By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Some might call Freeman Thomas visionary and edgy, but he has a better self-description.

“I guess I’ve always been a bit of a rebel,” Thomas says. “I’m the outsider’s insider.”

Two years ago, Thomas was named director of strategic design for Ford Motor Company, based in Dearborn.

“Freeman lives, eats, breathes, sleeps, and even dreams about cars,” says J Mays, Ford’s group vice president of design and chief creative officer. “He is the consummate designer. But what makes Freeman truly special is his ability to create iconically beautiful vehicles that are both emotionally gripping and culturally relevant. He loves to tell a story through design.”

Fresh ideas to bring back business
Thomas’ visionary approach to car design couldn’t come at a better time for the company.

According to The New York Times, lower sales and declining margins, combined with rising spending on health care and retirees drove all American carmakers into a corner, but perhaps Ford most of all.

In 2006, Ford reported losing a staggering $12.6 billion.

In January 2006, Ford announced a restructuring plan it called “The Way Forward” that involved shedding 30,000 hourly jobs and 14,000 salaried workers—about one-third of its labor force. Later that year, it raised $23 billion by putting many of its most cherished North American assets up as collateral, including the Ford logo.

Perhaps Thomas is already helping to turn the flailing company around.

In July 2007, Ford announced that it had earned a profit of $750 million in the second quarter—its first quarterly profit in more than two years.

Innovator brought us many cool cars
The 49-year-old graduated from the famed Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California in 1983. From there, Thomas honed his craft at Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, and DaimlerChrysler until he joined Ford.