EyesOn Design are a series of events including an annual

car show An auto show, also known as a motor show or car show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is attended by automotive industry representatives, dealers, auto journalists a ...

and a

fundraiser Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gathe ...

for the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology. It has become a national event focused on the emotion and character of

automotive design Automotive design is the process of developing the appearance (and to some extent the ergonomics) of motor vehicles - including automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, buses, coaches, and vans. The functional design and development of a modern ...

History

The Eyes on Design Show was established in the late 1986 as both celebration of

and a fundraiser for the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan Grosse Pointe Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 11,555 at the 2010 census. Bordering on Detroit with frontage on southern Lake St. Clair, it is the southernmost of the Grosse Pointe suburbs. Gro ...

, devoted to matters pertaining to the eye and vision. The first shows were called "Eyes On The Classics" and were held in the Grosse Pointe Academy parking lots. Initially focused on the domestic " Big Three" ( General Motors, Ford and

Chrysler Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automot ...

), the show was expanded to include automakers from around the world. The name was also changed to "EyesOn Design". For its third show, the venue moved to the grounds of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. To ease access and accommodate the increasing public attendance, the design chiefs at DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors suggested that the event be hosted by one of their companies each year. The 2002 show was held at the

Chrysler Headquarters and Technology Center The Chrysler World Headquarters and Technology Center (CTC) is the North American headquarters and main research and development facility for the automobile manufacturer Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The 504-acre ...

in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The theme for this 15th anniversary weekend-long show was "Performance Vehicles". In 2003, the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan hosted the event. According to General Motors, the 2003 event was the largest, most complete collection of concept vehicles ever assembled representing the very best efforts of GM, Ford, Chrysler, and other automakers. The three-day event was also the first time the GM Design Center was open to the general public. Attendees also had the opportunity to purchase rides in notable GM

concept car A concept car (also known as a concept vehicle, show vehicle or prototype) is a car made to showcase new styling and/or new technology. They are often exhibited at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or ...

s. A Founding Chairman of the annual EyesOn Design event, Chuck Jordan, was commemorated during the January 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The EyesOn Design show celebrated its 25th anniversary during summer 2012, on the grounds of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House with over 200 vehicles displayed by invitation only.

Design focus

The "Eyes on Design Show" has grown from an East Side show to an automobile exhibition of national and international significance. According to the

Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobiles ...

, the Eyes on Design Show is the world's only car show to focus on the emotion and character of automotive design. Bringing together some 250 concept cars in one place is the secret of the show's success that has been driven by the enthusiastic assistance of automotive design executives. In addition to vehicles from various automakers, the event also features concept cars by invitation from some of the world's most renowned vintage automobile collectors and restorers. The vehicles shown at the annual event are by invitation. Judging in numerous classes is "based not on the quality of the restoration or authenticity"; rather it is on the basis of their "the design character, emotional appeal and artistic excellence of the vehicle."

Lifetime Design Achievement

The EyesOn Design celebrations include the prestigious "Lifetime Design Achievement" award. This recognition is given to an accomplished automotive designer selected by previous winners of this award. * 2022 - Pete Brock, deferred from 2020 and 2021 due to the

COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. state of Michigan were discovered on March 10, 2020, one day before the outbreak of the disease was officially declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. As of December 20, 2 ...

* 2019 -

Leonardo Fioravanti Leonardo Fioravanti may refer to: * Leonardo Fioravanti (doctor) (1518–1588), Italian doctor * Leonardo Fioravanti (engineer) (born 1938), Italian car designer and engineer * Leonardo Fioravanti (surfer) Leonardo Fioravanti (born 8 December 199 ...

* 2018 - Edward T. Welburn * 2017 - Syd Mead * 2016 - Stewart Reed * 2015 -

Patrick Le Quément Patrick may refer to: *Patrick (given name), list of people and fictional characters with this name *Patrick (surname), list of people with this name People *Saint Patrick (c. 385–c. 461), Christian saint * Gilla Pátraic (died 1084), Patrick o ...

* 2014 - Peter Schreyer * 2013 - Wayne Cherry * 2012 - Chris Bangle * 2011 -

Walter de'Silva Walter Maria de Silva (born 27 February 1951 in Lecco, Italy) is an Italian car designer and former head of Volkswagen Group Design, until 2015. Since beginning his car design career in 1972 as trainee car designer for Fiat's Style Centre. De S ...

* 2010 - Shiro Nakamura * 2009 -

Willie G. Davidson William Godfrey "Willie G." Davidson (born 1933) is an American businessman and motorcycle designer, and the former senior vice president & chief styling officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. He was also the head of Harley-Davidson's Willie ...

* 2008 - Robert A. Lutz * 2007 - Marcello Gandini * 2006 - Jack Telnack * 2005 - Chuck Jordan * 2004 - Charles Pelly * 2002 - Tom Gale * 2001 -

Giorgetto Giugiaro Giorgetto Giugiaro (; born 7 August 1938) is an Italian automotive designer. He has worked on supercars and popular everyday vehicles. He was born in Garessio, Cuneo, Piedmont. Giugiaro was named Car Designer of the Century in 1999 and inducted ...

* 2000 - Design Visionaries of the 20th Century * 1999 - Dick Teague * 1998 -

George W. Walker George W. Walker (May 22, 1896 – Deceased) Was an American industrial and automotive designer. His most notable work was the original Ford Thunderbird. Early life Walker was born in Chicago, Illinois. His father worked for the Erie Railroad a ...

* 1997 - Bruno Sacco * 1996 - General Motors Styling Staff, 1937-1972 * 1995 - The

Raymond Loewy Raymond Loewy ( , ; November 5, 1893 – July 14, 1986) was a French-born American industrial designer who achieved fame for the magnitude of his design efforts across a variety of industries. He was recognized for this by ''Time'' magaz ...

Studebaker Design Team and the Porsche family * 1994 - Homer LeGassey and Nuccio Bertone * 1993 - LeBaron Carrossiers * 1992 - William Lyons * 1991 -

Harley Earl Harley Jarvis Earl (November 22, 1893 – April 10, 1969) was an American automotive designer and business executive. He was the initial designated head of design at General Motors, later becoming vice president, the first top executive ever ...

and Sergio Pininfarina * 1990 - Virgil Exner and Eugene T. "Bob" Gregorie * 1989 -

Strother MacMinn Strother MacMinn (1918 – January 19, 1998) was an American car designer, author, and educator. While noted for his contributions to Road & Track, Motor Trend, and Automobile Quarterly and for helping found Toyota's Calty Design Research studio ...

and Bill Mitchell * 1988 - Gordon Buehrig

References

External links

* {{url, eyesondesign.org
Official EyesOn Design information
(archived website from 2010) Auto shows in the United States Design events Vehicle design