Ralph Gilles’ struggles to pursue his dream.

He was persistent on his dream to design cars, beautiful cars. The artistic style appealed to him more, he was sure about his interest in design since a very young age. His aunt encouraged him to write a letter to Mr. Iacocca and they answered back. His portfolio promised them of his talent. He felt loyal to Chrysler since when he was seventeen. .He appreciates his support system, his brother, his dad, his wife for encouraging and criticizing his work. He has clearly struggled to get what he want and has had dark times. He compares it to being a captain on a sinking ship, not leaving until the doors are closed. Gurney’s Automotive Repair is doing a great work.

Ralph Gilles’ work style

Gilles states that he likes to sketch the front of the automotive first because the first judgement happens by the front design. He also values proportion the most. He wants his work to be full of care and passion that people still love it after 50 yrs. The product should age gracefully. 

This characteristic is what he vows by and the reason he was global head of design at Fiat Chrysler within five years of working with them. They claim that ralph became the youngest head of design so far.

Ex: the 300 is one of Ralph’s best designs, it looks aesthetic, gives an impression of speed. It was affordable and appealed to the hip hop crowd immediately. Racing is Ralph’s form of escape. He feels one with the machine and it gives him a sense of tranquility.

The steps to success:

• Reinvention is key. 
• Ralph believes that designers create taste, they’re ahead of times and culture, and that is exactly how they’re supposed to be.
• Designers should have to judge what the customer wants before the customer themselves knows what they want.
• Passion and connection to vehicles is extremely powerful to be successful in this industry. 
• A lot of innovation and effort contributes to his successes, too. 
• The success of Chrysler depended on successful designed cars. There’s an emotional attachment to cars that keep even old designs alive.
• Listen to the problems and create a product that solves multiple problems at the same time.

Sm-1 concept – the family vehicle.

In Detroit, the team discusses on making a car more like an extension of one’s home. Ralph realizes that he has to understand autonomous vehicles. He doubts if a car would be just another device to the people, no attachment to it whatsoever. They to take inspiration from his experiences and observations.

So, the sm-1 is an autonomous and capable car. The interior requires even more attention, to make it comfortable and holistic. Ralph emphasizes that the base is always important, a clear & distinctive base to capture the idea or the utility of the car.

 He wants to adjust a car that appeals to not one but all kinds of people. Ralph Gilles and his team regularly reviewed their progress, and discussed on the changes to be made until they all had a clear view in their head of what the sm-1 looked & felt like. 

The presentation

They set their aim as perfection. They made models and checked everything that is to be presented. The team and ralph have even discussed and set up the presentation room as to where the drawings and the depictions, the tools & models would be.

Ralph, himself, appears pretty anxious about the meeting, he understands that if Sergio Marchionne, decides to scrap it, they would just have to accept it. When sm-1 model was approved by Sergio, the team remembered to appreciate their efforts and they were evidently happy.