Tim Shih

Bio

Tim has worked as a car designer for over 25 years across three continents and three languages. He graduated with a BEDA degree from NC State, which he attended on a full Caldwell Fellowship. He went on to study at the Vehicle Research Institute at Western Washington University and completed a BS in Transportation Design at Art Center College of Design. After starting his career at Volvo Trucks North America, Tim moved abroad in 2000 to work in Germany and Japan for Johnson Controls, at the time a global leading automotive interior supplier.

In 2006, Tim achieved his childhood dream and went to work for BMW, designing production and show vehicles in Munich, Germany. In 2014, Tim relocated to Shanghai with BMW to lead design for a new EV sub-brand launched locally and to collect insights from the world’s largest and most dynamic consumer market: China.

Inspired by China’s rapid development, Tim left BMW in 2017 to lead the global design team at Yanfeng International, one of the world’s top automotive suppliers with 240 locations and 55,000+ employees around the world. As Global VP of Design and User Experience, Tim oversaw creative teams in China, Germany, and the US… all locations that he had called home at some point in his career.

In 2022, Tim returned to North Carolina to help care for his parents and his own growing family. Returning to his childhood home was a great opportunity to reflect on his early aspirations and assess his next chapter. Tim is now applying his global experience towards mission-driven projects and organizations, leveraging the power of design and creativity for social and environmental benefit.

Relocating back to North Carolina also presented Tim the chance to reconnect with NC State’s College of Design, where his design journey first began. He looks forward to engaging with students, faculty, and administrators via the Leaders Council, as well as the opportunity to inspire the next generation of designers towards even greater success and social impact.