Crystal Windham is the current interior design director at Chevrolet for General Motors Cars. She recognized her talent for the arts early with the help of her 10th grade teacher, who prompted her to attend a school for the arts.
Learning how to apply the foundation of art and combine it with design is how she got on the path leading to General Motors. Windham has been holding strong in her role as Interior Design director since being promoted into the position in 2008. Check out her excitement about the 2014 Chevrolet Impala below. ~christian johnson
What is the background on the 2014 Chevrolet Impala?
We were given the opportunity to reach back in our heritage and build on something great for this vehicle. It was one of the best selling vehicles of its time back in the 1960s. It has a rich heritage, strong styling and this was our time to reinstate a flagship sedan for the Chevrolet brand. The first thing that we tried to do is make sure we had the right DNA. The Chevrolet dual cockpit signature design gives you this wrap around feeling and more space. I’m really excited about this interior. We have other ways to elevate the design with the use of different types of colors, textures and a great way to integrate the newest technology.
Tell us about your inspiration for designing the Impala?
Our inspiration for designing this interior was all about a flagship for Chevrolet. What that means for us is that we were able to do a premium execution at an affordable price. If we were going to do anything unique for a Chevrolet vehicle, this was the vehicle to really look at for the opportunity to see how we could use unique materials to give the car a custom look.
How are you influenced by fashion?
I always talk about the team of designers that we work with. It’s not just the interior designers but it’s the color and trim designers, as well. They are inspired by all sorts of things, especially fashion and home furnishings. They know the trends and what’s timeless for a vehicle as far as color. They help us pick out the other type of finishes for the interior including the deco accents. For example, wood is typically found in some of the upscale vehicles. I’m really excited that we have a team that embraces color, fashion and the types of finishes that you would expect to find in a home.
