Don Herner

About Don Herner

I am a Project trailblazer, and initiator of cutting-edge innovations who has a reputation for building and motivating cross functional and cross cultural teams. Known for being a force multiplier which results in more ideas, higher team morale and unit cohesion. Skills: Activator of imaginative processes and solutions in top management and associates, resulting in technical executions aligned with all goals and delivered correctly. Serve as a catalyst, energizing teams to over-performance via on point direction and concepts. Consistently realize unique concepting ideas to either launch new products / technologies or existing brand repositions. Set and adhere to challenging budgets, timelines, and goals, fostering a structured and motivated work environment that enables the pushing of envelopes to award-winning products. Able to figure out the most complicated production issues to maximized and tailored solutions that incorporate an eye for uniqueness differentiators. Designs span 20-years, evolving products and brands to the forefront of luxury and mass markets and the boldest of visionary statements, combining styling theme and function.Accomplishments Built 15 different project-based teams in only 5 yearsAchieved recognition for 2 auto designs shown at North American Top ReportMultiple awards in Concept, President’s Level and Auto of the YearCreated fast burst ideation sessions from which 10 patent ideas were takenAwarded 8 patents for exterior automotive designs, with 4 patents pendingEXPERTISE Ideation & Story Creation; R&D; Presentations; Communication; Budgets; Building Consensus; Requirements Definition; Proof of Concept; Design & Test; Pre-Production; Materials, Physical, & Field Testing; Injection Molding Inspection; Surface Inspections; Maintenance; Part Modeling; Prototypes; Drawings; QA / QC; Intellectual Property; Analysis (qual, quant.); Polymers, Metals, Advanced Materials, Plastics Process, Injection Molding, Rapid Prototyping; CAD; CAM; 3D Printing; SolidWorks 19; MS 365; Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator; Keynote; Alias; Catia; Fastrack; Internet AppsSpecialties: • Research and Development • Building and Leading Design Strategy Teams• Budget Administration• Overcoming Production ObstaclesSelected Project HighlightsDesign Project Leader, 2006 Honda SUT Ridgeline: Built a forward-looking team of 30 to conceive and design Honda’s first truck.Senior Designer & Project Leader, 2001 Acura CL Coupe.Senior Designer & Project Leader, Honda Spocket Show Car.Project Leader, 1997 1.6 Canadian Acura EL.

Experience

1. Senior Manager Vehicle Architecture Virtual Series

   Fisker

   Jul 2021 — Present · Manhattan Beach, CA, US

   Responsible for day to day running of block teams processes. Accountable for Gateway delivery to program. Resolve geometry versus geometry attributes. Manage Direct Reports, planning, project delivery, and reports on progress. Responsible for Studio Feasibility Engineering. Manage Design Solution maturation relative to Virtual Series progression. Manage Technical teams to ensure products delivered are at cost, quality, and time appropriate for the application.

Education

• ArtCenter College of Design

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Transportation Design, Industrial Design