MY
STORY

I knew I wanted to be a car designer from a young age and worked tirelessly until that dream became a reality.

I’ve been obsessed with cars my whole life. Growing up with my Dad working for a leading Group C team, then for McLaren and building the F1 road cars, there wasn’t really much choice!

In March 2009 I started my career at McLaren Automotive. Soon after joining, my exterior theme was chosen for P1. Rob Melville, now Design Director, helped mentor me and together with a team of incredible people we shaped the design language of McLaren Automotive. I've been the Lead Designer on several key products for the company, including the exterior of P1, P1 GTR, 720S exterior and the 570S interior. I was most recently Senior Design Manager on the exterior of the new Artura.

I initially studied at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne under the legend of John Sweeney. This not only gave me my foundations in creative thinking and innovation, but also taught me resilience and helped develop my hard working attitude. I then completed an MA in Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art in London. This allowed me to build on my innovative thinking but more importantly opened my eyes to so many different influences both in the wider College and on my internship in Tokyo for Toyota Advanced Design.

I am enjoying focusing back on the essence of how my story all started and that is with drawing cars for the sheer fun of it!

THIS IS ME

Paul Howse

Designer of Mclarens

Motoring Artist

A Decade and more AT MCLAREN...

In March 2009 I started my career at McLaren Automotive. Soon after joining, my Exterior theme was chosen for the P1 and under Rob Melville, I led the exterior design of the group breaking car. It was such a unique opportunity to shape the Design DNA for effectively a start up company. The 12C had just been launched to a luke-warm reception design-wise and it was our task to fix this with the P1. This then set the mould and tone for what developed into the McLaren Design pillars of ‘Breathtaking products that tell the Visual Story of their Function’ and ‘Everything for a Reason’. The fluid, organic form language we developed, was very much inspired by marine life, Formula 1 cars and also the beautiful cars of the past.

I’ve since been the Lead Designer on several key products for the company, including the P1, P1 GTR, 570S interior, 720S exterior. I was most recently Senior Design Manager on the Artura.