Halilhodžić was born in 1963 in Mostar, a city in what was then Yugoslavia, but is today located in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He is a graduate of the University of Sarajevo, having earned a degree in industrial design.
He considers Leonardo da Vinci to be the greatest designer of all time, and looks to nature for inspiration for his creative work.
He remained with Mitsubishi until 2008, when he joined Mercedes-Benz as the chief exterior designer for their European styling centre in Germany.
He was responsible for the styling of the 2004 Mitsubishi Colt, and the concept cars that preceded it: the CZ2, the CZ3, the CZ3 Cabriolet, and the CZT.