Matt Hill - Made in Coventry

Matt Hill: Why Coventry University has real power within the car industry

When Matt Hill started studying at Coventry University in the early 90s he had no idea his passion for design would eventually see him working for some of the world’s most prestigious car companies.

Matt’s career has taken him from Lotus, across to the US and Italy with design roles at Lincoln Cars, Ford, Aston Martin and back to Lotus where he is now Head of Interiors.
It was at Coventry University, where he studied Transportation Design, that Matt took his first steps within the automotive industry, but he admits he didn’t quite realise the city’s significant role in the motoring industry until he arrived.

Motoring heritage

"I didn’t know too much about it at the time really, I’d just heard about the course through a school friend and thought it sounded perfect for me, I’ve always had a passion for cars and applied art has always been my focus. Once I got here I soon realised how great it was to be somewhere with all these links to companies within the motor industry.

It was a four-year course and we did a placement in the third year, I did mine at LTI, known today as The London Electric Vehicle Company, who make the electric London Hackney cab, Coventry University was able to point me towards this placement and there were others on my course who went to huge companies like Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover and leading brands in Europe.

We use a lot more computer aided design in the industry these days, but back when I was studying, the design work was biased to physical model development, which is something I really enjoyed. It felt like there was a real gravity about the city, that it was the best place to be for someone looking to get into this industry."

The start of an adventure

“Coventry was a bit different back then, I’d describe it as very earthy, but I had a fantastic time, I recently returned for a 30-year reunion, I made friends for life here. It was just such an adventure, being away from home for the first time, I had a brilliant social life, there’s so much to do in Coventry. One of my fondest memories is travelling down to Le Mans with a group of petrolheads from university and the adventures we got up to on the way."

Of his career highlights, Matt says his five-year stint in California was incredible, during which time he worked with some of the world’s leading designers. He’s not lost any of his passion or creativity and says the freedom to innovate and invent at Lotus is one of the reasons he’s so happy to be back at the company where he started his career journey.

Become more than just a creative

Matt said: “My advice to current students is don’t be subservient to the process, to push your lecturers and fellow students, that’s what we always did. This is a very competitive area and I worked all hours in my 20s and 30s, you need to take and make the most of all the opportunities available to you. You are not just a creative, take additional courses if they are available and show to an employer that you’re a well-rounded individual with many skills.

There are a lot of uncertainties in the air in the car industry at the moment, my hope is that the car doesn’t end up just being seen as a device, something disposable, because that devalues it. A car is something that affects people’s lives, I think there needs to be passion in design, people need to continue putting their heart and soul into it.”

Find out more about studying Automotive and Transport Design at Coventry University.