It is amazing to think that anything these days would take more than a few months to bring to market. As we learned at the Ford Trends Conference, Ford still does it the right way, which takes up to 4 years! Susan Swek, Chief Designer for Ford’s Color and Materials team, explained the process from start to finish in the Global Design Convergence session. 
Color theory and design is a big part of what I do professionally, so this session really caught my attention! Ford meticulously looks at all the current trends in magazines, fashion and the internet and can predict future color preferences and trends. Who knew so much thought went into painting a car?! Designers understand that the color and feel of your car is an extension of your personality. People often choose a car based on the color, whether they realize it or not, and the emotional reaction to that color is a driving force behind their purchase. Ford is working hard to design colors that grab our attention and tie us to our vehicle from bold lime greens to subtle earthy tones and updated classic colors like reds and blues. The standard black is no longer just black, and that amazing rich layered blue that makes you think you’re swimming in it, comes from years of hard work from Ford’s designers! And it doesn’t stop there; every aspect of a new car is designed and tweaked years before it hits the road. Paint has to be weather tested, seat fabric has to withstand years of abuse and the body has to have just the right curves for maximum fuel efficiency.
But the future of Ford is far more than color design. They are taking a huge cue from the consumer, who wants their car to do more than just move from point to point. Now more than ever, we are constantly on the internet and are actively looking for ways to stay connected in any situation. 
At our home, we have 4 computers running, our DVD player is connected to Netflix and our smart phones are chirping away with the latest tweets and text messages. We’re “on” almost all the time, even when we leave the house. So why shouldn’t that continue in the car? With the new MyFord Touch, drivers can safely stay connected on the road. Ford SYNC, the in-car voice command system, recognizes over 10,000 commands for everything from calling home and sending a text message to listening to your favorite Pandora internet radio channel. With new apps constantly getting developed, drivers will soon be able to access almost any part of their lives from their Ford vehicle. The technology behind all this is simply amazing and the possibilities are endless! I’m pretty sure I will soon be able to control my dish washer and air conditioner, double check the inventory in my refrigerator and unlock the front door for the babysitter from my car! Obsessed with technology, you say? No, I just consider it embracing the future! And with the help of Ford, the future of our interconnected world is literally at our finger tips and waiting for our every [voice] command.
Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. Ford covered all expenses for the trip. All opinions are my own.
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