We had the opportunity to attend a guest lecture by Vikas Sethi, who spoke to us about his experience working as a CMF designer at Aston Martin UK. CMF colour, material, and finish is a crucial stage in the design process and often plays a key role in elevating a product from good to exceptional. Prior to this lecture, CMF design was an area I was largely unfamiliar with, so it was particularly interesting to gain first‑hand insight from someone with extensive expertise in this field.
Vikas spoke in detail about his career journey, beginning with his undergraduate degree and master’s studies, through to his first professional role after graduating, and eventually into the automotive industry. He explained how each stage of his career helped shape and refine his professional skill set, demonstrating how varied experiences can contribute to long‑term career development.
He also highlighted how CMF design is highly versatile and applicable across many industries. This was evident in his own career path, which included work in textiles, consultancy, and later automotive design. Vikas clearly explained how CMF skills can transfer between these fields. He used automotive examples to show how different colour palettes can influence how a vehicle is perceived, whether the intention is to communicate luxury, performance, or innovation. He also discussed how finishes affect colour perception, noting how matte finishes can soften tones, while chrome or high‑gloss finishes can enhance brightness and impact.
As part of the session, Vikas led a short activity where we selected a product and created three iterations of it: a standard version, a premium version, and a luxury version, changing only the CMF details. This exercise helped me better understand how material and colour choices alone can significantly alter the perceived value of a product, even when the core design remains unchanged.
