Jet Aviation has appointed Grischa Schmidt as the new senior director, design studio, effective immediately. The company's design studio is based in Basel, Switzerland where Schmidt will manage a team of 16 designers and report to general manager Basel Dirk Sapatka.

Schmidt joined Jet Aviation in 2009 as senior designer project manager. He left the company in 2012 to pursue an opportunity abroad, and later returned as senior project manager interior design in 2017.

A graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasedena, California, Schmidt holds a Bachelor of Science in Transportation Design, a diploma in Fine Art, a vocational diploma in Art History and History of Architecture and a Federal Diploma as a restorer and carpenter. Since 1995 he has worked at a number of international companies specialising in interior and exterior yacht design, interior aircraft design, as well as automobile and residential interiors. He began at Design Works USA in California, before moving to Munich to open the first European branch of Design Works USA, later working for companies including BMW Group, Cayros in Switzerland and London and Itten&Brechbuehl.

“I'm pleased to welcome Grischa into his new role leading the Jet Aviation design studio,” says Sapatka. “The design studio is a key part of the comprehensive in-house services that we offer, and Grischa's wealth of experience in aviation, marine and automotive design will ensure that we continue to provide exceptional interior design solutions for completion and refurbishment customers.”

The Jet Aviation design studio has over 40 years of experience in VIP private aircraft interiors. Working independently and in partnership with external designers, the studio designs and supports completions and refurbishment concepts, and provides detail design and feasibility studies and design management services. Recently, the Jet Aviation design studio released a series of concept renderings in partnership with Boeing for the 777X.

Jet Aviation Basel is a completions and maintenance center employing more than 1,400, with on-site cabinetry, upholstery, sheet metal, composite and paint shops.