This month the team reflects on key stories from Monterey Car Week, namely McLaren’s dramatic new form language following two new design leaders, plus an unexpected concept from Acura. There has been plenty of people news to keep us busy, no less a new global design boss at Nissan, and the team unpick some of those new appointments – including a surprise arrival at Porsche.Over on the website the main theme has been holistic design, which led us to explore everything from app design to 1960s Broadway costumes; a chat with leading design school the Royal College of Art leaves Lucy feeling a little headspun. Student shows continued this month and we place a spotlight on Pforzheim and the China Academy of Art where students designed a working, driving car. Plus, we hand pick some nuggets of wisdom that arose during our latest ‘tips and tricks’ feature.In other chat, James is back from an Italian road trip in his trusty Volvo V70, the team proposes a new career in Ice Road Trucking for Lucy, and a chocolate pick-up concept makes Freddie hungry.As always, head to the Car Design News website for everything else including our live and virtual events, magazines and annual coffee table book. 00:00 intro 01:26 holistic design and the RCA03:55 Rivian’s app05:05 GM’s Broadway shows07:30 McLaren’s “rebirth”10:39 Job news14:35 Acura’s new direction15:50 student shows19:24 tips for budding designers23:22 events updates25:33 CDN’s new membership model26:48 commercial vehiclesStories mentioned in this episode include: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/mclaren-completely-revamps-design-language-with-new-mcl-6gt/2719138
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/exclusive-david-woodhouse-joins-mclaren-as-chief-creative-officer/2714672
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/gac-motor-appoints-new-design-director/2714043
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/change-at-nissan-albaisa-to-retire-weaver-succeeds/2712357
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/t-jon-mayer-to-head-up-bentley-exterior-design/2718042
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/chinese-design-school-builds-a-working-carnbsp/2718150
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/pforzheim-transportation-design-ba-summer-2026-show-highlightsnbsp/2718126
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/introducing-the-new-car-design-news-membership/2727127
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/holistic-design-is-about-going-deeper-royal-college-of-arts-chris-thorpe/2726371
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/tips-and-tricks-on-how-to-break-into-the-car-design-industry/2722115
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/pforzheim-ma-summer-2026-degree-show-highlights/2721238
https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/acura-introduces-new-design-language-under-new-design-director/2719491
https://www.cardesignnews.com/cmf/august-focus-holistic-design/2716300
https://www.cardesignnews.com/cmf/when-detroit-went-to-broadway-gms-industrial-musical-era/2715216
https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/we-are-embracing-the-need-to-be-daring-so-daring-we-will-be-matthew-weaver-on-his-promotion-to-design-director/2715706
