Alexis Senter

Le Future Classic is a design research firm providing clarity and focus to the color and material selection process. We demystify how best to apply trend research by crafting the right narrative for your design brief and develop a roadmap to successfully move it forward. From automotive studio programs, concept vehicles, or classic car builds to interior design projects, we use our expertise to elevate your vision and bring it to life.

Color and Materials support for annual advanced design summit. Created four interior palette schemes which were presented alongside advanced interior and exterior design proposals to Japan.

- Material specialists : leather, vinyl, wool tartans
- Sales account manager : California; Florida–east coast; Arizona–new accounts
- Representing Hans Reinke, Hamburg and Lealpell, Milano to US market
- Providing luxury, European-sourced, aftermarket, automotive leather to variety of end-users
- Period-correct materials for Ferrari, Porsche and Mercedes in factory colors for restorations and custom projects
- Singer Vehicle Design leather interiors
- OEM concept and showcar development
- Marine, Aviation and Hospitality applications
- Coordination between domestic U.S. accounts and European warehouse and tanneries

Long-range trend forecasting and material application development for automotive OEM's and Industrial Design manufacturers.

CLIENTS:
Ultrasuede
Stylus.com
Avery Dennison
Mazda North America
LG Electronics
Starkey Labs
Vizio
Subaru of America
Art Center College of Design

– West Coast rep to all Southern California automotive OEM design studios for Toray International, a Japan-based company manufacturing a micro-fiber suede material, branded Ultrasuede®

• Promoted new Ultrasuede® products to OEM color design staff for implementation into programs and showcars
• Strengthened studio relationships with west coast color design staff and their related departments
• Supported designers during color mastering process; relayed feedback to Japan
• Tasked with providing strategic design direction to management to improve placement of orders

Contributing freelance writer with Industrial Design focus for Stylus, a London-based, global think tank. Researched automotive-focused stories, prepared outlines, made PR requests and submitted articles to features editor for final approval.

– Led CMF activity for this major Japanese auto manufacturer:

• Created consumer profiles and CMF conceptualization based on heavy ethnographic research for automaker’s best-selling Mazda 3 model
• Generated color vignettes, 3D visualizations, managed vendors, prepared samples and delivered final presentation to senior management at design summit in Japan
• Oversaw execution of two full exterior properties (Mazda 2 and Miata) and one full interior (Miata) for SEMA 2010, the largest aftermarket auto show in the U.S
• Collaborated with design teams to create design concepts for show properties, created 2D mockups, procured materials, oversaw vendor activity and worked to showcar budget perimeters delivering properties on time for shipping

– CMF Project Manager of various consumer products at leading industrial design firm:

• Replaced existing manager to become CMF Project Manager for international rollout of LG’s 2010 line of mobile products
• Managed a six-person team, external vendors and over 1,000 images to create international trend and color palette projections
• Liaised between internal design, research teams and LG design staff to produce over 150 physical mock-ups and submit for approval to senior management in South Korea
• Served as project lead for Starkey Labs’ pediatric hearing aid lineup; developed 25 color concepts, created all editorial layouts, managed CAD intern and directed fabricator to produce 3-D color mock-ups delivered to Starkey for market research
• Consulted on a new color concept for a Vizio earbud design, introduced to favorable reviews at CES 2010 and rolled out nationally at Wal-Mart

– Researched and canvassed U.S. consumer market for insights on cultural trends, informing design of future production models for this leading Japanese auto brand:

• Provided 1st-stage interior and exterior concept proposals for vehicles such as Forester, Outback, Impreza and WRX
• Identified trends emerging from ongoing financial crisis which would influence CMF concepts of brand’s top-selling models
• Liaised extensively with design teams in Japan and Michigan

Guest Lecturer for third and fourth term Transportation Design students. Acquainted them with Color, Trim & Materials design and its place in the design process. Class assigned task of starting and maintaining their own inspirational visual journal, digital or tangible.

– Led the Colors, Materials and Finishes Department in creating concepts for models such as the S60, S80, XC60, XC70, C30 and B-Car programs:

• Established Volvo’s first U.S.-based, in-house color design studio
• Strengthened relationship with Volvo Sweden design studio, driving creative material application process
• Cultivated supplier relationships and mentored interns to organize newly established materials library
• CMF Project Manager for the award-winning 3CC show car which carried a $1,000,000+ budget
• Managed CMF concept implementation and external vendor activity to ensure timely delivery of property
• Collaborated with internal teams to ensure successful completion of property to budget perimeters
• Represented the vehicle to the press at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show

– CMF Project Manager for major design projects as part of Toyota’s North American design research group, including the RX330, Avalon and Advanced Design Research Projects:

• Created design briefs, directed vendor activity and produced CMF concepts for production programs
• Managed daily project tasks while interfacing with internal design teams and Japan headquarters
• Worked to project schedules and budget constraints throughout development process checkpoints
• Revamped supplier deliverables process during Avalon development, leading to improved efficiency in the material submission schedule

– Conducted color design process through branding, trend and material research and mastering:

• Introduced to project scheduling, industry technologies and general CMF material applications
• Developed trend research expertise and ability to translate research into relevant CMF proposals
• Established supplier relationships with domestic, European and Asian vendors