Los Angeles Auto Show Announces Design Los Angeles as Its 2005 Theme

LOS ANGELES, July 12 -- Recognizing the global influence of Southern California as an automotive design center, the Los Angeles Auto Show today announced Design Los Angeles is the theme for the January, 2005 show. The theme is envisioned to be the beginning of an ongoing program to establish automobile design as an integral part of the LA Auto Show.

The region, long hailed as a leader of creativity and consumer trends, is home to the world's largest concentration of manufacturer design studios representing automakers from North America, Europe and Asia. It is also the home of Art Center College of Design, one of the world's foremost transportation design institutions.

An innovative aspect of Design Los Angeles is the integration of an automobile designers conference within the show's press days that will complement the manufacturer news conferences. Some of the design sessions will be open to media, thereby providing journalists with access and interaction with designers.

Key elements of Design Los Angeles are highlighted by a studio design competition, panel discussion with prominent automobile designers and activities that will honor the 75th anniversary of Art Center.

The most visible and creative component will be the design competition among Southern California-based manufacturer studios. Entitled "LA Design Challenge," the competition will showcase the imagination of studio designers as they present their visions of the "Ultimate LA Machine" in two-dimensional conceptual renderings.

Design Los Angeles is being developed in collaboration with the automotive design community. Spearheading this relationship is conference director Chuck Pelly, founder and former president of BMW Group/Designworks USA.

Highly regarded throughout the international design field, Pelly has received numerous accolades. This past month, on June 26, the Eyes on Design committee in Detroit recognized Pelly's achievements by presenting him with the prestigious Lifetime Design Achievement Award.

Pelly has been working closely with the show's Design Advisory Board, which was created to further involve designers in creating programs for Design Los Angeles. Seven prominent designers comprise the board to represent the Southern California-based design studios. Advisory board members have been identifying issues that will be of interest to designers and helping to establish the framework for the long-term development of the conference.

"The LA Auto Show is going to relate to design and designers in a way that no other auto show has done," Pelly says. "This will be the first time that design studios have worked together to create a forum where they can exchange ideas and discuss common issues facing designers at an auto show."

According to Andy Fuzesi, general manager of the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Design Los Angeles theme is the next step in the evolution of the LA Auto Show.

"Last month we announced the show is moving from January to November, beginning in 2006," Fuzesi explains. "Design Los Angeles is a natural progression for the LA Auto Show by involving the design studios and their designers in an integral way that will have lasting impact on the design community and the show itself."

Further details on Design Los Angeles activities will be announced in the coming months. Press days for the Los Angeles Auto Show are January 5 and 6 and public days are January 7 - 16, 2005. For additional information, visit LAautoshow.com.

                         The Design Academy, Inc.

  Chuck Pelly
  Joan Gregor

                          Design Advisory Board

  Chris Chapman                       Joel Piaskowski
  Director, Automotive Design         Chief Designer
  BMW Group/Designworks USA           Hyundai & Kia Technical Center

  Kevin Hunter                        Frank Saucedo
  Vice President                      Director of Design
  Calty Design Research               5350 Industrial Concepts

  Derek Jenkins                       Tom Semple
  Chief Designer                      President
  VW/Audi Design Center California    Nissan Design America

  David Marek
  Chief Designer
  Honda Research & Development

            Southern California OEM Automobile Design Studios

  5350 Industrial Concepts (General Motors)
  BMW Group/Designworks USA
  Calty Design Research (Toyota)
  Ford Design California
  Honda Research & Development
  Hyundai & Kia Technical Center
  Isuzu Design Department
  Mazda Research & Development
  Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of NA
  Mitsubishi Research & Design NA
  Nissan Design America
  Pacifica Design Center (DaimlerChrysler)
  Porsche Engineering Services Styling Studio
  Volkswagen/Audi Design Center California
  Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center