Roman Lys went from carving his own childhood dolls from wood in Poland to master designer for Buick. And now his son, Robert, is a lead sculptor in another brand studio. Similarly, another son, Daniel, is also sculptor in GM design.
Robert, who joined his dad at GM in 2003, says both nature and nature helped mould him into who he is today, “I was fortunate to learn from my father, and to also be able to study in a formal setting,” he said. “You have to be born with some talent, then take it to another level through school and training.”
But the Lys family isn’t the only multi-generational design family at Buick.
Liz Wetzel, director of Buick interior design, lead the interior design of the Buick Avenir concept and upcoming Buick Cascada convertible and has now spent over 30-years at GM Design. She, too, credits her father, Jay, a retired GM vice president and engineer, as a crucial creative influence.
Sculptor Matt Brancheau, who joined the Buick studio back in 2012 to assist with the Buick Enclave and the Avenir, also cites his dad, a metal model maker, as a key figure in his upbringing.
“He is a true artist at what he does,” said Brancheau. “All the cool cars he worked on, the attention to detail, was truly a wow factor growing up.”
It’s an interesting pattern and one that begs the question: Is it nature or nurture, or both, that shapes us into who we are?
Ponder that question while you watch the video below. Then we’d love to hear what you think: Nature? Nurture? Potato? Which one really shapes us into who we are?
Comments
Behind Matt Brancheau, that interior looks very production-ready…. want to take any guesses guys?
The designers of the cars we drive I believe dont get as much credit as they deserve . Not only are they truly artists in the craft but they need to have a sense of what will be fashion forward . Its not unlike a craftsman that designs our clothing or furniture or the time pieces we wear . What usually starts out as a sketch on a napkin at a fine restuarant to a clay model and then on to production aftter many hours in a studio , must be similar to having your first child . I would bet most of us as kids used to draw cars that we thought were cool , or put together model cars as a hobby . But to actually have a hand in the design process must be an awesome job . and one that not every man can do .