{"id":33564,"date":"2024-10-30T21:42:17","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T01:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=33564"},"modified":"2024-10-30T21:42:17","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T01:42:17","slug":"spooktacular-stellantis-designer-haunts-office-with-outrageous-halloween-costumes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/spooktacular-stellantis-designer-haunts-office-with-outrageous-halloween-costumes","title":{"rendered":"Spooktacular: Stellantis designer haunts office with outrageous Halloween costumes"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s late October and that means Stellantis NV designers have dressed up their latest, highly-anticipated muscle cars and trucks in outrageous, aftermarket costumes for display at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association Show in Las Vegas early next month. Think Plymouth GTX Electromod, Ram 2500 Power Wagon Concept, Moparized Ram 1500 RHO.<\/p>\n

Late October also means that chief interior designer Ryan Nagode will unveil his latest outrageous costume for the annual Halloween office party.<\/p>\n

Like the full-size Big Bird costume he wore in 2022. The costume required that (similar to the original Muppets character) he put on the full Monty, hold the huge head up with his right hand while cradling a smartphone in his left that carried the video feed from a camera between Big Bird\u2019s eyes so he could see where he was going in the cavernous halls of the automaker’s Auburn Hills U.S. headquarters.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Nagode, Vice President Interior Design, Dodge Ram Chrysler and Jeep, in Animal costume with the SEMA, 1967 Plymouth GTX Electromod Concept.<\/em><\/div>\n
Stellantis, Stellantis<\/em><\/div>\n

Other costumes have included Animal, Chewbacca, Jack Sparrow, Beetlejuice and C-3PO. What will it be this year?<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes I\u2019ll drive to work in my costume,\u201d said the 21-year design veteran. \u201cJack Sparrow or Beetlejuice were good. . . it\u2019s pretty funny to see the looks at a stop light. (But) this year I’m gonna have to put it on at the office.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nagode\u2019s over-the-top creations have become the main act of Spooktacular, as the design department calls its annual gathering, where employees show up in costume.<\/p>\n

Dozens of designers are scheduled to convene Wednesday in the headquarters\u2019 Design Dome, including Nagode\u2019s boss and Stellantis Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles, who usually shows up in a black wig. Designers will celebrate alongside a gallery of Nagode\u2019s past designs, then spill out into headquarters to spread the Halloween vibe.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Nagode, vice president of interior design for Dodge, Ram, Chrysler and Jeep, with his Halloween costume creations in the Stellantis Design Dome in Auburn Hills.<\/em><\/div>\n
Stellantis<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

It\u2019s a tradition Nagode began 14 years ago. His then 1-year old son became obsessed with the Cookie Monster after a group of Sesame Street characters greeted passengers at the airport.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe would not let go of the Cookie Monster,\u201d Nagode remembers. \u201cAnd I thought he\u2019d love it if Cookie Monster showed back up. That\u2019s the first full-fledged costume I put together. And I dressed him up in a little cookie and held him as if Cookie Monster was taking a bite.\u201d<\/p>\n

For fun, Nagode also wore the costume to work for Halloween 2010.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was probably the only one in a building of 12,000 people that dressed up,\u201d he said with a laugh. \u201cIt was hilarious, just walking around, having lunch. In costume it was a little difficult to eat, but Cookie Monster only ate cookies, so it\u2019s all good.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Ryan Nagode, Vice President Interior Design, Dodge Ram Chrysler and Jeep, in Animal costume with the SEMA, Moparized Ram 1500 RHO.<\/em><\/div>\n
Stellantis, Stellantis<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Every year he\u2019d show up in a new suit. \u201cI would see a few people dress up, you know, and then after a while, there’s an expectation level, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chewbacca was a challenge as Nagode recreated the suit that 7\u20193\u201d actor Peter Mayhew wore in the “Star Wars” movies. It\u2019s a character that could only fit in a Millennium Falcon spaceship. Or Ram 2500 Power Wagon.<\/p>\n