Skoda Designers Share How the Elroq Reflects Emotion and Precision

Designing a car might seem like an artist’s playground — an unbounded space for imagination and innovation. But step into the design studios of Skoda Auto, and you'll quickly discover a different reality. Here, the process is meticulous, collaborative, and driven by deep technical understanding — a fusion of emotion and engineering. At the heart of this creative engine are Karl Neuhold and Chan Park, two men whose professional journeys shed light on the inner workings of automotive design.

Neuhold has been with Skoda for nearly two decades, heading exterior design since 2006. Calm yet energetic, he’s watched design language evolve, from the Joyster concept to today’s sharp-edged electric SUVs. Park, a more recent addition to the team, took over interior design in 2024. His pragmatic approach complements Neuhold’s intuitive style. Together, they embody Skoda’s design philosophy: functional beauty, born of shared effort and mutual respect.

Before discussing their vision, they take a moment to admire the Elroq — a white electric SUV ready for its close-up. For Neuhold, it’s a reminder that the car is always the star. "It’s not about us,” he says. “It’s about creating something customers genuinely want." Park nods, adding that despite customers claiming they want something radically new, most still seek familiarity. That’s why the Elroq, despite being fully electric, retains a recognizable front face — the new Tech-Deck design, a nod to Skoda’s combustion-engine roots.

Both designers discovered their passion for cars early. Neuhold started sketching at age four, inspired by Matchbox models. Driving became a meditative escape. Park’s path was different: he saw the rise of digital tech during his student years and realized that while many industries were being disrupted, cars would remain vital. “But drawing them? That was the hardest thing,” he laughs.

What connects them is a shared belief: cars are emotional objects. A well-designed vehicle, they argue, doesn’t just move you physically. It communicates who you are — or who you want to be. “You don’t want to be seen in an unsuccessful car,” Neuhold quips, underscoring the link between aesthetics and identity.

Yet design isn’t about indulgence. It’s about compromise and long-term thinking. Park points out that interiors they work on today won’t be seen by the public for three years. “Look at AI — who knows what will feel current by then?” Still, their job is to anticipate and design for a future they can’t fully predict.

Their stories highlight how design isn’t just art — it’s problem-solving. “Proportions are key,” Neuhold notes. “Getting a car to sit right on its wheels — that’s hard to define, harder to achieve.” For Park, the complexity is even greater inside the cabin, where tech evolves faster and customer expectations shift quickly.

Despite the pressures, both describe Skoda Design as a nurturing space. Neuhold speaks fondly of the homey atmosphere; Park recalls a defining moment when, as a young designer, he was told to take what he needed — markers, tools, trust. That spirit lives on, they say, in cabinets now waiting for future talents.

Behind every Skoda stands a team: exterior, interior, color and materials, all orchestrated under the vision of chief designer Oliver Stefani. “We don’t consult each other constantly,” Park explains. “But we move in sync, presenting as one team.” The result is not just a car, but a cohesive experience — shaped by many, but driven by a single goal: to make something that resonates.