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.
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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
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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
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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).
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.
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
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
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
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.
Premium Mattress Cover
Grille Bar Tessera
Headlamps
Speaker Covers
Rubber Mat Inserts
Ladder Step Tread
Floor Mats
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
Ultimate Trim Level
Ultimate Trim Level
Ultimate Trim Level
Ultimate Trim Level
Ultimate Trim Level
Ultimate Trim Level
Edge Black Trim Level
Edge Black Trim Level
Edge Black Trim Level
Edge Black Trim Level
Edge Black Trim Level
Edge Black Trim Level
Edge Trim Level
Edge Trim Level
Edge Trim Level
Edge Trim Level
Edge Trim Level
Edge Trim Level
Core Trim Level
Core Trim Level
Core Trim Level
Core Trim Level
Core Trim Level
VOLVO
SUPERTRUCK ii
Launch
10/2023
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.
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).
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.