Design

Name: Max Wolff
Title: Senior Designer
Company: Holden Ltd

"I loved cars when I was a kid and really enjoyed drawing, too, so I guess it was natural that the two came together," says Max Wolff about the origins of his design career. "I started sketching a lot at about 12 years of age and that continued through high school. I always knew that automotive design was my ultimate goal."

"At high school I did work experience with an industrial design consultancy and learned that industrial design was the course I needed. But I took a couple of years' break after high school, then went back as a mature aged student and did a Bachelor of Technology in Industrial Design at Monash University."

"Throughout university I did two main things - I made sure that I stayed in contact with people at both Holden and Ford, and I continually worked on my folio, sketching and trying new things." Max finished university and after a six-month contract at Millard design, joined Holden's design department. In the three years since, he has moved swiftly to his current role as Senior Designer.

"At the moment I'm working on exterior design on future products - I'm responsible for the complete exterior styling of the car. My day-to-day role depends on where we are with the new model program." 

"At the beginning or creative stage I spend a lot of time sketching and working on clay models with other people in the department. I do some sketches on paper and some on computer. I still prefer paper - there's nothing quite as immediate as sketching on paper but some of the effects you can get on computer are different."

"As the program progresses I do more management. That can involve visiting suppliers to ensure that the original vision and feeling of your design gets through all the processes and into production." 

"There are constraints in producing a product - you don't have the luxury of just designing whatever you want, whenever you want - so the ability to come up with a good design while working within the constraints of a mass-produced vehicle is one of the great challenges of the job. That's why it's satisfying when you come up with something really good." 

The design department is an exciting place. We have quite a vibrant group of people working here and competing with your fellow designers is always entertaining. The most exciting thing is finally seeing the design that you started three or four year earlier come to fruition and knowing that you were at the beginning of what's hopefully going to be Australia's best selling car and part of a long line of classic Holdens.

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