According to Ford Australia’s Colour and Trim Designer, Ania Von Oxenberg:

"If a colour’s strong enough to last through the high-turnover, quick-change world of cosmetics, then features in fashion, and carries into soft furnishings and interior decor, then it’s got the strength to make the grade as an automotive colour as well.

"We all like to play with new colours or shades and the cosmetics industry is where you’ll see changes happening more quickly and more often than anywhere else."

That’s simply because the high turnover nature of that industry allows for wider experimentation.

"A colour trend will be picked up next in the fashion world, where it may become anything from a major part of the decade’s ‘look’ to a passing, one-season wonder," Ania said.

"Next you’ll see it starting to come through in soft furnishings, interior paint colours and finally strong architectural elements as well.

"It’s after that you’ll see it on cars. We work anything up to three years ahead to develop our paint colours. We see potential new colours emerging in the cosmetics industry. We use these early trends - combined with our skills, training, a good degree of international research and a lot of sheer instinct - to decide if they are colours which will last long term and remain popular for our cars three years hence."

Ania is currently appearing in the new Ford "Live it" advertising campaign, as an interior designer with a difference - custom designing a kennel interior for a demanding canine customer!

Based in Ford Australia’s Design Centre in Campbellfield on the outskirts of Melbourne, Ania is responsible for predicting future automotive fashion trends and translating these into working interiors and exterior colours. She works with local fabric and paint suppliers, taking the latest fashion trends from the catwalks of the world and translating these into interiors for the cars of tomorrow.

"While it’s exciting to be moving with the latest trends and ‘hot’ colours," says Ania, "it’s important to remember that we are working about three years ahead. That means we have to look for the strongest indicators and sometimes temper them a bit, bearing in mind that our customers are going to be getting in the same environment - their car - day after day.

Ania also points out some interesting differences between the colours that work best in different parts of the world.

"While the same colours tend to go global in fashion terms, they’re often tempered by local conditions, even in the automotive industry. There’s a different look in Australia, for example, compared to the United States," says Ania.

The most popular colours for cars in Australia, according to Ania, are white, silver, all tones of green and blue, and classic burgundy. "But we’re seeing some new trends moving in and we’re certainly doing our bit to drive them," she says.

"I can’t go into too many details obviously, because we don’t want to be sharing the results of our research and development in this very competitive market, but we’re working with some new paint technologies, including iriodin, chroma flair and the pearl paints which give softer, three dimensional and more sophisticated metallic effects. Generally the market is moving into warmer and brighter tones. Blues are moving towards more violet tones, while greens are becoming more lush and vivid.

"We have a fabulous new black which you’ll see on Ford’s new AU Falcon. It’s a true black mica and although black used to be considered too hot for this climate, with new air conditioning systems and tinted glass it’s not such an issue."

In terms of seat coverings, Ania sees an increasing move towards leather. "We’re all into more tactile things these days. We want natural materials and you can’t beat the smell of a new leather interior. Ten years ago 80 per cent of the prestige Ford LTD market wanted plush velour. Now it’s totally leather and this is a global trend."

Ania has the resources of Ford’s global colour and trim group in the US at her disposal. This group works with Ford affiliates worldwide, researching colour forecasts globally.

"Although this organisation is still in its infancy, we’ll be using it more in the future, especially for paints. It can save us a lot of time on new developments and, at the same time, we have input into the company’s global directions. It’s a terrific resource and helps us keep on top of global trends which can move very fast at times.

"We also work with the research teams of our major suppliers, like Dulux. They’re a supplier in markets around the world and have their own research and development facilities, so we work together wherever we can."

According to Ania, latest trends show customers are looking for a much stronger statement in their vehicle interiors.

"We are all spending so much time in our cars these days that they’re no longer just a means of transport. They’re becoming much more important to us.

"Our customers are telling us they want to be different. They want the car they choose - its colour and trim - to reflect something about them, as might their choice of clothes or home decoration.

"It’s a very definite trend and one that I find personally very exciting. I love designing fresh new interiors and it’s wonderful to know that our customers are as excited about the appearance of their cars as we are.

"While it’s still important that a colour is appropriate to the vehicle and brand, we are certainly seeing more experimentation and our customers are expecting more from us. It’s a very challenging and exciting time."

The story of Ania Von Oxenberg – Colour and Trim Designer, Ford Australia
Born in Poland to a French mother and Polish father, Ania emigrated to Australia with her parents in 1980.

Her design career started very early. While still at college, Ania was given her first break by Polish painter Andre Bartosz, who commissioned her to design for his textile studio. Andre tutored her in still life and figure drawing, painting and print making while she was also learning the technical aspects of textile design and print textiles.

Specialising in design and production of printed and knitted textiles, Ania completed a Bachelor of Arts at RMIT in 1992. During her studies, she worked for Art Park, the well-known Sydney-based Textile Design Studio, and further broadened her design experience by moving into specialty glassware design and production with a young Melbourne interior designer.

In 1994, she attended the University of Rome, studying Arts, Literature, Theatre and Film, European Economics and Politics. While in Europe, Ania worked for a hosiery specialist based in Poland, gaining valuable experience in marketing and customer profile. As both designer and marketing manager, Ania succeeded in developing new markets in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and France for an elegant new range of knitted textiles.

Ania returned to Australia in 1995 and has been working in the automotive industry for the last four years.

Ania’s responsibilities at Ford Australia encompass all aspects of interior and exterior colour and trim. She works on new exterior paint colours and finishes, wheel and grille design, as well as interior finishes, working with fabrics, textures, woodgrains and veneers.

Ania looks to both Haute Couture and street fashion, as well as homewares, interior design, architecture, interior design and the natural environment for her inspiration.