TWO PERSPECTIVES, ONE MISSION

JULIUS SCHLECHT AND MATTHIAS ETZOLD LEAD TOGETHER THE AUTOMOTIVE AND PRODUCT DESIGN DIVISION AT STUDIOKURBOS. THEY EXPLAIN IN THE INTERVIEW WHY THIS SETUP WORKS SO WELL.

Working in a team is more effective, precise, creative, and innovative because it benefits from synergies, inspiration, and shared competence and responsibility. This is exactly what is practiced at studiokurbos even at the team leadership level. Julius Schlecht and Matthias Etzold head the Automotive and Product Design (APD) department together. Matthias Etzold handles the creative side, while Julius Schlecht takes care of coordination. There’s no “bad guy” and “good guy” role here—both work together to develop the best solutions for their clients. They not only share a passion for smart design but also understand the expectations of international OEMs and other global players in different industries.

A CO-LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE IN DESIGN TEAMS IS RARE. WHY IS IT STILL USEFUL?

Julius Schlecht: Project timelines are very fast today, and the demands are constantly growing. It’s very challenging to keep track of all the other aspects like deadlines, capacities, and costs while also handling creative work, especially when managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Matthias Etzold: We creatives have more time to focus on the actual work with our clients. Julius is also a designer, so he can realistically assess the projects.

WHAT DO CLIENTS GAIN FROM THIS DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES?

Matthias Etzold: We can address our clients' needs much more effectively. Even with tight deadlines, we can re-evaluate projects fundamentally and deliver high quality.

Julius Schlecht: We are often hired to solve urgent problems, whether for companies that have clear requirements or for those still exploring the direction of their product development. As designers, we can visually present options and paths, thus improving decision-making. My role is to analyze the needs and requirements, define the project framework, and hand everything over to Matthias so that he and his team can do their best work. For our clients, this means more security and transparency. The results and client satisfaction are our top priorities — compliance to deadlines and budgets is crucial for this. Importantly, the co-leadership helps keep our creative phases agile.

HOW CLOSELY IS THE APD AREA INTEGRATED WITH THE USER INTERFACE/USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN TEAM?

Julius Schlecht: Previously, projects were very specific, sometimes focusing only on interface design or just a vehicle seat design. However, with the ongoing digitization of products, this is changing fundamentally.

Matthias Etzold: Exactly. We increasingly deal with projects that require a holistic view. Therefore, we think beyond traditional design areas and in a more integrated way. There are hardly any product or material design projects that don’t involve the UX team. This approach brings more variety and depth to our work, benefiting our clients.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY ABOUT THE CO-LEADERSHIP?

Julius Schlecht: Actually, a lot. In short: co-leadership is more relevant than ever. For us and for our clients.

Matthias Etzold: The guidelines Julius sets are extremely important; they don’t restrict us — instead, they help. A designer’s skill is to work creatively within defined boundaries, including the target costs of a product.

Want to read the full interview? More at our website: https://kurbos.com/de/pressemitteilung-doppelspitzeninterview