McLaren's Design with a Ukrainian Twist - MAXYM SHKYNDER

Life is full of surprises, and often we don't know where fate will lead us. Just like 29-year-old Ukrainian, Max Schkinder, who was never a car enthusiast, didn't grow up in a garage with his dad, and didn't even have a driver's license. He had no idea that he would become the leading designer at the European automotive company McLaren.

Where It All Began

Max loved to draw. Back in school, he was passionate about this hobby and decided to make a career out of graphic design. After school, he enrolled in the Kyiv Institute of Decorative and Applied Arts and Design in the Industrial Design faculty. No matter what Max tried to draw, it always ended up resembling a car. That's when the idea of becoming an automotive designer was born. He sent his sketches to various magazines, which gladly printed them. However, his career started when he submitted his work to the Turin University. Despite it being a project for a spacecraft, not the theme of the competition - compact cars, his work and ambitions were successful, and he was accepted. Max was fortunate as his mentors were renowned automotive designers.

After his studies and moving to Prague, Max undertook his first successful project - designing the Skoda Superb.

That's when the real race began for him. He was sought after by teams like LandRover and Mercedes-Benz, but Max's choice landed on McLaren.

What's Next

Now, Max Schkinder is a leading specialist in the company. His tasks include developing both the exterior and interior of supercars. As Max himself puts it, it's a whole different world. While at Skoda, he had to draw almost the same thing repeatedly, here each job is unique. He admits that his most valuable tool is his imagination. When working on production cars, it tends to fade, which is scary as it may lead to losing one's professionalism. Therefore, the designer went further and started developing models of the future, cars that could be seen on our roads or even in the air in the next 10, 20, 30 years. There might currently be no technical possibilities for them, but science and technology are advancing, increasing the chances of seeing them realized one day.

Max states that one should always keep their talent honed and constantly evolve; otherwise, it's a recipe for failure. Paradoxically, his top priority now is to learn British English as it differs greatly from the commonly accepted English.

Max Schkinder's Advice

Merely loving cars since childhood, spending nights in the garage, or racing on the roads is not enough to get closer to the automotive industry. Success only comes to those who are determined, hardworking, and don't give up. It's not just about drawing. It's crucial to acquire the appropriate education, and then you have a massive chance to dive into this industry.

If you found this story intriguing, share it with your friends on social media.