Dan Sims Email & Phone Number

Orange County, California, United States

Hydra Design Labs is a complete automotive design and fabrication studio that is committed to shaping the future of vehicles through bold vision and over 30 years of OEM experience. More than just a design shop, Hydra is a one-stop solution for OEM vehicle development that takes a unique ‘design-first’ approach – with experienced OEM designers overseeing the entire process from the earliest concepting phases through final production. Hydra’s specialized team of design veterans leverage decades of experience designing both exteriors and interiors of production and concept vehicles for some of the world’s top automotive brands, including Mitsubishi, Ford, Chrysler, Nissan, Saleen, Lordstown Motors and more. Unlike many design firms – Hydra’s experience extends far past the sketch pad or CAD modeling phase. As a full-service automotive design studio, Hydra can provide clients any services they need along the development process, including help through full production programs with Class-A Surfacing, UI/UX, CMF, and CFD – all from a world-class facility in Southern California.Shaping the Future of Mobility: As Chief Creative Officer at Hydra Design Labs, I'm honored to spearhead a complete automotive design and fabrication studio dedicated to shaping the future of vehicles. From concept design to project management, my team and I have led transformative projects like the Endurance EV Pickup truck for Lordstown Motors, and the first fully electric, driver-optional tractor for Monarch setting new standards for innovation and sustainability in the automotive and mobility industry.

Lake Forest, Ca

Design Leadership | Creative Direction | Product Design Expert | Strategic Design Thinking | Human-Centered Product Design | Collaborative Design Solutions | Agile Lean Design Process | Rapid Prototyping | A Legacy of Design Leadership: Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of leading diverse teams and driving creativity to envision compelling futures for products and mobility. At Sims Design Consultants, my brainchild, I've cultivated an environment where client teams unleash their creative potential, resulting in groundbreaking projects like the R30 electric sport boat for Blue Innovation Group and the 5-star rated Refreshments razor for IPSY.

Winton Hills, Cincinnati

Led Industrial Design Innovation (3D) teams and activity for Baby Care.

Greater Boston Area

- Drove brand restages of Global MACH3 and Disposable Razor brands as leader of visual identity, and packaging. Updated and strengthened the MACH3 brand by simplifying variants, unifying global design, resulting in improved shop-ability, and volume growth for the brand.- Led the new Packaging Vision for The Art of Shaving, with brand architecture that enabled expansion to include Hair, Beard, Skin and Fragrance, as well as new razor products creating a cohesive, holistic portfolio. - Led an increased and consistent drumbeat of razor & new product innovations from concept to start of sale for the Art of Shaving brand, working closely with business, R&D and purchasing. Resulted in increased new and repeat retail & web traffic.- Created a single team across three marketing groups to transform Gillett’s global Shave Prep business. This resulted in the efficient restage of 80% of the global Shave Prep architecture, with two clear lines: skin benefit and “works with my razor.” Drastically simplified variants by focusing on relevant, meaningful benefits, and reducing variants. Resulted in globally consistent master branding, with clear tiers, less complexity, substantially improving navigation at shelf. - Led design activity and visual concept story for identity, packaging of Gillette BODY, Gillette’s first male body grooming brand. Results far exceeded expectations in Western Europe markets.- Delivered Gillette’s first Shave Prep packaging innovation in 20+ years, with a locking actuator that virtually eliminates the nagging oozing of conventional aerosols, a gauge to allow users to see how much is left, in a recyclable package. Resulted in a130 IYA volume growth.

- Led design oversight of global male skin initiatives, including package and in-store displays and point of sales merchandising, leading from Asia. Built & launched Gillette Pro Series architecture in China based on the consumer insights.

Singapore

- Developed broad Design capabilities for the AAIJK organization to meet the aligned needs of 8 business units and regional Go-to-Market teams, serving a diverse range of consumers. Nurtured the AAIJK Design organization from 3 to 30+ Design Managers in 4 years, significantly increasing Design’s contribution to making Asia the growth engine of the company, delivering consistent double-digit growth.- Prestige Group Design Council: Design oversight of regional retail and visual merchandizing teams, designing adaptations and fit for the Asia fine fragrance business, increasing campaign impact.- As Asia Design Thinking Capability Leader, instilled the Design Thinking innovation framework into the organization by recruiting and training a network of 50+ cross functional practitioners and facilitators who enabled and led this approach to tackle their business’ most vexing challenges. - Planned, and led an extended Design Thinking offsite for P&G Asia R&D, mobilizing the Asia Design Thinking Network. The result was a dramatic shift in approach, centered on employee needs, for the Singapore Innovation Center (SGIC). The offsite produced key insights, including work styles, needs and reward systems to stimulate innovation. The outcome of the offsite provided clear recommendations for the architectural brief. The SGIC is now the benchmark for P&G global innovation centers.- Insights from the SGIC offsite were used to prototype new work zone concepts with the Global Business Systems (GBS) Facilities Management Team in the Singapore General Office. The concept’s accommodation of multiple work modes and styles led to higher employee engagement and satisfaction.- Led Design Thinking effort for P&G’s HR function that resulted in a renewed Employee Value Proposition for the Asia region. Mobilized and led regional Design Thinking network members and cross-functional team in the execution off-sites in China and Singapore to better understand employee needs.

Cypress, California

- Led and directed comprehensive design activities of MRDA Design’s, award winning concept and production programs, including exterior, interior, color, materials and finish and seamless integration of all studio activities involving the Design, CAD, Engineering and Modeling/Fabrication members of the team.- Built and optimized capabilities and productivity of the MRDA Design Studio to successfully deliver full production and concept work. - Reorganized Mitsubishi Motors R&D America Design Center as General Manager, considerably improving budget, efficiency and administration of the team.- Appointed role of Design Project Leader for “Project America,” leading the design development for Mitsubishi’s D segment platform, the basis for the Eclipse, Endeavor and Galant. - Spearheaded an innovative new prototyping process for MRDA Design, in collaboration with engineering and fabrication teams. This Best-in-Practice method enabled the team to deliver drivable design prototypes, in three months at a fraction of the cost of prior programs, while addressing engineering packaging issues early in the process.- Initiated and championed a “Design In” process for MRDA Design that substantially streamlined production program collaboration, communication, and reduced transactional effort, by co-locating Design, Engineering and key suppliers in the workspace. The process enabled concurrent development, compressing schedules. - Instituted “Design Bank” practice at MRDA Design, encouraging designers to explore passion ideas, outside normally scheduled projects. These banked ideas inspired and provided a foundational “head start” on multiple production-programs. - Delivered the first two MOD (Mitsubishi Owner’s Day) events with the full MRDA Team (2005,2006). The results exceeded expectations and the MOD event was adopted as a continuing, annual consumer event.

- Responsible for design and implementation of international and domestic products and concept vehicles.- Led collaborative efforts between Chrysler Design, MMC Design and engineering on jointly developed projects.- Concepts: ‘89 Chrysler Millennium Concept, ‘87 Lamborghini Portofino by Chrysler Concept vehicle Production Programs: ‘94 Dodge Avenger exterior, Chrysler Sebring exterior, ‘94, ‘91 Dodge Stealth, ‘93 Dodge Colt and Eagle Summit,‘94 ‘92,’90 Eagle Talon, Plymouth Laser

Detroit Michigan

Certification, Design Thinking

Masters, Project Management, 3.92

The Master’s Program in Project Management at Keller Graduate School of Management, provided tools and knowledge to improve systems.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Industrial And Product Design, Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Student Merit Award, IDSAIndustrial Design

High School, Ged