Dr. Zhang Wenquan joined Italdesign Giugiaro (IDG), a worldwide top design company, as its first Chinese full-time permanent employee on December 1st. Dr. Zhang graduated from School of Design of Hunan University in 2013.

IDG was founded in 1968 in Turin, Italy. Together with Bertone and Pininfarina, it was reputed as one of the “Three Engines of Automobile Design” in the 20th century, which pushed forward the history of automobile. The founder, Mr. Giorgetto Giugiaro was renowned as “Designer of the Century” for his marvelous contributions to automobile development.
In 2010, IDG was acquired by Audi to become a Volkswagen’s global design center. It provides styling, engineering, prototyping, and pre series services for multiple vehicles such as Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Scania, and MAN.

Zhang entered into Hunan University in 2004 for his undergraduate study of industrial design, and gained his master’s degree in 2007. In 2013, he graduated from the university with his doctor’s degree. During his study in Hunan University, he had been awarded National Scholarship, Hugo Shong Scholarship, and first-grade scholarship of the university.

Zhang, a member of the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, participated with his supervisor Prof. Zhao Jianghong in several research projects under the national “10th Five-year Plan”, “863”, and “975” programs. He also joined in the teamwork for the projects including the administrative-use vehicle of Zhongqi Group, Howo light truck of China National Heavy Duty Truck Group (CNHTC). He published a paper on international conference, and three ones on key indexed journals.

Zhang was sent to study in Politecnico Milano for a doctoral exchange in 2008, and worked as an intern in IDG’s styling department after graduation. In 2015, he was employed as the first Chinese employee in the department, and on December 1st, promoted to be a full-time permanent designer of the company for his remarkable performance.