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Designer's designer

I*: How do you think he would want to be remembered?

Wow. I think he would want to be remembered as a designer’s designer. I mean, like I said, he had all this talent, and he had all this capability, and he was really kind of an everyman. He could do...he could do everything. I mean from, like I said, from wrenching on the car to designing the car to building the car to maintaining the car. And then he had all this other capabilities, of graphics, you know, graphic design. I mean he could look at things and see what’s good about it and what’s bad about it instantly. It was amazing what he could do. He looked at things in a different way so I think from his standpoint, I think being a designer’s designer though would be a way that I remember him.

Like I said, it was amazing to see somebody just, you know, pick up something and not just know there was something wrong with it, but how to fix it. And to be able to fix it. So, that's kind of...that's beyond talent, I think, that's having something really, you know, being something really unique.

So, I don't know how to characterize it any other way. I mean he's...I think he would have, or I know he would have wanted to be remembered as a good designer.

* “I” indicates an interviewer (Akira Boch)


automobiles design Larry Shinoda motor vehicles

Date: September 14, 2011

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Akira Boch

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

After graduating from high school in Anaheim, Ron Kusumi earned his degree from Cal Poly Pomona, and worked in the automotive industry for 20 years with companies such as Nissan and Mitsubishi. It was while working on a project developing an aluminum alloy wheel at Nissan that Ron met famed designer Larry Shinoda, whose brief comments about the project impressed Ron with a keen eye and genius for knowing the essence of style and function. The two shared a mutual passion for sports cars and became friends. For the past fifteen years, Ron has run an independent film studio in Long Beach, California, writing, producing and directing programs for cable television. (September 2012)

Nakamura,Grace Aiko

Larry designing chairs in the camp

Sister of automotive designer Larry Shinoda

Nakamura,Grace Aiko

Larry’s fishing skill

Sister of automotive designer Larry Shinoda

Nakamura,Grace Aiko

Mother’s reaction to Larry's daredevil racing

Sister of automotive designer Larry Shinoda

Nakamura,Grace Aiko

Larry and President Clinton

Sister of automotive designer Larry Shinoda

Nakamura,Grace Aiko

Corvette Hall of Fame

Sister of automotive designer Larry Shinoda