brooke elliott

SENIOR CMF DESIGNER

about me…

With a decade of experience as a CMF (Color, Material, Finish) designer, I have cultivated a unique expertise at the intersection of art, design, and industry. My academic journey began at High Point University, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree with concentrations in studio art, art history, and interior design. This multidisciplinary foundation provided me with a deep appreciation for aesthetics, historical context, and spatial planning.

Building on this, I pursued a Master’s degree in product design at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, further honing my skills in creating innovative and functional products. My professional path has included roles in both museums and the furniture industry, allowing me to blend cultural insight with practical design solutions.

Currently, I lead, create, and implement product strategies for both interior and exterior designs at Volvo Trucks. My work involves collaborating across teams to ensure that every design not only meets functional requirements but also embodies the brand’s vision through thoughtful use of color, materials, and finishes. I am passionate about driving design excellence and delivering impactful solutions in the transportation sector.

  • University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Master of Science (M.S.) - Interior Product Design

    2009 - 2013

    High Point University

    Bachelor’s of Art - Studio Art / Minors: Art History + Interior Design

    2005 - 2007

  • Volvo Group - Product Design

    Senior CMF Designer

    June 2022 - Present

    Volvo Group - Product Design

    CMF Designer

    December 2018 - June 2022

    Storr Office Environments

    Designer

    October 2016 - November 2016

    DARRAN Furniture Industries

    Project Designer

    April 2014 - October 2016

    • Strategic Design

    • Textile Design

    • Concept Design

    • Material + Paint Development

    • Trend Awareness / Forecasting

    • Adobe Creative Suite

    • Rhino

    • Google Sketchup

    • AutoCAD

    • Keyshot

    • Adobe Substance

    • Graphic Design

PROJECTS.

volvo

autonomous


Launch
12/01/2024

Volvo Trucks North America is at the forefront of the shift to electromobility, with over 700 Volvo VNR Electric trucks currently in operation throughout the United States and Canada. These trucks have collectively traveled more than 20 million miles with zero tailpipe emissions, resulting in the elimination of approximately 34 000 metric tons of CO₂—comparable to removing over 7 000 passenger cars from the road for an entire year. These achievements in North America contribute to Volvo Trucks’ global progress in heavy-duty electrification. Since 2019, Volvo has delivered more than 5 700 electric trucks across 50 countries, which have together covered 250 million kilometers (155 million miles).

interior

volvo autonomous interior


INSPIRATION


DRIVING ENVIRONMENT


LIVING ENVIRONMENT

the all new

volvo vnr


Launch
03/12/2025

The new Volvo VNR, designed for the regional transport segment, is Volvo’s second truck model on its all-new platform, following the Volvo VNL launched in early 2024. The VNR features a 90% redesign compared to its predecessor, incorporating new efficient technologies and improved aerodynamics, which together reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 7.5%. The platform is future-ready, supporting battery-electric, fuel cell, and internal combustion engines using renewable fuels like hydrogen. Additionally, it introduces a new 24-volt electrical system and advanced safety features, setting the standard for future autonomous trucks.

color + trim strategy
marketing imagery

vnr EXTERIOR COLOR + Trim STRATEGY


SILVER METALLIC

#8c8985

DARK QUARTZ GREY METALLIC

#453536

CORE TRIM LEVEL


silver metallic
gloss black

EDGE TRIM LEVEL


dark quartz grey metallic
matte black

TRIM FEATURES

grille - matte black grille surround - gloss black bumper center - matte black side bumpers - matte black air intake - matte black air intake surround - gloss black door handle - matte black cab | side mirrors - body color

bright chrome
matte black

TRIM FEATURES

grille - gloss black grille surround - bright chrome bumper center - gloss black side bumpers - body color air intake - gloss black air intake surround - bright chrome door handle - matte black cab | side mirrors - body color

the all new

volvo vnL


Launch
01/23/2024

watch the launch

The new Class 8 Volvo VNL is specifically engineered to address the unique challenges and requirements of the North American market, aiming to revolutionize the driving experience in this segment. Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America, emphasized that the launch of the all-new Volvo VNL represents a significant transformation—not just a redesigned truck, but the beginning of a new era for Volvo Trucks, their customers, and drivers. He highlighted that the original Volvo VN, introduced in 1996, set a new industry standard with its aerodynamic design, and the new VNL continues this legacy by introducing innovations that will influence the future of transportation.

product strategy
exterior color strategy
exterior imagery
interior color strategy
graphics + application
seating
interior imagery

product strategy

Since our ultimate goal is to become the #1 truck in North America, we need to find a way to connect with our market in a compelling way so they can see themselves reflected in our products and be able to build a long-lasting loyalty with the brand.

