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Join the Automotive Designer’s Guild

Consider joining the Automotive Designers Guild. This is a new, informal undertaking by designers, for designers. Automotive design has a rich historical heritage, and the Guild is first and foremost about automotive designers and our dedication to and preservation of the automotive design process.

The Guild considers membership if the applicant is a retired or a semi-retired designer who has worked as an interior or exterior automobile designer/stylist during their careers.

The Guild provides retired automotive designers the opportunity to proudly display their creative design work from past and present automotive design projects for all the world to see, enjoy, and be enthused about. It’s all up to you what gets displayed. Included with the your work will be a brief synopsis of your career history, as well as descriptions and insights you may wish to share that add depth and color to your design work, and how it represented your career accomplishments.

The Automotive Designers Guild will be using Dean’s Garage to display artwork and stories.

You also have an opportunity to share experiences from your career. Aspiring young designers and other car enthusiasts are interested in how things worked at different times in the automobile industry, and this is a change to be able to share your insights. These could include showcasing specific aspects of the design process and techniques with descriptions and images. Or perhaps provide an overview of how a design project you worked on translated into a successful production design. Viewers would be interested in interviews of retired designers and what it was like to work in a studio environment. And, the studios were staffed by very creative people, and sometimes the internal chemistry was such that some pretty funny things came out one way or another. This is your opportunity to share those memories.

Car design is not something that we can leave alone. We share the road with cars from several eras, analyzing what we see, and often thinking we could have done that one a lot better. We still doodle, or perhaps are still creating designs in a consulting capacity. Well, a large part of what the Guild is about is a platform to display the design solutions to an annual group project. We would submit ideas, select a project by vote. The annual design project would be announced early in the year and due in late spring to give everybody ample time to prepare their submissions.

The Guild has no membership dues or fees. We’re doing this to relive some of the excitement of having a project to do, sharing our experiences, and expressing our ideas in an open forum.

If you’d like to join the Guild, have questions, or have a group project idea, contact John M. Melberg, or Richard Nesbitt. If you have technical questions regarding submission and artwork scanning, contact Gary Smith, Dean’s Garage. Spread the word about the Guild to your retired designer friends, especially to those who may not have computers, so they may also joint the Guild and share in the camaraderie.

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Artwork submission requirements for posting on Dean’s Garage

1. Individual photos need to be at least 1,000 pixels across.
2. No grouped photos that have to be separated.
3. Photos must be named with short names, and with some kind of logical naming system.
4. Captions can be submitted in an email or text file. They must be identified with the photo name.
5. No Microsoft Office documents (no Word, PowerPoint, or Excel files).
6. Be sure to include a short biography.
7. Stories or anecdotes are always of interest.
8. Jpg RGB format is fine as long as the quality setting is very high.
9. Don’t send photos or original artwork to be scanned.
10. Acceptable formats: .tif, .psd, .jpg.
11. If you have a lot of images to transfer, don’t send by email. Compress all of the images into one file and use senduit or another file transferring resource. If you use senduit, be sure to reset the time the file is on the server from the default 30 minutes to a couple of days.

Contact Dean’s Garage for more information or questions.

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Automotive Designers Guild Membership

Pete Brock

Tom Covert

Joan Klatil Creamer
1987 Established Joan Creamer Design Office. I.D. Consultation
19– Staff Designer, Gorham, div., Textron, and Product Mgr., their Gift/Collectible Division
19– General Electric Corp., providing design guidance for Consumer Electronics/Major Appliance development
1966 Exterior Designer, GM Design. First Woman Exterior Designer at GM. Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Advanced Buick studios
1966 Cleveland Institute graduate
1965 GM Design Summer Intern

Virgil Exner
International Designer of Automobiles and Power Boats
Retired 1988 as Ford Design Executive
Contributed to the designs of: Studebaker Lark; Volvo P-1800 S; Renault Caravelle; Ghia Selene II; Fiat 1500 S; Karmann Ghia 1500; Ford Maverick, Pinto, Thunderbirds, Fiesta, Crown Victoria; Buehler Turbocraft and Riva Boats
1958–1961 U.S. Air Force Officer
1956 AB, 1957 MA University of Norte Dame

Allan Flowers
2005-present: Independent Automotive Designer
2005 Retired from Nissan
2001-2004 Teacher—Transportation Design, Academy of Art University, San Francisco
1980-2005 Chief Designer, Manager of Product Design, etc., Nissan Design America, San Diego
1964-1980 Designer/Assistant Chief Designer, GM Design Staff
1964 BS in Industrial Design from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago

