RPO83

For 28-year-old designer, Nick Hogios, the new XR Falcon represents a landmark achievement in a relatively short, but illustrious, career.
As a promising young Sydney designer, he caught the eye of Ford management when he won the inaugural Ford/Wheels Young Designer of the Year award, announced at the Sydney Motor Show in October 1998.

Six months later, the talented stylist from Caringbah in Sydney was offered a position in Ford’s Broadmeadows Design Studio.

“Since about the age of six, I’ve wanted to work in a studio like this,” he said.

Nick says his experience in industrial design had initially attracted Ford.

“Ford is increasingly looking to designers from non-automotive fields to liven up the mix in the studio. I fitted that category as I’ve worked on a wide range of products, from toys to bikes - everything, including the kitchen sink,” he said.

Hogios graduated with a Bachelor of Industrial Design (Class 1 Honours) from the University of NSW in 1995 and worked initially in a leading industrial design con******cy, Nielsen Design Associates.

Automotive design experience included concept design for leading aftermarket supplier, Roman Autotek, and Wayne Gardner Racing. He also taught industrial design students at UNSW in design and drawing only two years after graduating himself.

At Ford, he has worked on both interior and exterior design. He was responsible for designing the striking colour scheme of Craig Lowndes’ 00 Motorsport Falcon, dubbed the green-eyed monster.

The M-One-11 Escape was another highlight, starring at the 2001 Sydney Motor Show. The open-topped concept based on the Ford Escape blended the latest fashion trends with the latest in automotive style.

The XR Falcon is Nick’s first production exterior design.

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*Retired.