Watch this space Design

Watch this space Design director Julian Thomson lifts the lid on Jaguar’s inspiring new design studio as it prepares to open Story Tom Morris Photography Damian Russell Weeks into his new role as design director at Jaguar, Julian Thomson is sitting in the box-fresh design studio at the company’s campus at Gaydon in the Warwickshire countryside. While he takes over from long-term director of design Ian Callum, this is the first time in its history that Jaguar has created a bespoke-built space where the design team can dream up and create its future models. It’s a case of many fresh starts and there is an appropriately ‘start-of-term’ feel in the air. “It’s a new chapter,” Thomson reflects. While the job title might be new, Thomson is in fact one of the most established members of the design team. With experience at Ford and Lotus under his belt, he joined Jaguar 20 years ago. Together with Callum, they oversaw its transformation from a marque of British tradition to a cutting-edge luxury brand with the launch of the F-TYPE sports car and, more recently, the World Car of the Year 2019, the all-electric I-PACE. As director of advanced design, Thomson worked closely on the development of the XF (X250) and the C-X75 concept sports car, which he describes as the project he remains most attached to. 46 / Jaguar Magazine

Design Jaguar Magazine / 47