Designing an Icon: Creativity and the American Automobile

Check out this show that will be opening this Friday at Wayne State University.  Sounds like a good one to spend some time at while the snow begins to fall.  If you can’t make it now, don’t worry.  It will be running through the Detroit Auto Show so stop by after you see the new concept cars and compare how they have changed.

DESIGNING AN ICON consists of some 100 sketches and renderings from the top-secret studios of GM, Ford, and Chrysler, during the Musclecar Era (1960s-1970s).  Some will be immediately recognizable as relating to production cars of the era, but many depict advanced concepts that never made it into production.  Many sketches are beautiful in themselves and represent mediums and techniques that are no longer used in the computer-dominated field today.  The exhibition will run from Nov 21, 2008 through Jan 16, 2009.  Opening reception is 5pm-8pm Friday, Nov 21.  The last week of the exhibition overlaps the preview week for the Detroit International Auto Show.

Gallery hours are 10am-6pm Tues-Thurs, 10am-7pm, Friday.  (Closed Sat-Mon.)

ELAINE L. JACOB GALLERY
WAYNE UNIVERSITY
480 W. Hancock St.
Detroit, MI 48201
313 993 7813
visit the gallery’s artinfo.com listing

GALLERY LISTING AND MAP:
http://art.wayne.edu/jacob_gallery.php

Thanks for the tip Mike!

Here it is, Team First Blood going down with glory as the People’s Curse does it’s thing.  This years curse was supposed to allow all of the different teams access to the oil fill hole which they could put whatever they wanted to in it while it was running.  Nuts, bolts, bananas, anything until it blew.  But the engine died moments before the team was notified of the looming curse.  How else could Rambo go down with all the glory?

So Team First Blood requested they get their own time to destroy their creation.  A few minutes were granted and aided with sledge hammers.  Damage was adequate but not enough to have reason to leave the truck at the track.  The intent was that the curse would finish off the truck.  So the big can openers came out and finished the job.   The truck would become a convertible in a matter of minutes.   What a bitter sweet ending.

Check out the footage of how Rambo and his race truck were put to the grave.

Late last week, we had the opportunity (via our friends at GM’s social media group and our local buddies on Twitter) to visit the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

For those who don’t know, the Heritage Center is the place where GM stores its historical production and concept vehicles, from cars, to carts, to… well, all manner of crazy things.

Have a look through our gallery, and take a ride down memory lane.  Just don’t pass on the right.

Check out the gallery here.

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It is always fun to see the ideas students bring to the world of design. Their unpolluted minds give a fresh perspective on what the youth of today wants in their driveway.

This years show consisted of almost 100 students (sophmores thru seniors) showing automotive, product, toy, and interior design. This translates into a lot to take in for one day.

The school year is over in a week or two and many already have internships lined up at companies like Honda, Toyota, Johnson Controls, Fisher Price and many product consultancies. This proves that it was a good show and the students have a lot of talent. Most of the pics in the gallery are from the junior class which shows they will be the ones to watch for next year when they are looking for full time positions.

Check out the gallery of the show and stay tuned as we visit the College of Creative Studies Show next week in Detroit.

Spring time is here so that means the student shows are starting up. The Cleveland Institute of Art is running their show from April 23-25. The Industrial Design Dept. and other disciplines (Drawing, Painting, Glass, Sculpture, Jewelry & Metals….) will also be showing through the weekend until the29th. If you are in Cleveland check it out and see the future talent. We will take photos and give you the download after.

Red Bull Air Race—Think pod racer but in the year 2008. That gives you the jist of it. Pilots navigate through an aerial race track flying between inflatable pylons as fast as possible. How can you miss this event. I won’t since it will be in Detroit on May31-June1. The show will also be in San Diego in 2 weeks.

This is the first I have heard of this event, which is surprising since it has been going on for a few years. The prior years it was only held in Cali but now they are moving east. San Diego and Detroit will be the only 2 US stops on the 10 race tour.

Red Bull does an amazing job with their events so I have high expectations for a great time. Pics after the jump… Read more

So it is took awhile but the gallery is finally uploaded with all the pics from this years Autorama. This was the first year that I attended and was not overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong the high end show cars were beautifully done, there just were not as many as I thought there would be. Majority of the show had car clubs showing their rides which were nice but nothing special. Somehow I did not have a chance to go downstairs which is where my favorite car types were held - the Rat Rods. It was nice seeing “summer” show cars during a winter storm in Detroit. Although, now I am even more eager for summer to get here. Anyway, check out the gallery to see some hotness from the show.

You heard (read) right.. CDF is heading to CES for all of the breakdown on more of the notable gadgets, trends, and concepts to grace the show floor.

Stay tuned right here to CDF!

As an FYI… this great event is today.

Make sure you let the folks know you’re coming, so that they don’t call and blame us for the 1000s of people that show up un-announced.

Info attached after the break.
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CDf was recently invited to attend this cool event… We highly suggest all those in the area to do the same.

As avid users of Alias software, we often take the time out of our busy schedules (designing cars, trucks, and toasters) to attend these and brush up on our skills as well as discover new tools that aid us in product development.

This event will focus on AliasStudio and Showcase, two of the tools we use most often in the design world. Guest speakers have been announced, and a cocktail hour will follow.

Follow the jump to find out more info.

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