John Houlihan
2007–present; VP of Design, BullToro Watch Co., LLC
2001–2007 Consultant Designer
2005–2006 Adjunct Professor at University of Bridgeport
1979–2001 Timex Corporation, Director of Design
1978–1979 Milton Bradley Corporation, Manager of Toy Development
1971–1978 General Electric Corporation, Senior Product Designer
1970–1971 GM Design Staff, Exterior Designer
1966 University of Notre Dame, ID Major

Norm James
2000-Present Goodrich Aerostructures; Consultant (Retired), R&D Advanced Design
1988-2000 Rohr Ind./Goodrich Aerostructures; Nacelle R&D Advanced Design
1997-2000 Rohr Ind, teamed w/ Lockheed SkunkWorks; for X-33 Thermal Protection
1988-1997 Rohr Ind.; Group Engineer, Design-To-Cost, Aircraft engine nacelle & pylon
1986-1987 TESA Design; Industrial Design office, on SBA contract
1978-1986 Rohr Marine; Surface Effects Ships, SWATH & Air Cushion Design/Proposal
1974-1978 Rohr Industries; Design Chief, Grumman Flxible Model 870 City Transit Bus
1967-1974 Sundberg-Ferar; rep at Lockheed Cal. Co. for L-1011 Interiors
1963-1967 GM Defense Research Labs; Manned  & unmanned lunar vehicle design
1954-1963 GM Styling; Firebird II, contribution; Firebird III, Theme & Execution

Mark Jordan
2009-present CMJ Design Consulting (current status)
2005-2009 Advanced Vehicle Development Manager, Mazda North American OPS
2002-2005 Design Manager for Annual Advanced Activities at Mazda Research & Development
1983-2002 Designer/Assistant Chief Designer at Mazda Research & Development
1978-1982 Senior Designer, Adam Opel AG
1978 Intern-Designer for William L Mitchell Design
BS/Honors in Industrial Design, Art Center College of Design

Roy V. Lonberger
2010: MagnaDesign (CEO, Private Executive Consultant for Design Strategy & Management)
1976: Magna Design Corporation (CEO, Advanced Technology Product Design & Marketing)
1972: FMC (Account Manager, FMC-Europe, Vehicles & Material Handling Equipment)
1970: Memorex (Industrial Design Manager, Consumer Products)
1968: George Green (Partner, International Industrial Design Firm)
1965: GM Styling (Studio-X Studio Chief; Staff Designer Chevy-2; Fisher Craftsman Guild Judge). Worked on Astros 1 & 3; ’67-’69 Corvettes; ’67-’70 Camaros; several mid engine Corvettes, Shadow CANAM car
1964: North American (Ergonomic Designer, Apollo Moon Ship)
1963: Ford Styling (Staff Designer)
Education: Art Center College of Design (Transporation, graduated with Honors), University of California (engineering), University of Santa Clara (business), Stanford (ergo). Mentor to Transportation Design students and Patron to the Art Center College of Design.

Richard (Dick) Nesbitt
Creative Design Consultant; auto, truck and consumer product design
Author, Illustrator: American Automobile Design, 1930–1980
Writer/Illustrator for automotive magazine publications
Designer with Ford Motor Company
1970 Art Center Graduate

F. J. (Bud) Magaldi
1966-1999 Auto Design Executive, Ford Motor Company
Ford Design assignments in U.S., Europe and S. America (Brazil)
Contributed to styling of: Taurus, ’83 Thunderbird, Lincoln Town Car, ’94 Mustang, Mustang Mach III
1966 Art Center graduate
1965 Styling Award, Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild

Gary Major

John Manoogian II
2009-present Forzablitz Design
2005-2009 GM, Director of Design, Cadillac Exterior
2002-2005 GM, Director of Design, Premium/Mid-lux Vehicle Exteriors
1997-2002 GM, Executive Vehicle Chief Designer
1990-1997 GM, Pontiac Studio Chief Designer
1987-1990 GM, Pontiac Studio Assistant Chief Designer
1984-1987 GM, Saturn Studio Assistant Chief Designer
1980-1984 GM, Cadillac Exterior Assistant Chief Designer
1976-1980 GM, Oldsmobile Exterior, Senior Creative Designer
1974-1976 Design Consultant, Outboard Marine
1969-1971 Ford Motor Company, Design Sculptor
MBA, Oakland University
BS, Transportation Design, Art Center
BA, Industrial Design, Michigan State University

John Mellberg
1997–present Creative Automotive Design Specialist, Daimler Trucks, N.A.
1993-1997 Manager of Design, Emergency One, Inc.
1990-1993 Managing Designer, Case Corp.
1983-1990 Director of Design, Vehicle Improvement Products
1972-1983 AG Styling Supervisor, J.I. Case Co.
1968-1972 Sr. Designer, GM Styling: Adv. Pontiac Studio (’68–’70), Chevy Studio No. 2 (’70–’72). Contributed to design of F-Body Firebird concept vehicle, ’7X Pontiac Astra, ’73 Chevrolet Nova SS Hatchback, ’73 Laguna
1968 Art Institute of Chicago and University of Chicago Graduate, Transportation and Product Design
1966 Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild 2nd, Nat’l Sr. Award

