Charles Whipple Pelly, commonly Chuck Pelly, is an American industrial designer. Pelly is best known for founding the global design consultancy DesignworksUSA.
He has spent most of his life in Southern California. He attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California and studied for his Master's degree.
After graduating from Art Center College of Design, he studied furniture and interior design in Konstfack, University College of Art, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, Sweden. He then worked in several renowned design offices, including Henry Dreyfuss Associates where he was instrumental in developing early ergonomics, Measure of Man. Pelly still holds a long term relationship to Art Center, as he was involved as student, teacher, mentor and lecturer.
In 1972 Pelly became founder of DesignworksUSA, today considered by some as one of the top 10 industrial design consultancies in the world. In 1995, DesignworksUSA became wholly owned subsidiary of BMW. Pelly was president and CEO until 2000 of the Newbury Park & Munich branches.
In 2000 Pelly and his partner Joan Gregor founded The Design Academy, Inc.
With the recent launch of Intersection-Inc., an offshoot of The Design Academy, Chuck is responsible for Creative Direction.
Contents
Design highlights
1958–1960: Designer of the 6 Scarab sports car for Lance Reventlow
1961: Storyboard and set design for television series Lost in Space
1962: VW Beetle Stretch Limo, Scarab and Chaparral race car
1967: 4-door Porsche 911 Sedan
1972: Porsche 910S
1974: IMED Infusion Pump
1975: C Pelly seating line for Condi Furniture, Compton, CA/ Grammer, Amberg, Germany, marketed until 2001
1984: Crista seating line, SunarHauserman and Pelican Desk Series, Brueton Industries
1985: Seating and interior for Disney monorail, Disney, Burbank, California
1986: Varix seating line, Samsonite Furniture Co., Murfreesboro, Tennessee
1989: Magna International, Torrero research vehicle, Geneva Auto Show, Switzerland
1994: Designworks/USA’s concept and development of BMW’s E2, electric vehicle
1998: Designworks/USA’s concept involvement in the BMW E46 (3 Series)
1999: Designworks/USA’s concept involvement in BMW E63-1999 Sport Activity Vehicle, Hanover, Germany, Land Rover Range Rover
2002: Designed & custom built “Cattiva”, a 43 foot world class catamaran, New Zealand
2004–2006: Lifestyle vehicle and trailer design for Magna International
2005–Present: Co-founder and director of Design Los Angeles conference and Design Challenge for LA Auto Show.
Pelly has been awarded over 40 US and foreign Patents.
Awards
Chuck was president is IDSA, Industrial Designers Society of America, FIDSA 1991-1992