Tesla Cybertruck with an interview of Franz von Holzhausen, senior design executive at Tesla Motors at ArtCenter (File Photo – Juan Posada)
ArtCenter College of Design will present the 2025 Design Invitational, a major exhibition featuring 50 cars and trucks designed by alumni and faculty from its renowned Transportation Design program, along with select vehicles from private collections.
By News Desk
Originally established in 2001 as Car Classic, this annual event will take place on Sunday, September 28, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Sculpture Garden of the College’s iconic Hillside Campus in Pasadena, as part of ArtCenter’s Alumni Reunion Weekend festivities.
The 2025 Design Invitational offers car enthusiasts and design aficionados a rare opportunity to explore groundbreaking concepts, iconic designs, trendsetters, new models, and timeless classics. In addition to a curated exhibition of must-see vehicles spanning eight decades, the event will feature special presentations that provide in-depth insights into each model’s history and design. Visitors are also invited to enjoy and explore the College’s beautiful campus.
“Over the past 77 years, the impact of ArtCenter’s Transportation Design program on vehicle design has been unprecedented. Our faculty and alumni have shaped the cars we drive, the motorcycles we ride, and the planes we fly,” said ArtCenter President Karen Hofmann. “This year’s Design Invitational, held during the College’s Alumni Reunion weekend, is our way of honoring their contributions and celebrating their remarkable influence across industries.”
2025 Design Invitational highlights include:
- The first public, side-by-side showcase of Oilstainlab’s HF-11 and Half-11 supercars, designed by alumni and ArtCenter faculty members Nikita and Iliya Bridan
- A selection of historic Corvettes, such as alumni Larry Shinoda and Peter Brock’s iconic 1963 Corvette Sting Ray
- Classic models, such as the 1963 Buick Riviera and 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, both designed by alumnus David North
- Lucid’s Gravity X Concept (Gravity Cross), an SUV redefining what a trail-ready adventure vehicle could be, designed by alumni Derek Jenkins, Jenny Ha, Jon Wen, and others from the Lucid team
- The Slate Truck, the radically customizable and affordable electric pickup truck designed by alumna Tisha Johnson and her team at Slate
The Invitational will also feature a 1956 Maserati A6G Zagato and a 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale, winners of the 2024 ArtCenter Design Excellence Awards at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, respectively. These awards are presented annually by the College during Monterey Car Week, a celebration in which ArtCenter has participated for 23 years.
A full list of scheduled vehicles will be available ahead of the event on the ArtCenter Design Invitational event page. Please note that the final lineup is subject to change.
The 2025 Design Invitational is open to the public with the purchase of a Legacy in Motion Day Pass. To purchase a general registration day pass ($35), which includes admission to the Design Invitational and other activities, click here. Admission is free for ages 17 and under with registration.
ArtCenter College of Design 2025 Design Invitational September 28, 2025 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Location ArtCenter College of Design (Hillside Campus) 1700 Lida Street Pasadena, CA 91103
Leave a Reply