Who's Where: Camilo Pardo leaves Ford

Camilo Pardo has ended his 24 year long career at Ford to pursue his numerous other creative endeavors. CDN caught up with the accomplished artist, sculptor, clothing and furniture designer at his annual Designer's Night bash in Detroit, where he told us how he was now "free to do anything", but would not divulge details as the announcement was not yet official.

A native New Yorker, Pardo graduated from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit and was granted the Industrial Design Society of America Merit Award in 1985. He began working at Ford in Dearborn soon afterward.

His design prowess and ability to innovate soon propelled him to a role within Ford's Advance Design studio, where he worked on the Ford Thunderbird and Lincoln LS. He also spent some time at the company's design studios in Cologne, Germany, and Turin, Italy before returning to Dearborn as a design manager for the SVT studio – a path that eventually led to him becoming Chief Designer at the Living Legends Studio, where he designed the GT40 concept, a precursor to the current GT production car.

Pardo's impressive collection of artwork and paintings adorns his studio space in Detroit as well as the homes and offices of many admirers, including Ford. Two of his GT paintings can be seen on the walls of the company's headquarters in Dearborn, while another – of a 1961 Lincoln Continental – graces the offices of Ford's design center in London, UK.

Speculation surrounding Pardo's departure from the Blue Oval revolves around the idea that Ford was forced to extend an early retirement package to the acclaimed designer due to financial troubles. Whether they're true or not, if the American designer ever decides to rejoin the automotive arena then it seems unlikely that he would want for offers.

Related website:
www.camilopardo.com

By Eric Gallina