The Batmobile and Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Designs of Harald Belker

TorqArt: Can you talk about your earliest interest in car design, and the steps that you took to build your career, highlighting any defining moments during the early stages of your journey?

HB: My interest in car design came toward the end of my studies at Georgia Southern University, studying Industrial Manufacturing Technology. A friend sent me a German car magazine ‘Auto Motor Sport’. It showcased 4 different schools to study car design. I was intrigued, this is what I wanted to do. I picked Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, put together a quick portfolio, applied and got accepted, graduated, worked at Porsche for a second and started working at Mercedes Benz Advanced Design in California. After 4 years I chose to leave and got very lucky by getting into the Entertainment Industry, starting with the Batmobile for Batman and Robin. My personal highlight was my work for Minority Report designing autonomous Meg-Lev vehicles and the red Sportscar.

TorqArt: Could you detail how you secured your first movie vehicle design project, what prompted the career shift away from Mercedes, and what adjustment (if any) was needed to succeed in the world of movie vehicle design?

HB: Again, by luck, meeting an old classmate who was already in the Film Industry. We talked, I was looking for work after leaving Mercedes. He called me a week later to tell me about the new Batman movie starting up and that the guy, Tim Flattery who designed the last car was on Men in Black. So, I interviewed and got the job. CRAZY!!!

I left a very lucrative job because of the politics. Plus, to advance in my carrier I would have to move back to Germany. I just wasn’t ready for that step. Designing for the Film Industry is a totally different animal. Sure, the actual work is the same, but a design sketch doesn’t work. All the Artwork had to be full renderings. You are communicating with non-artists. So yes, it took some adjustment but that is what Art Center prepares you for by teaching you skills.

TorqArt: What are your primary sources of inspiration, and what specific influences drive your ideas for your concepts?

HB: My inspiration is good design. I like the harmony between exciting surfaces and cutlines. As a designer you are aware of trends, these days you get bombarded with images of people doing cool stuff. My biggest fear is to repeat or design something close to somebody else’s vision. Originality is my goal.

TorqArt: Could you walk us through your creative process when starting a new project, and does your approach differ depending on the type of project?

HB: The start … the difficulty of all beginnings. It takes a few days, but once I start thinking about it ideas start flowing. After a few rounds of sketching more ideas come and so on. My tip for everybody starting out, don’t be happy with your first sketch or idea. This is a process and I can see it every time when I goes through the process. Even the back and forth with the engineer makes the end- product better. 100%

TorqArt: How has technology influenced your approach to art over the years?

HB: As the last generation who started with basic tools like pencil and markers, got into digital painting with Photoshop then 3D, and now AI, each step proved to be exciting and make me better.

TorqArt: Could you highlight some of your favourite projects, and what made them special or challenging?

HB: Sure, definitely the Batmobile, it was like being a kid for 9 months. The Vehicles for Minority Report were my greatest success. Black Panther2 (which did not make it into the movie) I loved working for Anki, designing toy cars and cute little robots. Designing different things all the time really gets me out of bed every day. Sunglasses, furniture, consumer products. All of it is exciting.

TorqArt: What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career in automotive design, and what are some common challenges or misconceptions about working in this field?

HB: It is a wonderful field of creative work. I would make everybody aware of the fact that in order to rise in a company you will need to become a manager. Middle management was not for me, that’s why I left. Still, a wonderful field of work to get into. Maybe you get to design a show car one day 

TorqArt: What trends do you see emerging in automotive design, and how do you view the impact of AI?

HB: I think we will move, very slowly more and more into autonomous driving. I hope so because clearly nobody wants to drive and stop texting on their phones. I am all for it. I think Waymo’s are the best drivers in LA. Hands down. As far as AI goes for automotive design, it is just another tool. I use it to explore, show variations and possibilities that I could consider to develop further. Design still needs to be executed; there is no short cut.

TorqArt: Reflecting on your career, what experience has been the most fulfilling? Conversely, if you could look back, is there anything you would change or approach differently?

HB: I have to say that my time at Mercedes Advanced Design was not the most rewarding. Management was just awful. The Film Industry was unbelievably fun in the beginning, when big Art Departments were the norm. The camaraderie with everybody working was unreal. Positive and just enjoyable. Same goes for my time at Anki, different but working on something so forward thinking and with a Management that was terrific. Those were my most fulfilling memories. Not sure if I would have done anything different. Because we choose our way to end up where we are and I am happy where I am.

TorqArt: Finally, can you share any new challenges are you currently working on, or hoping to pursue?

HB: Sure, consulting as the Head of Design at Bedrock Robotics. New start up, and promising to really effect the future of autonomous machines. We will see where it goes 

www.haraldbelker.com