ART CENTER CAR CLASSIC 2011

CALIFORNIA DESIGN INFLUENCING CHANGE GALLERY— The Art Center Car Classic brings together the region’s finest automotive art works and the industry’s top designers—both onto the campus most responsible for today’s car designs—The northern Pasadena campus of Art Center College of Design. Traditionally a summer event, this year’s Car Classic was moved to October, easing the solar rays a bit in this outdoor So Cal show. LA Car was there to capture the automotive artwork. As with years past, Art Center’s Car Classic showcases the College’s strong ties to the automotive design industry and the many noteworthy designers that make up the Colleg’s alumni. It’s not unusual to see such design luminaries such as alumni Chris Bangle, Henrik Fisker, Syd Mead, Shiro Nakumura, Harald Belker, Ken Okuyama, Chuck Pelly and Frank Stephenson at the Car Classic.

Art Center’s legendary Transportation Design alumni serve as a reminder that behind every beautifully designed car is a designer. One of the unique features of the Art Center Car Classic is that the event is situated right in the middle of the design classes. Consequently, it’s not unusual to see design student working on models that may become reality in the not too distant future. This year’s Car Classic is no exception, running under the theme, “California Design Influencing Change”. California Vehicle Design Studio Showcase With more than 20 advanced design studios located in Southern California, the region strongly influences trends in transportation design. The California Vehicle Design Studio Showcase featured more than a dozen concept vehicles and the Art Center alumni who continue to influence global movements in transportation design.

Panel Discussions Throughout the day, panel discussions are a unique opportunity to hear influential and innovative designers speak about the influence California culture has had on their work. This year, panel discussions ranged from the topic of California Vehicle Design Studios, an unveiling of the ICON 4 x 4, California Hot Rods, California Beach Culture, to California Motor Sports Strother MacMinn Tribute In addition to founding the College’s legendary Transportation Design Department and educating innumerable students, in 1973 he worked with Toyota to establish Calty, the first industry studio in Southern California.

Awards Ceremony Several award trophies, designed and individually handcrafted by an Art Center Transportation Design student were presented. For more information on Art Center Car Classic, go to artcenter.edu/carclassic For more about Art Center’s Transportation Design Department, go to artcenter.edu/carclassic/about_accd Pictures by Roy Nakano