In order to do that, we should be a little more aggressive in our communications to raise awareness of fact that we are based in the United States. Our Swedish heritage is a given, but not a lot of people know that we are here and therefore, that we understand the market. There is a huge value in that and we should take advantage of it.



concept: biomes

  • desert

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

  • arctic tundra

    Arctic tundra is a very cold, windy, and treeless biome that's snow-covered for much of the year.

  • CONIFEROUS FOREST

    Characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces and larches. The taiga is the world's largest biome apart from the oceans.

  • TROPICAL RAINFOREST

    is an ecosystem that covers about 7% of the Earth's surface. Found all over the world but the majority lies in South America in Brazil.

  • GRASSLAND/ PRAIRIE

    Large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs. Often used as farmland.

  • DECIDUOUS FOREST

    Description goes here dominated by trees that lose their leaves each year. They are found in areas with warm moist summers and cool winters.

Biomes of North America



The major ecological community of organisms adapted to a particular

climatic or environmental condition on a large geographic area in which they occur.

DESERT

The Great Basin Desert is the largest desert in the United States, covering approximately 190 000 square miles. It is bordered by the Sierra Nevada Range to the west, the Rocky Mountains to the east, the Columbia Plateau to the north, and the Mojave and Sonoran deserts to the south. The desert spans parts of Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, California, and the Mexican state of Baja California.

PRAIRIE

The prairie region in the United States includes most or all of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It also covers significant portions of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and western and southern Minnesota. Additionally, California's Central Valley is considered a prairie.

COASTAL

Coastal forest ecoregions are located along the Pacific coast of North America. This region forms a narrow coastal zone in Alaska, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the northernmost Pacific Coast Ranges. It covers approximately 23 300 square miles (60 400 square kilometers), stretching from the Alexander Archipelago in southeast Alaska along the Gulf of Alaska to the western Kenai Peninsula.

URBAN

Anthromes include dense settlements (urban and mixed settlements), villages, crop lands, rang elands and semi-natural lands and have been mapped globally using two different classification systems, viewable on Google Maps and Google Earth. There are currently 18 anthropogenic biomes. We will focus on Dense Settlements which are the second most densely populated regions in the world.

vnL EXTERIOR COLOR STRATEGY


COASTAL MIST

#446067

SKYLINE STEEL

#53565A

PRAIRIE GRASSLANDS

#5C7F71

DESERT MIRAGE

#919389


ULTIMATE TRIM LEVEL


   coastal mist
   bright chrome
   platinum chrome

TRIM FEATURES

grille - platinum chrome grille surround - bright chrome bumper center - platinum chrome side bumpers - body color air intake - platinum chrome air intake surround - bright chrome door handle - bright chrome cab | side mirrors - bright chrome

EDGE BLACK TRIM LEVEL


   skyline steel
   gloss black
   gloss black

TRIM FEATURES

grille - gloss black grille surround - gloss black bumper center - gloss black side bumpers - gloss black air intake - gloss black air intake surround - gloss black door handle - matte black cab | side mirrors - body color

EDGE TRIM LEVEL


   prairie grasslands
   bright chrome
   gloss black

TRIM FEATURES

grille - gloss black grille surround - bright chrome bumper center - gloss black side bumpers - body color air intake - gloss black air intake surround - bright chrome door handle - matte black cab | side mirrors - body color

