Porsche Design Seeks a Southland Site

Porsche Design, the minimalist industrial design house founded and run by automotive heir Ferdinand A. Porsche, is seeking a Southern California location for its first satellite research and design center.

Jon McGowan, president of Porsche Design America, said the company wants to start with a small facility next year staffed by two designers who will transfer from Porsche Design headquarters in Austria. Ultimately the California center could rival the parent facility’s size with 20 designers and support staff, he said.

The company does design work in a variety of fields, including transportation, electronics and health care, but is not part of the car maker’s regular design process.