DETROIT — The College for Creative Studies has appointed Alexander Klatt as MFA chair of transportation design Prior to joining the college, Klatt was vice president of global design at Fisker Automotive, where he led a development team for the Karma platform, one of the first electric hybrid cars.
As MFA chair of transportation design, Klatt will be responsible for the oversight and evolution of the graduate curriculum in educating designers who can think critically and strategically about transportation and innovate in response to current and future opportunities.
The chair works collaboratively with a number of departments across the college. In conjunction with the deans of undergraduate and graduate studies and the BFA chair of transporation, Klatt will build a cohesive strategic mission for the MFA transporation department. He will work with Institutional Advancement and Career Services to expand the college’s network of industry relationships, project sponsorships, and internship and employment opportunities for students. Klatt will also lead the development and implementation of MFA-specific marketing and promotional strategies, summer programs, and workshops and courses for graduate students.
As vice president of global design at Fisker, he led a team of 32 exterior, interior, color and materials and user experience designers, clay and digital modelers, and fabricators to develop three variations on the Karma and Atlantic platforms.
Klatt joined Fisker in 2008 as director of interior design, color and materials design, and user interface design, and not only oversaw all design activities for each vehicle platform, but also designed the interiors of the Karma, Sunset, and Atlantic. Prior to his work at Fisker, Klatt also held design leadership roles at BMW Designworks USA and BMW Group in Germany.