CORE TRIM LEVEL


   desert mirage

   gloss black
   matte black

TRIM FEATURES

grille - matte black grille surround - gloss black bumper center - matte black side bumpers - matte black air intake - matte black air intake surround - gloss black door handle - matte black cab | side mirrors - matte black

vnL interior COLOR STRATEGY


RAVEN BLACK

#3D3935

GREY BASIN

#AFA9A0

FATHOM BLUE

#07272D

LOGAN GREY

#707372

SULA

#00A3BF

RACERUNNER

#C0DF16

vnl graphics + application


dunes

meadows

cliffs

peaks

ELEVATION PATTERN


Elevation, defined as the height above sea level, significantly influences biomes by affecting temperature and precipitation—key factors in biome structure and composition. As altitude increases, temperature drops, leading to changes in biome characteristics. The presence of elevation in the landscapes of four different biomes provided a common theme for the design team, inspiring the creation of a primary pattern that can be applied across all trim levels. Each component will feature a unique application of this pattern, maintaining individuality while sharing a unified graphic language.

IRON HEAD GRAIN


Animal skins, particularly lizard skin with its overlapping keratin scales, inspire grain development due to their ability to hide imperfections and resist scratches. These natural patterns also provide environmental protection and water retention, making them ideal for technical design inspiration. The design team used the spiny scales of lizards as a reference, selecting a modern triangle motif based on the Iron Mark arrowhead. This distinctive triangle was developed into a repeatable pattern suitable for both fine grain applications and, with gradation, as an eye-catching print.

vnl seating cmf


X1

FABRIC

Instinct Fabric

Fathom Blue + Racerunner

Green & Sula Blue

X2

VINYL

Bayside Vinyl

Logan Grey + Brushed Grain

X3

MORDURA

Mordura x 2

Slate Dust + Charcoal

X4

FABRIC + VINYL

Denim | Mana | Bayside Vinyl

Fathom Blue Denim + Sula Accent

Fathom Blue Mana + Elevation Emboss

Logan Grey Bayside Vinyl

X5

LEATHER

Leather | Perforated Leather

Fathom Blue Leather

Logan Grey Leather

Fathom Blue Perforated Leather + Sula

Racerunner Green Stitch

VOLVO

SUPERTRUCK ii


Launch
10/2023

watch the launch

The Volvo team developed SuperTruck 2 as a cutting-edge, sustainable class 8 truck, focusing on advanced aerodynamics, lighter construction, and optimized payload. The project involved a complete redesign, including a new cab with a curved windshield, mid-roof tractor, and minimized cab width to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. The chassis ride height is adjustable for better aerodynamics and maneuverability. Volvo replaced traditional mirrors with a Camera Monitoring System to further reduce air resistance. Custom tires and an optimized powertrain contribute to lower energy use and cleaner propulsion. Real-world testing confirmed significant improvements in freight efficiency, making SuperTruck 2 a major step forward in sustainable trucking technology.

exterior imagery

volvo

electric


Launch
12/03/2020

Volvo Trucks North America is at the forefront of the shift to electromobility, with over 700 Volvo VNR Electric trucks currently in operation throughout the United States and Canada. These trucks have collectively traveled more than 20 million miles with zero tailpipe emissions, resulting in the elimination of approximately 34 000 metric tons of CO₂—comparable to removing over 7 000 passenger cars from the road for an entire year. These achievements in North America contribute to Volvo Trucks’ global progress in heavy-duty electrification. Since 2019, Volvo has delivered more than 5 700 electric trucks across 50 countries, which have together covered 250 million kilometers (155 million miles).

color strategy
interior
exterior
product images

vnr electric COLOR STRATEGY


EXTERIOR

ELECTRIC GREEN

#007982

INTERIOR

RAVEN BLACK

#eD3935

WREN GREY

#8C857B

SAFTEY GREEN

#92C814

vnr electric exterior TRIM



electric green
matte black

TRIM FEATURES

grille - body color grille surround - body color bumper - body color air intake - matte black air intake surround - body color door handle - matte black cab | side mirrors - matte black

vnr electric interior TRIM



INTERIOR TRIM STRATEGY


Volvo’s design studio was assigned to develop a design strategy for the company’s first electric product. The goal was to highlight the new electric vehicle while minimizing costs by utilizing existing Color, Material, and Finish (CMF) elements. Existing materials were retained, but a distinctive electric green color was introduced to set the electric products apart within the CMF strategy.