Do you want to learn how design changed an industry?
Cars were no longer viewed as simple methods of transportation. Manufacturers realized that they could evoke emotion, lifestyle desires, and status.
All thanks to one car design.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How Design Transformed The Automotive Industry
- The Car That Literally Started A Revolution In Automotive Manufacturing
- It’s not just the car-buying public that crave beautiful design. Billions of dollars are on the line.
- What modern car design means for the future.
How Design Transformed The Automotive Industry
Car design used to be frivolous. American auto manufacturers cared about one thing:
Building cars.
Simple cars. Cars that got you from point A to point B.
But they realized that there was an opportunity. Design could sell cars. Buyers were looking for stylists that understood their emotions.
That’s where this Revology Cars team comes into play. When the Mustang inventor created much more than just a car. Ford Dealers received 22,000 orders within one day of revealing the Mustang on April 17, 1964. They sold 418,812 Mustangs during its first year – a record that still stands today.
These are crazy numbers for just… a car.
Ford caught on to the emotions that design can inspire. While the rest of the car industry was creating boxy sedans, America’s top designers were busy revolutionizing the auto industry.
The Car That Literally Started A Revolution In Automotive Manufacturing
Imagine owning a sports car. But not just any sports car. You get to customize yours to fit your personality.
- Interior upgrades
- Performance enhancements
- Color options
These were the revolutionary ideas that came with the Mustang:
That’s right. Fast forward to 2024, and automakers are still selling nostalgic Mustang builds.
Buyers still fell in love with the Mustang’s styling.
It’s not just the car-buying public that craves beautiful design. Automakers do as well.
It’s not just the car-buying public that craves beautiful design. Billions of dollars are on the line.
The American automotive ecosystem drives $1.2 trillion into the United States’ economy annually. That’s 4.8% of the country’s GDP!
As you can imagine, design is a large part of that money.
A new study by Auto Innovators found that appearance was the most important factor when Mustang buyers were asked what influenced their buying decision in the 1960’s. In fact, over 80% of respondents said it was their number one criteria.
Our society still buys cars because of how they look. In fact, the US automotive market hit $4.8 billion in sales in 2024 and is projected to reach $13.8 BILLION by 2033.
The importance of design has never been greater.
Automakers are spending more money than ever on things like design studios, wind tunnels, and consumer study groups. Why? We’ll give you one guess.
Cars have to be designed around aerodynamics, safety, tech, and so much more.
Every single one of these factors has some type of design element attached to it that will trick a consumer into buying from one brand over another.
What modern car design means for the future.
Ok, so electric vehicles are set to change everything we know about automotive design. Without bulky engines up front, designers have more freedom with layouts than ever before.
But here’s the thing…
Autonomous driving tech, massive screens, and fancy sensors are anything but “cool”. How can automakers design a cool car when they have to fit all of this tech?
They can’t. So they’re asking themselves and designers one question:
How do we evoke emotion through design?
Electric vehicles are the future of the automotive industry. With automakers like Ford spending billions of dollars into these technologies, we’re about to see some serious design changes.
Wait. We forgot to mention Ford.
If you didn’t catch on before, Ford STILL sells Mustangs. They understand that modern car buyers want something different than what their parents drove.
Ford isn’t the only one who got it either.
Car manufacturers large and small are investing in designers to help lead them into this new era of car buying. Because chances are these EV designs will fall into one of two categories:
- Terrible designs that flop.
- Or groundbreaking designs that set trends for decades
You better believe I’m sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for these new designs to wow me.
The Design Legacy Lives On
Back to the Mustang.
The Mustang taught America and the auto industry some very valuable lessons.
Emotional connection is more important than raw function.
People don’t care about how fast your car can go. They buy cars that make them feel something.
Sell emotions and you’ll sell cars.
Customization is key.
Allowing buyers to create “their” Mustang truly revolutionized the industry. Modern car buyers want this same freedom.
Don’t be afraid to offer mass-customization.
Beauty is only skin deep.
A beautiful car that doesn’t drive well won’t sell. But make your car fun to drive, and people will forgive your flaws.
Stick these three lessons into the brain of your design team and watch sales skyrocket.
Did somebody say Tesla?
You can learn a lot about designing cars by looking at what disrupts an industry. Tesla didn’t build a better engine; they designed a better car.
Inside.
And out.
Modern car designers are learning this the hard way. Consumers are faced with so many options on new car lots that styling is what will sell your car.
Want proof? Look at hybrid sales. Gen Z isn’t buying trucks like their parents. They can’t identify with them on a stylists level. But give them something that strokes their ego and watches the sales pour in.
Car designers know this and money is being poured into designing cars that “speak” to consumers.
Keep The Design Legacy Strong
Great designers know this. Instilling a feeling or status into a car sells cars.
Sell lifestyles and you won’t just sell a car. You’ll sell dreams.
Isn’t that what everyone wants these days?
Don’t forget about function entirely though.
Remember how we said that beauty is only skin deep? If your cars don’t have enough “function”, then your beautifully designed car won’t sell.
The great ones find ways to blend intuitive style with cutting edge function. These are the cars that people line up for.
So what will the next revolutionary car be?
We may not have to wait long.
You’re sitting on a gold mine if you’re designing cars right now.
Companies are dumping billions of dollars into these tech, but no one knows how consumers will react to them.
And when they react, it will either make or break your company.
The great ones always found a way to design cars that their consumers fell in love with.
Will you be one of the greats?