Ford Expedition Designers Share the Blueprint for Adventure

The all-new 2025 Ford Expedition has come a long way from the drawing board to reality, and now several of the designers behind the SUV are sharing the sketches that helped bring it to life. In a recent post on LinkedIn, the design team shared their insights and anecdotes about shaping the thoughtfully designed SUV, as well as their favorite features and the importance of sketching in the design process. 

The article offers a behind-the-scenes look at the design and development of the all-new Ford Expedition and features interviews with four designers: Chad Phillips (exterior), Jill Dougherty (exterior, Tremor variant), Micah Jones (senior interior), and Stuart Jamieson (lighting), all of whom share their contributions and perspectives.

Thoughtful integration

The team discussed several key features intended to both enhance the SUV’s functionality and increase its aesthetic appeal, the most important being the new Ford Split Gate. The game-changing feature combines the functionality of a traditional SUV liftgate with the cargo management capability of a pickup truck tailgate. Three quarters of the gate raise like a traditional liftgate, while the lower quarter folds down like a truck’s tailgate. In conjunction, the reconfigurable Cargo Management System transforms the area into a table or stadium seating, creating a space where owners can spend time with friends and loved ones. 

Other features that allow Expedition owners to linger longer include Expedition’s available exterior Zone Lighting, which includes four lighting zones that surround the exterior of the vehicle to provide lighting for tailgating, camping, and other outdoor activities. Also, the addition of a new Tremor package allows for more rugged adventures.

A collaborative journey

The design team also emphasized the collaborative nature of the design process and gave insight into the importance of sketching as a key tool for innovation and communication. Sketching also allows designers to explore various design options, iterate quickly, and translate abstract concepts into tangible forms. This can involve both hand-drawn and digital sketches, such as 3D modeling, VR, and AR, and can be a key tool for expressing concepts to other team members.

Take a look at some of the sketches the team shared below and click here to read more.