Nissan will close down two design studios as part of restructuring

In the last few months, Nissan has been busy with its restructuring plan as it tries to recover from its current financial situation. The Japanese automaker has been reducing its total workforce, while at the same time trying to eliminate inefficiencies throughout its business processes.

Notably, it’s the consolidation of Nissan’s manufacturing hubs that have been making the headlines, along with the most recent cancellation of the NISMO Festival. But this time, the brand has announced they are also reorganizing their global design operations.

Inside the Nissan Design America studio

The Nissan Design America in San Diego, California and the Nissan Design Latin America in Sao Paulo, Brazil studios will be closed down, while other operations in Japan and London will be downsized.

As a result, the company is set to consolidate its design offices into five core hubs: the Global Design Center in Atsugi, Japan Studio Six in Los Angeles, Nissan Design Europe in London, Nissan Design China in Shanghai, and the Creative Box Studio in Tokyo.

The Global Design Center in Atsugi, Japan, will continue as the lead studio; while Studio Six in Los Angeles will evolve into the main U.S. hub. The Nissan Design Europe in London will focus on the Africa, Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania (AMIEO) markets, while Nissan Design China in Shanghai will be dedicated to the Chinese market. Lastly, the Creative Box Studio in Tokyo will specialize in brand and lifestyle design projects.

Nissan says these studios will focus on integrating digital technologies into the design process, allowing for faster decision-making, greater collaboration, and more agile responses to shifting market demands.

“We are reshaping our operations into five agile hubs that harness new technologies and creative energy to deliver faster, smarter, and more connected design solutions, ensuring resilience and relevance in a rapidly evolving industry,” said Alfonso Albaisa, corporate executive of Global Design, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “This strategic shift empowers our organization to focus on upstream innovation and future mobility, while enhancing our creative agility and competitive edge in an increasingly dynamic landscape.”

Nissan says the reorganization will be completed by the end of fiscal year 2025.