Charles Pelly
Encyclopedia
Charles W. Pelly, commonly Chuck Pelly, is an American
industrial designer. Pelly is best known for founding the global design consultancy DesignworksUSA
.
He has spent most of his life in Southern California
. He attended the Art Center College of Design
in Pasadena, California
and studied for his Master's degree
.
After graduating from Art Center College of Design, he studied furniture and interior design in Konstfack
, University College of Art, Crafts and Design in Stockholm
, Sweden
. He then worked in several renowned design offices, including Henry Dreyfuss
Associates where he was instrumental in developing early ergonomics, Measure of Man. Pelly still holds a long term relationship to Art Center, as he was involved as student, teacher, mentor and lecturer.
In 1972 Pelly became founder of DesignworksUSA, today considered by some as one of the top 10 industrial design consultancies in the world. In 1995, DesignworksUSA became wholly owned subsidiary of BMW
. Pelly was president and CEO until 2000 of the Newbury Park & Munich branches.
In 2000 Pelly and his partner Joan Gregor
founded The Design Academy, Inc. A multidisciplinary design consulting group, dedicated to leverage design innovation strategy and products to global corporations.
Pelly has been awarded over 40 US and foreign Patents.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
industrial designer. Pelly is best known for founding the global design consultancy DesignworksUSA
DesignworksUSA
DesignworksUSA is a global design consultancy based in Newbury Park, California, United States, with design studios in Munich, Germany and Singapore. Established independently in 1972 by Charles Pelly, it was acquired by BMW in 1995 and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW Group...
.
He has spent most of his life in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. He attended the Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
and studied for his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
.
After graduating from Art Center College of Design, he studied furniture and interior design in Konstfack
Konstfack
Konstfack or University College of Arts, Crafts and Design is a university college for higher education in the area of art, crafts and design in Stockholm, Sweden.- History :...
, University College of Art, Crafts and Design in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He then worked in several renowned design offices, including Henry Dreyfuss
Henry Dreyfuss
Henry Dreyfuss was an American industrial designer.-Career:Dreyfuss was a native of Brooklyn, New York. As one of the celebrity industrial designers of the 1930s and 1940s, Dreyfuss dramatically improved the look, feel, and usability of dozens of consumer products...
Associates where he was instrumental in developing early ergonomics, Measure of Man. Pelly still holds a long term relationship to Art Center, as he was involved as student, teacher, mentor and lecturer.
In 1972 Pelly became founder of DesignworksUSA, today considered by some as one of the top 10 industrial design consultancies in the world. In 1995, DesignworksUSA became wholly owned subsidiary of BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
. Pelly was president and CEO until 2000 of the Newbury Park & Munich branches.
In 2000 Pelly and his partner Joan Gregor
Joan Gregor
Joan Gregor is an American design strategist and co-founder of The Design Academy, Inc.Founded in 2000 with her partner Charles Pelly, The Design Academy, Inc. A multidisciplinary consulting group, dedicated to applying product design and creative knowledge to corporations and organizations through...
founded The Design Academy, Inc. A multidisciplinary design consulting group, dedicated to leverage design innovation strategy and products to global corporations.
Design highlights
- 1958-1960: Designer of the 6 Scarab sports car for Lance ReventlowLance ReventlowLance Reventlow, born Lawrence Graf von Haugwitz-Hardenberg-Reventlow was a wealthy playboy, entrepreneur, and racing driver....
- 1961: Storyboard and set design for television series “Lost in SpaceLost in SpaceLost in Space is a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968...
” - 1962: 4-door PorschePorschePorsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
910 Sedan, VWVolkswagenVolkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
Beetle Stretch Limo, Scarab and Chaparral race car - 1968: Original creator of the “Go-Kart” for Kurtis KraftKurtis KraftKurtis Kraft was a designer and builder of race cars. The company was founded by Frank Kurtis.Kurtis Kraft designed and built midget cars, quartermidgets, sports cars, sprint cars and USAC Championship Cars....
- 1974: IMED Infusion Pump
- 1975: C Pelly seating line for Condi Furniture, Compton, CA/ Grammer, Amberg, Germany, marketed until 2001
- 1984: Crista seating line, SunarHauserman and Pelican Desk Series, Brueton Industries
- 1985: Seating and interior for DisneyThe Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
monorail, Disney, Burbank, CA - 1986: Varix seating line, SamsoniteSamsoniteThe Samsonite Corporation makes luggage with its products ranging from large suitcases to small toiletries bags and briefcases. It was started in Denver, Colorado, USA in 1910 byJesse Shwayder, as the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company. Shwayder named one of his initial cases "Samson", after the...
Furniture Co., Murfreesboro, TN - 1989: Magna InternationalMagna InternationalMagna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
, Torrero research vehicle, Geneva Auto Show, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... - 1994: Designworks/USA’s concept and development of BMW’s E2, electric vehicle
- 1998: Designworks/USA’s concept involvement in the BMW E46 (3 Series)
- 1999: Designworks/USA’s concept involvement in BMW E63BMW E63/E64The BMW E63/E64 is the current model of the BMW 6 Series of luxury coupés, introduced in Autumn 2003 in Frankfurt Motor Show by German car manufacturer BMW. It comes as either a coupé or cabriolet and in several engine variants ranging from a 3 litre straight-6 to 5 litre V10 in the M6 model...
-1999 Sport Activity Vehicle, Hanover, Germany, Land Rover Range Rover - 2002: Designed & custom built “Cattiva”, a 43 foot world class catamaran, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
- 2004-2006: Lifestyle vehicle and trailer design for Magna International
- 2005–Present: Co founder and director of Design Los Angeles conference and Design Challenge for LA Auto ShowLA Auto ShowThe LA Auto Show is an annual auto show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in late November/early December. The LA Auto Show is an OICA sanctioned international exhibition and also endorsed by the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association...
.
Pelly has been awarded over 40 US and foreign Patents.
Awards
- SmithsonianSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
Cooper HewittCooper-Hewitt, National Design MuseumCooper–Hewitt, National Design Museum, a subsidiary of the Smithsonian Institution, is the United States' national museum of design history and contemporary design and the only museum in the U.S. whose collection is solely focused on contemporary and historic design...
Lifetime Achievement award. - George Jergenson Design Achievement award (by Art Center College) for his significant contribution.
- Los Angeles Magazine Top 100 Automotive Power Influencers, 2006
- The Eyes on Design Lifetime Achievement Award for car design 2004
- The Design Mind Award for excellence, innovation & enhancement of quality of life by the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
- Initiator of Design Challenge competition between SOCAL Auto Studios.
- Judged at Art Center Car Classic for 3 years and other automotive events
- Chuck was president is IDSA, Industrial Designers Society of AmericaIndustrial Designers Society of AmericaIndustrial Designers Society of America is an organization of professional industrial designers primarily in the United States. Recently IDSA has started chapters in Canada and in China...
, FIDSA 1991-1992