Title: Senior Manager of Vehicle Architecture Virtual Series
Company: Fisker Inc.
Location: Tustin, California, United States
Don Herner, senior manager of vehicle architecture virtual series at Fisker Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in automotive design.
Mr. Herner is a distinguished professional in the automotive design industry who recently concluded his successful career at Fisker Inc. in Manhattan Beach, California, as a senior manager of vehicle architecture virtual series. With 25 years of experience, he has made significant contributions to the field, particularly in automotive design and creativity, inspiring countless individuals along the way. Now preparing for his upcoming role with a new automotive company, Mr. Herner is enthusiastic about his future in the industry.
During his years at Fisker Inc., Mr. Herner succeeded as an optical quality lead engineer in 2021. This position encompassed managing the detailed engineering execution to ensure quality craftsmanship. He also collaborated with the vehicle architecture and dimensional team to develop the gap plan and engineering specification of margins aligned to perceived quality. Mr. Herner was recognized for his hard work when he was promoted to senior manager of vehicle architecture virtual series, overseeing the daily running of block teams’ processes, management of Gateway delivery to the program, and, among other tasks, supervising studio feasibility engineering and technical teams.
Mr. Herner’s career began with an internship at General Motors (GM) in Michigan and a second internship at GM in California. These early experiences laid the foundation for his future success. In 2000, Mr. Herner joined Honda Development & Manufacturing of America LLC as a manager and senior designer II.
Beyond design, Mr. Herner’s expertise has included building 15 project-based teams within five years and creating fast-burst ideation sessions that resulted in 10 patent ideas. He has secured eight United States patents for exterior automotive designs since the start of his career, with four more pending.
Mr. Herner’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in transportation design from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, which he completed in 1990. His father, who served in the U.S. Air Force, encouraged him to pursue this path due to his passion for drawing and creativity. This decision proved instrumental as Mr. Herner excelled academically, achieving straight As and securing internships with GM before being hired by Honda immediately after graduation.
In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Herner is actively involved in industry-related organizations. He has served on the advisory board for the Design Thinking Executive Program at the University of California Riverside since 2022, where he shares his insights and experience with aspiring designers.
During his tenure in the automotive design industry, Mr. Herner was pivotal in several groundbreaking projects, including developing the 1994 Acura Integra model and Honda’s first truck model in the U.S., the Honda Ridgeline, in 2006. His work on these projects earned him recognition and accolades such as the Canadian Car of the Year Award for the 1.6 Canadian Acura EL design, the President’s Award for his contributions to the Honda Ridgeline Pickup Truck development, North American Truck of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show, and the Annual Business and Technology Award for the RT concept plan proposal at Honda.
Eager for future possibilities, Mr. Herner envisions leading a team to create innovative vehicles that stand out on today’s roads, aiming to inject personality into automotive design. His dedication to his career continues to drive him toward new horizons in the automotive industry.
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