Steve Harper is a graduate of the Royal College of Art, London, in Automotive Design. He also is a qualified HND Automotive Engineer and has 30 years experience of working for all the major automotive manufacturers.

He has experience of working in many parts of the world including throughout Europe, plus, Sweden, Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia and China.

Defined as a ”Futurist Visionary”, he has also steered his own Design Consultancy SHADO to become a well respected company, which has been responsible for many exciting new concepts, as well as creating the practical solutions to achieve those concepts.

 

TODAY’s ROLE AT VOLVO CARS DESIGN STUDIO – GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN

As the Platform Chief Designer for all of the Current & Niche Vehicles within VOLVO PVS Design, his responsibility is to ensure the ’Red Thread’ of consistent VOLVO Strategic Design Language is maintained, throughout all of the Projects under his guidance.

The Chief Designer for Current Vehicles works within the Design Studio, alongside counterparts on the Exterior & Interior, Strategic Design and Colour, Graphics & Trim Departments. Together, under the guidance of the Design Director, to create a Harmony of VOLVO Brand Design.

His ’portfolio’ of projects over the last 7 years, includes all Model Year changes, for both Exterior & Interior design, on the Current range of VOLVO Cars Products, plus developments of new Niche products, and the Design responsibilty for all Accessory products on those programmes.

Furthermore, those Project responsibilities, have also included the Press Launches, Promotion and Motor Show presentations of all of those Projects, which have included: The 2003 update of the S80. The S60 'R '& V70 ’R’ models. The 2005 MY updates on the S60, V70 & XC70, and the completed design of the 2006 XC90 & S60 models.

Currently his role, has been to oversee the planning, design and launch of the 2007 programmes, for the S40 & V50, and furthermore plan and design further car Projects for 2009 - 2010 and onwards.

 

PAST PROJECTS include:

FORD

• Project Designer on CE14 'Escort Van' Project (1987).
• Project Designer on VX62 'Galaxy' project (1988).
• Chief Designer on ACE 14 'Escort Cosworth' Project (1989).
• Design Consultant at VW Ford studios Sao Paulo, Brazil (1993)

ROLLS ROYCE

• Chief Designer of early development full size clay model and engineering liaison of 'Silver Seraph' programme.
• Chief Designer on 96 model year facelift of RR and Bentley models.

ROVER

• Chief Designer during initial sketch phase and clay model development at MGF Sports Car programme.
• Senior Designer at Canley and Longbridge Design Studios in various Exterior and Interior projects (1976-1984). Project highlights are MG Metro and Rover 800.

VOLVO

• Project Designer on 460 Exterior, 440 interior and 480 projects (1985-87)
• Chief Designer on V70 'lifestyle' XC vehicle (1993).
• Consultant Designer in the Strategic Design Studio Including the PCC Showcars etc (2000)
• Platform Chief Designer for Current & Niche Vehicles and Accessories. Including the 2003 S80 , the ‘R’ models of S60 & V70, the 2005 MY S60, V70 & XC70, the 2007MY XC90 and the 2008 MY P1 cars (2000 – to date)
  

LONDON TAXI INTERNATIONAL

• Chief Designer of early package, sketch and clay model development of new taxi (TX1 black cab) project (1992).

CAMBER ENTERTAINMENT

• Design Consultant since 1996, on 'Morphis', 'FX2' and 'ESP' 8 Seater Capsule/Simulator (1999) plus other ride simulators, including the theming and design of the craft and simulators for the MARS 2112 Restaurant, Broadway, New York (1998).

EURO DISNEY

• 'Autopia' ride vehicle for Paris Theme Park (1990)

REDIFFUSION SIMULATION

• Design of 2 full flight training simulators (1989).

CNAC

• Design of 1.5 ton truck and 4 wheel drive vehicle for the Chinese market

MGA DEVELOPMENTS

DAF TRUCKS

• Design of exterior and interior 45 and 55 Series Sleeper Cab (1997).

CAD Ltd
As Design Director/Consultant since 1994 on projects including:

• Beta 97 MPV for Bakrie Motors, Indonesia (1996).
• Truck cab for Ashok Leyland, India (1999).
• 7 Seater Estate Car Project for FORD India (1999).
• Station Wagon Projects for Thai Rung Union Cars, Thailand
• Plus other niche car, truck, bus and van project proposals.

GRINNALL CARS

• 'Scorpion' Three Wheeler BMW motor cycle based sportscar (1991)
• BMW motorcycle based ‘Trike’ for the ‘Cruiser’ (1998) and R1150 models (2002)
• ‘Scorpion’ S4 Sports car (2001)
  

ALDERSLEY EQUIPMENT

• Electric Disabled Scooter Design (1994).

RESINJECT DEVELOPMENTS - FLETCHER INTERNATIONAL

• Design of Volumaker commercial vehicle integrated bodywork and aerodynamic aids (1994-98), for use by Mercedes Benz Commercial Vehicles UK & LDV.
• Isuzu Show Truck (1998).
• Olympic-Mercedes Benz Atego Horsebox (1998).

 

OTHER CONSULTANCY PROJECTS:

As Design Consultants for clients including:
Daihatsu, Subaru, Prodrive, Achim Storz Design, Semcon, Metropolis AVi, BMW Motorcycles, Steyr Trucks, Steiner Film (Munich), Simworx Simulation, Merlin Flight Simulators, Holden Hydroman plastics, Ambi-Rad Heating, Thompson-Carmichael Tankers + Trailers, and others.