Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Nissan's Next Design ChapterCar design may not be as easy to quantify as, say, powertrain refinement or advanced in-car technology, but it still helps give a brand an identity and attract certain buyers. That is why it is important to have a leader with a proactive approach to giving designers clear direction. At Nissan, a new direction may be coming, as Alfonso Albaisa is set to step down as the company's global design chief on October 1.Albaisa will be succeeded by Matthew Weaver, who notably served as lead exterior designer of the polarizing first-generation Nissan Juke. Albaisa, who has held the global design chief position since 2017, will serve as an adviser after stepping down before retiring on December 31. The two will continue working together through December to ensure a smooth transition.Alfonso AlbaisaNissanAn Identity ShiftDuring Albaisa's tenure, Nissan continued evolving its V-motion design signature. The Vmotion 2.0 concept, unveiled in early 2017, previewed an updated version that helped give the lineup a more cohesive look, much like Mitsubishi's Dynamic Shield fascia and BMW's signature kidney grille. However, the Cuban-American designer later told Autoblog in 2024 that "there is no longer a face of Nissan," a shift that can be seen across the current lineup.AdvertisementAdvertisementBecause design is subjective, it is up for interpretation whether that shift was for the better. What can be seen today, though, is that rugged vehicles such as the Frontier and Armada have a more distinctive off-road-ready look than crossovers such as the Rogue. Differentiating them this way could be more difficult if every model followed the same design formula.It remains to be seen how Weaver will influence Nissan's future design direction. Looking at his past experience, he contributed to the development of the Qashqai, previously sold in the U.S. as the Rogue Sport, and other key models for Europe and Japan. He also worked at Ford and Volkswagen before joining Nissan in 2001.Matthew WeaverNissanA New Design Chief for a New NissanThe appointment comes at a crucial time as Nissan continues to recover from financial losses under the Re:Nissan turnaround strategy. In the U.S., the automaker plans to introduce new models, including the revived Xterra, a body-on-frame SUV that will compete with vehicles such as the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler.Weaver will need to ensure that future global Nissan models don't fall behind in the design race, especially as more aggressively styled Chinese vehicles – many aimed at younger buyers – gain ground worldwide.NissanView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.