EyesOn Design, the design competition organised by the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology, returned to the Detroit Auto show to honour standout concept and production vehicles launched in 2023

EyesOn Design was back at a low-key Detroit Auto promising an ‘insight into who the designers believe is going to lead the industry in the near future’. That was according to master of ceremonies Phil Nussel and, judging by the extensive list of judges, a who’s who of car design, he was not far wrong. 

Of the talent on display it was the Ram team who had most to celebrate as they scooped the best concept vehicle award for the Ram 1500 Revolution in a tightly fought category that included the Audi Activesphere and Porsche Mission X. It was hard to tell who was more delighted, the team or the crowd, given the raucous cheer that went up following the announcement. Disappointment for the Audi team was assuaged by winning the best designed interior award, again for the Activesphere. 

Elsewhere, the Ferrari Purosangue claimed the production vehicle award while Cadillac won the most innovative use of colour, graphics and materials for the Celestiq 2024 update. The original claimed the same award last year. 

Here is the full list of this year’s categories, finalists and winners:

Best designed interior sponsored by Adient

Finalist: Ram 1500 Revolution concept

Winner: Audi Activesphere 

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Innovative use of colour, graphics or materials by Axalta

Finalist: Porsche Mission X

Winner: Cadillac Celestiq 2024

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Best concept vehicle

Finalist: Audi Activsphere

Finalist: Porsche Mission X

Finalist: Genesis X convertible 

Winner: Ram 1500 Revolution concept 

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Best production vehicle

Finalist: Acura ZDX

Finalist: Ram 1500 EV 

Winner: Ferrari Purosangue

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The judges were:

  • Charles Allen, SVP / General Manager, Honda R&D Americas (retired)

  • Anne Asensio, VP, Design, Dassault Systèmes

  • Chris Bangle, Managing Director, Chris Bangle Associates*

  • Wayne K. Cherry, Vice President, Global Design (retired), General Motors*

  • Glen J. Durmisevich, Chief Judge, EyesOn Design

  • Ralph Gilles, Chief Design Officer, Stellantis*

  • Dale Harrow, Chair of the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre and Head of the Intelligent Mobility Design Programme, Royal College of Art

  • SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design Center

  • Marc Lichte, Head of Audi Design

  • Anthony Lo, Chief Design Officer, Ford

  • Dave Marek, Executive Creative Director, Acura

  • Tom Matano, Executive Director, School of Industrial Design, Academy of Art University

  • Andreas Mindt, Head of Volkswagen Design

  • Chuck Pelly, Chief Creative Officer, Intersection-Inc*

  • Joel Piaskowski, Global Director Design, Cars and Crossovers, Ford Motor Company

  • Michael Simcoe, Senior Vice President, Global Design, General Motors

  • Paul Snyder, Paul & Helen Farago Chair of Transportation Design, College for Creative Studies

  • Jack Telnack, Vice President, Design, Ford (retired)*

  • Mark Trostle, Jr., Head of Ram Truck and Mopar Design, Stellantis

  • Mark Trostle, Sr., Director, Creative Services, Roush

  • Seiji Watanabe, Corporate Officer. Division General Manager Design Division, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation 

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