive industry and beyond at Interior Motives Europe 2008. The conference will be held from 17 - 19 June at the exclusive NH Santo Stefano Hotel.

Interior Motives Europe is an opportunity for car makers and interior suppliers to share their visions for the future. With automotive design constantly adapting to the demands of consumers' changing lifestyles, disciplines such as architecture, fashion and product design are becoming increasingly influential on interior styling. The car is, essentially, developing into an extension of consumers' homes - and carmakers are incorporating elements drawn from a variety of influences to help create interiors that appeal to a technology-obsessed generation.

Automotive executives from across the globe will gather to discuss topics including how iconic products of our time, such as the iPod, are influencing the future of automotive design. Further seminars will debate the move towards 'zero impact' vehicles and the challenges posed by designing for the world's emerging vehicle markets.

Design is constantly driving the automotive industry forward, with designers assuming a more central role in the automotive industry. Per-Olov Mattsson, director of design of gold sponsors, Design Communication commented: "Interior Motives Europe is a high-level meeting point for the international automotive design community to exchange ideas and identify some of the latest trends in what is a phenomenally fast-moving marketplace. An interactive approach is the future for the global design industry."

Jonathan Muirhead, chairman of silver sponsors Bridge of Weir Leather Company, noted: "Interior Motives Europe is an ideal environment to facilitate active discussion among some of the leading players in the field and provides executives with a global perspective on the automotive design arena. We are delighted to be supporting such a prestigious event in the industry's calendar."

Senior designers and technology experts from some of the world's most successful automotive manufacturers and technology suppliers will present at the event, including Franz von Holzhausen, director of design of Mazda North American Operations and Manuel Simas, managing director, WW Automotive Industry, Microsoft Corporation. Other speakers include Marco Tencone, style director of Lancia, Roberto Giolito, style director of Fiat and Jose Diaz de la Vega, chief designer, strategic design, Volvo Car Corporation.