Charles W. Pelly,
FIDSA
President of the Industrial Designers Society of America
(IDSA), 1991-1992
Pelly, a forty-year veteran of the design industry, has recently left the helm of Designworks/USA, a BMW subsidiary, to start his own design and creative consulting group, Pelly Design Management, with his partner, Joan Gregor. Pelly continues to consult on projects for BMW Group work, as well as other clients. He is co-founder of The Design Academy concept, a multidisciplinary consulting network dedicated to applying design and creative knowledge to corporations, educational institutions and organizations.
Pelly took Designworks/USA from a start-up operation in his garage to one of the top ten design consultancies in the world. Pelly developed the unique structure of Designworks/USA with a balance of automotive, transit, product, advanced communications, and graphic consulting to stimulate cross fertilization and innovative thinking among his design team. Designworks/USA has won numerous awards for innovative design.
Headquartered in Newbury Park, California with an office in Munich, Germany, Designworks/ USA became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BMW Group in 1995. Designworks/USA was instrumental in the design of the BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle as well as the award winning BMW 3 Series.
Mr. Pelly has been involved with Art Center College of Design since 1968 as a student, teacher, mentor and lecturer, and has received their George Jergenson Design Achievement award for his significant contribution.
For the Industrial Design Society of America, Mr. Pelly has held many offices including President and received the highest achievement award of being appointed a Fellow.
Mr. Pelly is the designer of the original Scarab sports car for Lance Reventlow and continually contributes to the Design Profession through worldwide lectures, articles and appearances. He has received over 50 awards of distinction.