“I like HOW we do work at Ford. I like that we prioritize the customer experience and work through hurdles to bring innovation to reality,” says Micah Jones, senior automotive interior designer. That mindset was exactly how Micah’s team and other groups across Ford brought the ultra-versatile Flex Powered Console from sketchpad to reality. “The Flex Powered Console project is the result of a very collaborative effort between multiple groups representing design, ergonomics, user experience, engineering and business,” he says. “We started with customer research events. From there, SEVERAL designs were created and shared with sketches, digital models, or crude prototypes.” Designing components and features is complex: not only do teams take customer wants and needs into consideration, but it has to give “the most value with the fewest tradeoffs.” Efficiency, simplicity, and appearance are crucial but so is affordability. Micah says it was a “wonderful experience” working with this team because they were committed to the idea and approached the challenges creatively, and the business side understood the value and fully supported it. In addition to his technical and design skills, Micah brings his perspective as a dad and lover of any and all outdoor sports to his work. From snowboarding to motorcycle racing to kayaking and more, he can envision endless ways to use the Ford Expedition SUV and other vehicles he works on. He even finds time to share his experience with the next generation of engineers and designers: for the last seven years, he has coached a middle school robotics team. Just like the automotive world, “developing robots for competition involves engineering, strategy, programming, and a lot of cooperation.” Want to be part of the talented teams who bring innovative ideas to life? Learn more at http://spr.ly/60417e2AZ #WeAreFord #FordDesign #FordExpedition Created by #FordUniversity