Top Auto Designers Offer an Insiders' Look Into the Design Process

LOS ANGELES, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The Motor Press Guild (MPG),
America's largest professional automotive media association, announces an
impressive group of leaders from the top U.S. automotive design schools,
moderated by Eric Noble of The CARLAB, will participate in a panel discussion
at the organization's April 1 meeting. Guest speakers included Tom Matano,
Executive Director, Academy of Art University; Stewart Reed, Transportation
Design Department Chair, Art Center College of Design; and Mark West, Interim
Transportation Department Chair at the College for Creative Studies.
The world is changing rapidly, and design schools are trying to keep pace.
The lauded alumni of these schools are responsible for much of the product we
see on the roads today, and the assembled speakers will cover how education
becomes the framework upon which vehicles the public will see in the future
are built, as well as how the schools are adapting to a new world in
transportation. The discussion also will focus on the design schools
themselves and why they are so integral to the automotive industry.
All of the speakers, prior to their roles in academia, were involved in
the design of automotive products: Tom Matano was Executive Vice President of
Mazda R&D North America; Stewart Reed was the former Design Chief at Calty
(Toyota's California design studio); and Mark West was previously Director for
the Design Office at Visteon.
Special thanks to John Grafman from AutoDesignO for organizing this
special MPG event.
MPG Meeting Details:

Who: Design Panel
Tom Matano, Executive Director, Academy of Art University
Stewart Reed, Transportation Design Department Chair, Art Center
College of Design
Mark West, Interim Transportation Department Chair at the
College for Creative Studies

Moderator
Eric Noble, The CARLAB

Concept vehicles will be on display courtesy of Industrial
Design Research, Hyundai, Toyota and the alumni those companies
employ.

When: Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Social - 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon - Noon

Where: The Proud Bird Restaurant
11022 Aviation Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: 310-670-3093

Price: Members - $20; Non-Members and Guests - $25; (cash or check;
open seating/no reservations)

Contact: MPG: Robyn Eckard, 949-268-3049, or press@motorpressguild.org

For more information about MPG news, upcoming events, and directions to
the Proud Bird, please visit http://www.motorpressguild.org/news.
About Motor Press Guild
The Los Angeles-based Motor Press Guild (MPG) is a non-profit professional
association dedicated to promoting education and information exchange within
the motoring press. MPG has more than 800 global members, including staff and
freelance journalists, photographers, broadcasters, public-relations
representatives from vehicle manufacturers, industry suppliers, aftermarket
companies, consumer groups, governmental bodies and other motoring-related
firms and organizations.
SOURCE Motor Press Guild

Robyn Eckard of Motor Press Guild, +1-949-268-3049, press@motorpressguild.org