Industry Insights: Meet Ki Hyun Ahn, creative director behind iconic cars

For Ki Hyun Ahn, a creative director at General Motors and intermittent lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Information, staying power matters as much as horsepower. 

In his time at GM, Ahn has led the successful launches of groundbreaking vehicles, including the award-winning Cadillac Lyriq and Hummer EV, while overseeing the creation of iconic models like the Corvette Stingray and Eray. With a background in industrial design, he is passionate about integrating physical and digital experiences, combining empathy with strategic vision, and aligning human-centered design with business goals.

In the course he teaches at UMSI on automotive UX design, Ahn aims to provide mentorship that will have a lasting impact on students’ careers. He taught at Lawrence Technological University for many years, where he guided students toward becoming successful designers in the industry. 

In this Q&A, he chats with associate dean for academic affairs Cliff Lampe about purpose-driven design, his own circuitous journey across continents and industries, and what stands out most about the UMSI community. 

Cliff Lampe: What do you teach at UMSI? What’s the top-line learning goal for that class?

Ki Hyun Ahn: I teach the special topics course, SI 611.114: Advanced Automotive UI Visual Design. The primary goal of this class is to teach the visual principles of automotive UX design through practical exercises. Students will learn to apply purpose-driven design in the context of automotive UI, focusing on essential visual components such as typography, color, proportion, hierarchy and layout. Additionally, the course covers the core concepts of UI kits and design systems, using Figma as a primary tool.

The course also emphasizes creating high-fidelity UI graphics within the context of clusters and integrated center stacks, preparing students to design cohesive and functional automotive interfaces.

How and when did you start teaching here?

Winter 2025 marks my first semester teaching at UMSI. I was introduced to this wonderful opportunity through a former colleague who is now part of the UMSI faculty. I’m incredibly appreciative of the genuine support I’ve received from faculty, HR and IT, who made my onboarding process seamless and stress-free.

What’s your favorite thing about working with UMSI students?

I’m enjoying the diversity of backgrounds among UMSI students, ranging from design and engineering to psychology, as well as their enthusiasm to learn and grow. I’ve been deeply impressed by how warmly the faculty and students have welcomed me and by the passion and dedication everyone brings to UMSI.

Tell me about yourself.

I’ve evolved from being an industrial designer specializing in car exteriors and interiors to becoming a UI visual designer and, eventually, a creative director at General Motors. I am passionate about bringing ideas to life with empathy, strategic vision and a deep understanding of business dynamics. With my industrial design background, I aim to create designs that seamlessly blend physical and digital experiences, believing that their integration is a cornerstone of modern design.

What is something you want folks at UMSI to know about you? 

Just like my design background, my personal journey spans multiple countries and cultures. I grew up in Seoul, Korea, attended high school in Dublin, Ireland, and pursued mechanical engineering at University College London, England. After a few years, including military service, I shifted to studying design at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Being exposed to diverse cultures and experiences has helped me build stronger empathy, and my journey of switching between entirely different fields has given me valuable insight into what it takes to adapt, grow and thrive in new disciplines.