William (Bill) Michalak
1966-2001 Senior Designer, GM Design
1966 Pratt Institute Graduate

David (Dave) Royer
1965-1996 Design Manager, Ford Motor Company; 1983 Thunderbird, Principal Designer
1965 Carnegie Tech Graduate’ BFA

Elia (Russ) Russinoff
1955-1995 Asst. Chief Designer, GM Design
1960s Contributed to styling of several production Pontiacs and advanced aero projects
1955 Contributed to styling of Cadillac Town & Country show car
1954 Pratt Institute Graduate
1949 Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild 1st, Nat’l Sr. Award

Dick Ruzzin
1959 Graduated from Michigan State University, Industrial Design
1959-1961 Body drafting and illustration, Fisher Body Division, GM Corp.
1961-1999 Creative Designer, GM Design, all GM brands domestic, and overseas except GMC, including Toyota, Izuzu, Suzuki, Saab, Lotus
1999- 2011 Freelance work in China, Taiwan and with Wheel To Wheel and others.
Started and developed concepts for Eyes On Design (DIO), The Design Forum (AutoWeek). Design Awards at the NAIAS. Founder of the first Designers Night in Detroit, Co-Founder, the Dream Show in the Woodward Dream Cruise, 2008. Conceived and developed Michelin Challenge Design at the NAIAS, 2000, for Michelin.

John Samsen
1955-1976 Sr. Designer, Chrysler
Contributed to the styling of ’59 DeSoto, ’62 Imperial, ’64 Dart, ’64 Barracuda, ’65-69 Furys, Belvederes, Barracudas, ’70 Duster, and ’71 Road Runner
1952-1955 Stylist, Ford Motor Company
Contributed to the styling of ’55 T-Bird, ’55 D-523 Cougar experimental car, ’55 D-524 Beldone experimental car
1950-1952 Aircraft Engineer, aerodynamicist
1950 Purdue University Graduate

Tom Semple
1962 Started Art Center School, Los Angeles, CA
1964 1st place, Senior division, Fisher Body Craftsman Guild
1967 Graduated Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles, CA
1967 Designer, Asst. Chief Designer, GM Design Staff
1980 Chief Designer, Director of Design, Nissan Design International. San Diego, CA
2004 Retired as President, Nissan Design America, San Diego, CA, and Farmington Hills, Michigan

Constance Smith
BFA, MID Pratt Institute
1973-1976 Designer, Advanced Studio, General Motors Design; (Designed displays for 1st TN LCD instrument panel)
2009-Present Freelance Writer, Historian and Constance Smith Industrial Design
1976-1977 Car & Product Designer (Total Control Racing & new products), Ideal Toy Corporation
1977-1979 Director of Design, Atelier International, Ltd. (Furniture)
1979-1985 Chevrolet Salesperson
1985 Freelance Automotive Writer (Classic Sixties)
1986-90 Instructor and Asst. Professor, Industrial Design Department, Pratt Graduate Program & University of Bridgeport
1986 Recipient, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AWARD in Design Arts (I am the only designer ever awarded an individual grant for an automotive project)
1990-2009 GM//Dodge/BMW/VW Franchise Salesperson & Chrysler Sales Manager (Gold Awards & Mark of Excellence Awards/GM and Chrysler)

Gary D. Smith
A portfolio of my GM work can be viewed at CruiZart.com.
1988-present; Freelance graphic and industrial designer, dba Performance Design
1973-1988 Senior Creative Designer, GM Design Staff
1973 Art Center Graduate, Honors
1964, 1965, 1967 Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild Honorable Mentions

Ron Will
1981-2006 Product Planning and Design Manager. Subaru of America
1976-1981 Independent Designer; created Turbo Phantom (3-wheeled Hi-performance sports vehicle)
1966-1976 Senior Designer, GM Design; Contributed to the design of Aero-Vette, 25th Anniversary Corvette, Camaro, Vega, and Cadillac Eldorado
1966 Illinois Institute of Technology Graduate
1961 Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild 1st, Nat’l Sr. Award

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Guest Members

Bob Lutz
Ed Welburn
Ron VanGelderen

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Associate Members

Michael Lamm
Tracy Powell

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Honorary Members

Charles M. (Chuck) Jordan
1949-1992 Vice President, GM Design
1949 M.I.T. Graduate
1947 Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild 1st, Nat’l Sr. Award