when engineers and stylists clash

In automotive development, engineers and stylists are often seen as opposing sides. And fair enough, there is definitely some animosity. However, creative abrasion can also lead to something outstanding.  

Chris studied Industrial Design Engineering at the Delft University of Technology. Even though his teachers told him he never would be a car designer, he landed his first job at Renault. He worked as an engineer as well as a stylist in companies like Piaggio, PAL-V and Lightyear. He experienced first hand the friction between engineering and design teams. His approach always was, and still is to try to find inspiration in disagreement, and push for new solutions.

In his talk, Chris will show examples from his career, and talk about instances in automotive history where the clash of engineers and designers sparked iconic results.

This event will take place exclusively in person on Wednesday, September 7, 2026. The gathering will be held at Restaurant Se7en. You are welcome to join us for a pre-event dinner from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM (at your own expense: €25, payable upon arrival); please indicate this when registering, at least three days in advance. Attendance at the lecture is free for members and costs €5.00 for non-members; the session runs from 7:30 PM to approximately 9:00 PM.