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Richard Kim

Design & Brand

Richard Kim is a prominent automotive designer with an impressive career spanning several major car manufacturers and electric vehicle startups. He was a co-founder and Chief Design Officer at Canoo, an electric vehicle company based in Los Angeles.14

Career Highlights

BMW Group:: Kim worked at BMW from 2005 to 2012, where he was the principal exterior designer for several notable electric vehicles, including:

  • BMW i3 (concept and production)
  • BMW i8 (concept)
  • BMW i8 Spyder (concept)1

Faraday Future:: From 2015 to 2017, Kim served as Vice President of Design, overseeing exteriors, interiors, UI/UX, branding, and marketing.1

Canoo:: In 2017, Kim co-founded Canoo and became its Chief Design Officer. He was instrumental in developing Canoo's distinctive design philosophy, focusing on functionality and urban needs rather than traditional automotive aesthetics.23

Design Philosophy

At Canoo, Kim emphasized a "loft-inspired" approach to vehicle design, prioritizing interior space and functionality. He aimed to create electric vehicles that were more accessible and practical for city dwellers.23

Recent Developments

In April 2023, Richard Kim left his position at Canoo.4 As of December 2024, his current professional endeavors are not publicly known based on the provided search results.

Education and Teaching

Kim holds a BS in Industrial/Automotive Design from ArtCenter College of Design, where he later served as a faculty member teaching Transportation Design and Visual Communications from 2008 to 2015.1

Highlights

Aug 31 · reddit.com
What is Richard Kim up to now? - canoo - Reddit
Exclusive: Canoo's chief design officer Richard Kim leaves EV ...
Exclusive: Canoo's chief design officer Richard Kim leaves EV ...
Dec 17 · core77.com
Richard Kim's Rectilinear Design for the Canoo Multi-Purpose ...
Richard Kim's Rectilinear Design for the Canoo Multi-Purpose ...
May 13 · nytimes.com
Two New Cars, Designed From the Inside Out - The New York Times
Two New Cars, Designed From the Inside Out - The New York Times
Feb 16 · wallpaper.com
Meet two start-ups electrifying the car industry - Wallpaper Magazine
Nov 15 · cardesignnews.com
Discussing Canoo Design with Richard Kim | Article
Discussing Canoo Design with Richard Kim | Article

Related Questions

What inspired Richard Kim to transition from BMW to Canoo?
How did Richard Kim's experience at Faraday Future influence his design approach at Canoo?
What are some of the unique design features Richard Kim has introduced at Canoo?
How does Richard Kim's background in teaching at ArtCenter College of Design impact his professional work?
What challenges did Richard Kim face while designing the Canoo vehicle?
Richard Kim
Richard Kim, photo 1
Richard Kim, photo 2
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Location

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area