EyesOn Design weekend celebrates revolutionary designs, honours Ralph Gilles
The annual charity concours, held every year outside Detroit on Father’s Day, is a star-studded affair where automotive artistry meets philanthropy. CDN’s Laura Burstein served as a judge for this year’s event and got the inside scoop
For more than three decades, the EyesOn Design car show has left an indelible mark on the automotive landscape, drawing enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. What began as a modest gathering has blossomed into an internationally recognised exhibition that captures the essence of automotive design. Its enduring legacy is a testament to the passion and dedication of its organisers, who continue to raise the bar year after year.
Founded in 1988 by the design heads of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, the Father’s Day concours is held on the shores of Lake St. Clair at Ford House, the former estate of Henry Ford’s son, Edsel. The event serves as a platform to raise funds and awareness for the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology (DIO), an organisation committed to advancing research, education and treatment in the field of vision.
At the heart of the show, a distinguished panel of judges is comprised mostly of notable current and retired designers, with the majority coming from the American Big Three, as well as transportation design faculty from Detroit’s College of Creative Studies, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and the Academy of Art in San Francisco. This year’s VIP judges include GM’s VP of design Michael Simcoe, Toyota North America president Kevin Hunter, and head of Stellantis design Ralph Gilles, who was honoured with this year’s lifetime achievement award.
Notably, entrants at the EyesOn Design show are judged strictly on design aesthetics and not traditional concours criteria. As such, there were no points off for chipped paint, worn upholstery, or imperfect fit and finish. The show’s co-founder — and this year’s grand marshal — Tom Gale put it thusly: “We don’t care if it’s restored, we don’t care if there’s rust on it, we just care about the design.”
This year’s theme was Design Revolutions, showcasing vehicles that shifted the tide in automotive design throughout different generations. Bertone’s Lancia Stratos HF Zero served as the poster child for this year’s show, a radical design that has amassed accolades across multiple continents, from its first showing at the 1970 Turin auto show to the shores of Lake Como at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, to the Art Center Classic.
Our judging class, “Show cars you can drive,” awarded first place to a 1953 Chrysler Special Coupe by Ghia, a prime example of understated elegance in an era filled with ostentatious displays of chrome, fins and bumper bullets. Our three-judge team, led by retired GM designer John Manoogian and rounded out with Ford’s global head of design Anthony Lo, was also wowed by the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, a marvel of design and engineering, from its industry-first air spring suspension to its silky soft mouton carpeting.
Winning best of show was the 1935 Cadillac V16 Stationary Coupe (above) the only surviving example of two cars that were fitted with the massive, groundbreaking engine. Produced during the height of the Art Deco period, the car’s sleek lines, distinctive grille and refined details exemplify the meticulous attention to design and engineering characteristic of American luxury vehicles from that time.
Along with the classics, many new cars were on display, including nominees and winners of last year’s EyesOn Design awards presented at the Detroit Auto Show, such as the Cadillac Celestiq and the Buick Wildcat concept. Gilles also brought his custom-built 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, a carbon fibre one-off that took three years to build.
Aside from the cars, the show is a much-anticipated gathering place for the design community. Prior to getting down to business, the judges’ breakfast was filled with hearty handshakes, hugs and lots of laughter. “Our group of designer judges really enjoy the opportunity to reconnect every year,” chief judge Glen Durmisevich told us.
From the iconic designs of bygone eras to the cutting-edge concepts that shape the future, the EyesOn Design car show is a time capsule of automotive evolution and a testament to the enduring passion for Detroit car culture.
In September, the organisation will again hold its annual luncheon and awards ceremony at the Detroit Auto Show, honouring the nominees and winners of this year’s most extraordinary new concept and production vehicles. But beyond the surface of gleaming automobiles lies a deeper purpose. “Above all,” Durmisevich asserts, “it benefits a worthy charity to someday help the blind see.”