Ford's Korean Chief Designer 'Untroubled by Identity'

Soo Kang, who led the interior design of Ford's Lincoln four-door luxury sedan, says she considers herself a designer first and an Asian woman second.

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"When I work, I never think of my identity as an Asian woman", she says, explaining that picking out a person's nationality or background is just a hindrance to new possibilities.

Kang says a bigger concern was how to differentiate things by embracing new methods. "I have no time to think about anything but design", she says. "People who want to drive luxury cars clearly want something different, and a good designer is someone who can meet such expectations".

After studying industrial design in Cleveland, Ohio in 1986, Kang Won a design competition by Ford and found herself hired. In 2007, she became the first Asian woman to rise to chief designer.

"I originally wanted to return to Korea after working for just five years, but the company gave me an irresistible project each time I tried to quit", she says.

Among Kang's latest projects is the Lincoln MKC small SUV, which hit showrooms in Korea in mid-September. She said designs must be accurate down to half a millimeter due to the hundreds of components that are involved.

"I consult closely with engineers and others if I want to widen a space by just the thickness of a human hair", she says. "The satisfaction is not in the money I earn but in the challenges".