Michelle Christensen
Life
Christensen grew up in San Jose, California. She learned about the mechanics of cars from her father, who was into hot rods and muscle cars. In school she developed an interest in drawing and fine art and at community college she learned about car design and went on to study at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.{{cite web|title=Acura NSX Designer Michelle Christensen on the Influence of Nature, and the '67 Chevelle|url=http://blog.caranddriver.com/acura-nsx-designer-michelle-christensen-on-the-influence-of-nature-and-the-67-chevelle/|website=Car and Driver|accessdate=5 April 2016|date=20 March 2016}}{{Cite web |title=Michelle Christensen: Making history as Acura’s first female exterior car designer |url=http://www.artcenter.edu/about/alumni/alumni-stories/michelle-christensen-making-history-as-acura-s-first-female-exterior-car-designer.html |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ArtCenter College of Design}} Christensen said that car design is the ideal blend of her passions, "art, cars, and making things for people."{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesstylefile/2016/03/29/women-of-influence-meet-the-women-auto-designers-behind-the-wheel/#2ed69f3c711e|title=Women of Influence: Meet the Women Auto Designers Behind the Wheel|last=File|first=Forbes Style|access-date=2016-06-26}}
Christensen undertook an internship at Volvo's Camarillo studio in California before joining Acura in 2005.{{cite web|title=For new NSX, Acura's designing woman|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-0111-hy-nsx-designer-20150111-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=5 April 2016|date=11 January 2015}} She briefly worked for General Motors in 2010{{cite web|title=Michelle Christensen The next Philippe Starck|url=http://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/advice/a5354/michelle-christensen/|website=Marie Claire|accessdate=5 April 2016|date=12 September 2010}} before returning to Acura as Lead Principal Designer at Honda R&D. The 2016 Honda NSX was her first project as the lead designer.{{Cite web |date= |title=Michelle Christensen – Acura Designer |url=https://motorweek.org/fyi/michelle-christensen-acura-designer/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=MotorWeek |language=en-US}} Christensen received the Woman on Top award from Marie Claire magazine.
In 2018, Christensen worked briefly at Faraday Future and then was appointed Senior Manager of Design with Nissan Design America{{cite web |title=Inspiring International Automotive Designing – Women And The Future of Autos |url=https://www.autofutures.tv/2021/03/12/designers-iwd/ |website=Auto Futures |access-date=21 April 2021 |date=12 March 2021}}
She is vice-president of design for Karma Automotive.{{Cite web |last=Automotive |first=Karma |title=DESIGNER MICHELLE CHRISTENSEN TACKLES SOME OF AUTO INDUSTRY'S BIGGEST CHALLENGES -- FIRST THE ACURA NSX; NOW KARMA |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/designer-michelle-christensen-tackles-some-of-auto-industrys-biggest-challenges----first-the-acura-nsx-now-karma-301862693.html |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}
Car designs
- Acura ZDX (concept design) 2009
- Acura RDX
- Acura RL sedan facelift
- Acura RLX sedan{{cite web|title=For new NSX, Acura's designing woman|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-0111-hy-nsx-designer-20150111-story.html|date=11 January 2015}}
- Honda NSX (second generation) 2015{{cite web|title=The woman behind the bold NSX|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20150117/OEM02/301199916/the-woman-behind-the-bold-nsx|website=Automotive News|accessdate=5 April 2016|date=17 January 2015}}
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:ArtCenter College of Design alumni
Category:American automobile designers
Category:Women automotive engineers