The claim is backed by Gomotiv’s own experience as it expands its ongoing work with major OEMs as well as nurturing young designers from classroom though to working in its own studio.

Gomotiv, part of the Outerspace Design group, is headed by three designers who have worked with major OEMs – studio directors Robert Thorpe (ex-GM advanced design studio in Los Angeles); Rhys Kaunda-McKenzie (ex-Holden); and Justin Thompson (Holden, GM US and China).

Mr Thorpe, speaking to GoAutoNews Premium, encourages young designers by telling them that the explosion of EV manufacturers has become a catalyst for an increasing amount of design work.

“There is a massive change happening now,” he said.

“The removal of barriers in terms of developing power trains, and to a certain extent, the powertrain components becoming more modular, has led to the emergence of more startups.

“It’s a really interesting time. Emerging EV manufacturers have also made it a very difficult time for the established players to stay competitive.

“That opens up opportunities for companies that can offer OEM level design.”

Gomotiv is involved in the design of anything that moves with Mr Thorpe saying this could cover anything from passenger cars to buses, trucks and motorcycles and more.

“The skill sets that we’ve got for automotive, at the level we’ve got, can be easily applied to other segments in that area,” he said.

“It’s about quality design and applying that to vehicles moving people and moving goods.”

He said that there are a lot of opportunities for automotive designers and design studios.

“There’s a lot of car companies in the US and in Asia. We know we can apply our skill set to help those companies, so that’s what we’re doing.”

Part of the allure for OEMs is that Australian designers are held in high regard.

“Australia has a tradition in automotive design, engineering and manufacturing. Each one of those disciplines isn’t necessarily siloed – team members work across the different facets and our teams tend to be, compared with most other nations, very small,” he said.

“So a manufacturing engineer sitting in Adelaide needs to understand how the design process works and the designer has to understand how the engineering cycle works.

Robert Thorpe

“So you get designers who understand the constraints of the process of making a car and that means that in Australia, you have designers who are very, very adaptive.

“They know where and when to push, know where to hold back, and know how to work with engineers to get the best result. 

“They are very versatile and practical and that enables great design. And that’s what it’s all about.

“So it’s a very collaborative kind of person who comes out of the automotive industry here.”

Mr Thorpe said that part of Gomotiv’s vision was to enable pathways for students from education. 

The business now has three junior designers – in addition to a staff of about 16 – are all contributing to programs.

“We’re very passionate about this part of the business. We need to continue pathways for students from education in Australia into these specialised fields.” 

Mr Thorpe said Gomotiv partners with some Australian engineering companies on projects. 

He said having OEM levels of quality and skill in design meant the business could offer that same level of design to Australian companies.“There’s a number of Australian companies doing aftermarket or updated models here that we are already working with.”

He said that Gomotiv started as a division of Outerspace Design “when the three of us got together.”

“We have very distinct roles – mine is in the operations business side, Justin is the creative director and Rhys is the digital design manager.

“Justin is ex-General Motors, as well as time at Holden, with one year in China and three years in Detroit. The 2008 Buick Invicta show car (which became the 2010 LaCrosse production car) was one of Justin’s designs.

“I’d been running the operations for the Advanced Design Studio for General Motors in California, which has everything to do with the future of transportation, Cadillac, autonomous drones, personal transportation, anything and everything that was not-production came out of the California studio.

“We’ve all worked with Mike Simcoe (former Holden design director and now GM vice president of global design) in the past as well. 

“The Gomoitv team is a very, very good team.”

Mr Thorpe said Gomotiv has already competed against the established European studios and, aside from having to work in the same space to get the attention of OEMs, had to be careful about showing its designs.

“One of the highlights very early on was being involved in concept development from a blank sheet and competing against highly respected studios and then having our designs selected by an OEM.

“That is one of the most affirming parts of the business.”

By Neil Dowling