Currently reading: Ex-Jaguar design chief Ian Callum launches design firm

New independent company will be based in Warwick and undertake a diverse range of commissions

Ex-Jaguar design chief Ian Callum has launched a new business venture, just weeks after his high-profile departure from the company’s styling department

Named after its founder and design director, Callum is an independent design and engineering firm that will create bespoke products for clients across a variety of industries, including lifestyle, travel and design. 

The new company is headquartered in Warwick, not far from where Callum himself once penned pivotal Jaguar models such as the Jaguar XF and Jaguar I-Pace, and comprises a team of 18 audio, art, fashion, motorsport and lifestyle experts. 

Callum ian callum 2

Ian Callum said: “In today’s modern world, collaboration is the catalyst for new ideas, and this is our ethos and inspiration, both within our team and as we look to work with partners in the future.

“Callum is an exciting new chapter that will focus on ‘Journeys to Destinations’, and all that encompasses.”

The company’s three other co-founders have also had a significant impact on Britain’s motoring landscape. 

David Fairbairn is the firm’s programme director, and was partly responsible for Jaguar’s recreation of the iconic Lightweight E-Type, revealed in 2014. He said the new company “brings together highly experienced, skilled and enthusiastic people that share the same want - the opportunity and freedom to create and produce products that excite”. 

Callum founders l r adam donfrancesco ian callum tom bird david fairbairn

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The other co-founders are engineering director Adam Donfrancesco, an ex-Noble and Aston Martin engineer, and commercial director Tom Bird, who helped to orchestrate the Jaguar C-X75 concept’s appearance in the James Bond film Spectre. 

The company is set to release official details of its first project in the coming weeks. 

Read more

Ian Callum: the man who revived Jaguar design​

Jaguar C-X75 concept review

The heroes of Ian Callum

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Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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CharlieBrown 17 July 2019

He looks so smug

He looks so smug why don’t these ex auto designers just retire gracefully I suppose the other idiot Gerry McGovern will be next lol

lambo58 17 July 2019

OMG! Yuk

OMG!

Yuk

abkq 17 July 2019

Let's hope Callum is able to

Let's hope Callum is able to put together a competent interior design team this time.
Can't help feeling that jaguar's sales failure is at least partly due to its uninspired interiors. No premium car, or any car for that matter, should be burdened with such bland, 'the design team couldn't care less' designs.
If Callum's new venture is about lifestyle, then it's worth bearing in mind that drivers and passengers alike spend all the journeys time in the cabin and cabin ambience will become an increasingly important consideration in increasingly autonomous cars.
jason_recliner 17 July 2019

"Journeys to destinations"

Moving is going somewhere.
Antony Riley 17 July 2019

IMO he is a highly overated

IMO he is a highly overated designer, to much ego too. As has been said The Jaguar XE had a terrible interior and to be honest not and otsatnding exterior design either. Alfa Guila is way out in front in this sector.His XJ well sales prove that was not a great design controvercial yes but clumsy rear end with those  black panals from boot to roof  to much like Halfords tape being added by a drunk person !. XF well in parts a better effort but headlights not good. so Mr Callum moves on .Will it  be handbags watches, shoes, houses hopefully he  understands his design  briefs better, Stll amazes me that Jaguar interiors of the last 10 years have been rather poor in design and execution , poor plastis, poor infortaiment  allways beaten by the German three Why ??. His legacy is Come on guys someone must defend him !!!!

Antony Riley 17 July 2019

IMO he is a highly overated

IMO he is a highly overated designer, to much ego too. As has been said The Jaguar XE had a terrible interior and to be honest not and otsatnding exterior design either. Alfa Guila is way out in front in this sector.His XJ well sales prove that was not a great design controvercial yes but clumsy rear end with those  black panals from boot to roof  to much like Halfords tape being added by a drunk person !. XF well in parts a better effort but headlights not good. so Mr Callum moves on .Will it  be handbags watches, shoes, houses hopefully he  understands his design  briefs better, Stll amazes me that Jaguar interiors of the last 10 years have been rather poor in design and execution , poor plastis, poor infortaiment  allways beaten by the German three Why ??. His legacy is Come on guys someone must defend him !!!!