Attending the Art Center of Design in Los Angeles, Derek Jenkins (1988) received a Bachelor of Science degree in Transportation Design. While at the Art Center Derek interned with Porsche for a summer outside of Stuttgart, Germany, then interned at the Volkswagen studio. At Audi he served first as lead exterior designer, followed by assistant chief designer, and was the principal exterior designer of the A2 concept and the 2002 Audi A8. Derek then moved to Volkswagen North America as chief designer, then became director of design at Mazda North America Operations where he was the lead designer of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year in 2016. In 2015 Derek left Mazda to join Lucid Motors where he is the senior vice president of design and brand.
