Overview

General Motors Global Design Center offers wide-ranging programs that support recruiting, collegiate partner sponsored projects, outreach initiatives and employee training to keep pave with industry trends using modern technologies. Much of this falls under the umbrella that we call Outreach and Development.

Collegiate Relations and Design Leadership partner with design colleges and universities across the US to recruit world-class creative talent that can lead to creative careers at GM Design Center.

Design History

Automotive design as we know it today began at General Motors.  Starting in 1927, General Motors was the first automotive manufacturer to standardize the automotive design process in product development.  The early years of the new department saw many changes as legendary designer Harley Earl built GM Design, originally known as Art and Colour Section, from the ground up. His team developed many of the design techniques still used today. These methods proliferates as designers who learned under the tutelage of Earl went on to leadership positions across the industry.

GM Design Programs

  • Youth Modelers Artists Designers (YMAD)

    Youth Modelers Artists Designers (YMAD)

    The Outreach + Development Team at GM Design is offering students (7th-12th grade) a program that introduces young creatives to career paths within Automotive Design and Sculpting, as well as enhance portfolio pieces for established students. Accepted students will work alongside GM Design professionals on their sketching skills, digital sculpting, clay sculpting, and the application of color, material and finish. In addition to the Design skills that will be acquired, students will grow in their ability to communicate, which includes presenting their work and ideas to leadership, receiving feedback, and problem solving. Over the course of the program, students will be exposed to different creative disciplines and career paths that are available for creative students.

    Please register for our 2025 YMAD Program.

  • DEI & COLLEGIATE RELATIONS

    Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) & Collegiate Relations

    Our outreach initiatives and community partnerships enhance access to art and design education globally. Our programming impacts thousands of individuals each year to encourage artistic and creative career paths and their inclusion in this space. Our goal is to connect, create and inspire our community partners and the future of design.

    Additionally, we partner with the best colleges and universities in the world to connect with world-class creative talent. By sharing our resources and our vision of a more sustainable future, we enable the next generation of industry leaders

  • SCULPTING CO-OP

    Sculpting Co-Op

    Through a work experience partnership between Macomb Community College and General Motors, students gain real-world employment skills by holding paid co-op positions at General Motors in Clay/Digital Sculpting that will help advance their career goals while working towards an Automotive Sculpting Certificate at Macomb Community College! Program details include the following:

    • Focused on cultivating a local sculpting pipeline
    • Cost: Tuition/educational expenses & salary paid by GM Design
    • Students work at GM full time while attending classes at Macomb Community College
  • DESIGN SUMMER INTERN

    Design Summer Intern

    A 12-week experiential program designed to build industry knowledge, GM organization awareness and collaborative spirit through cross discipline exercises, foundational training, and true studio program execution. Students work side by side with professionals while building a network among multiple disciplines who collectively support their development. The program ends with a finale where the interns present their final project to Design Executive leadership in the Design Dome.

  • DESIGN NEW COLLEGE GRAD ROTATION

    Design New College Grad Rotation

    This program will enable us to strategically diversify skillset, influence a culture of growth and enable a collaborative spirit within GM Design.

    Objectives & Impact:

    • Enable cross-functional learning & personal development = more flexibility
    • Provide exposure to different parts of the business = stronger future leaders
    • Building camaraderie and a collaborative culture
    • Enabling diverse skill growth & innovative mindset
    • Provide solutions to WOC initiatives
  • EARLY EDUCATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH

    Early Education Community Outreach

    Providing outreach and creative career awareness in communities within Metro Detroit as well as through-out the state of Michigan. A few of the programs and partnerships include Girl Scouts, High School & Organization Presentations, YMAD (Youth Modelers Artists Designers), mentorships, sketching sessions, various art demos, career shadowing, co-op opportunities etc. Many of the programs also give students important career building-skills like creating a portfolio, power of networking and opportunity to present in groups.

    Outreach in communities has expanded outside of Michigan to help expose youth from around the world to what an exciting creative career in transportation design at GM looks like. We are committed to making a difference in our DEI efforts and doing our part by including diversity, equity and inclusion to each and every community outreach event.

    • GM Design Disciplines

    Search Open Positions at GM Design
    Interior & Exterior Designer

    Our designers create fresh and innovative designs for the interiors and exteriors of future GM vehicles. They utilize a variety of media to communicate their ideas visually-from pen and paper to the most sophisticated digital tools available. Their work focuses on the aesthetics of the vehicle.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    BFA, Automotive or Transportation Design.

    Automotive Product Designer

    Our product designers love details and understand the role function plays in design. Their unique and creative ideas solve complicated design problems on different parts of GM future vehicles including wheels, accessories and special versions of production vehicles.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    BFA, Industrial or Product Design.

    Automotive Lighting Designer

    Creative designers in this studio designing how customers interact with their vehicles in the future. The scope of work includes advanced studies that comprehend breakthrough technologies and its impact on user interfaces, to the precise exacting execution of those interior components into production. Critical skills include ideation made visible through sketching, rendering, animation and motion graphics, in addition to trend tracking, benchmarking and problem solving.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    BFA, Industrial, Automotive or Product Design.

    User Experience Interior Components

    Creative designers in this studio designing how customers interact with their vehicles in the future. The scope of work includes advanced studies that comprehend breakthrough technologies and its impact on user interfaces, to the precise exacting execution of those interior components into production. Critical skills include ideation made visible through sketching, rendering, animation and motion graphics, in addition to trend tracking, benchmarking and problem solving.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    Industrial Design, Product Design, Automotive/Trans design, Visualization Design.

    Color, Materials & Finishes (CMF) Designer

    Our designers are highly creative individuals who have a passion for the world of trends, color and materials. Their role is to see the future – researching, designing and creating proposals that demonstrate innovative color, materials, décor, and texture ideas from concept to implementation for automotive application.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    BFA, Automotive Design, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, Product Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Architecture or Textile Design.

    Advanced Designer

    Our advanced designers monitor trends on the far horizon, identifying emerging mobility challenges before they become critical. They imagine ways to improve peoples’ lives, envisioning completely new vehicle designs and customer mobility experiences beyond what exist today. Advanced designers strive to push the boundaries of technology and aesthetics, utilizing the latest design tools and processes.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    BFA, Automotive or Transportation Design.

    Global Creative Visualization

    Visualization Designers use photographic, video and computer-generated images to bring future vehicles to life before their public launches. Each image and/or video is tailored to the specific characteristics of the car, truck or crossover; and will be used for design reviews, social media, international public relations and global advertising.

    The computer-generated representations made by CGV rival those found in advertising, gaming and movies.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    Film, photography, VFX, Animation, Design(various).

    Creative Clay Sculptor

    Our clay sculptors bring designers’ sketches to life by interpreting them into finished 3D scale and full-size models. Their unique ability to “see” in 3D aids in creatively solving design and engineering issues. Clay sculpting is very hands-on focused.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    Automotive or Transportation Design or Fine Arts Sculpting.

    Creative Digital Sculptor

    Our digital sculptors are detail-oriented problem solvers who interpret designers’ sketches into 3D surface data using Alias. They aid in solving complex design and engineering issues with Alias models that match creative direction and meet engineering specs. These sculptors are extremely proficient in a digital environment.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    BFA, Automotive, Transportation or Industrial Design.

    Industrial Designer

    Industrial designers are responsible for the visual expression of the company and our brands globally. This includes Corporate and Brand Identity, Vehicle Badging, Graphics, Events and EXPERIENCES, Architecture and Environments, Product Design, Photography, Video and Animation, Design Archive and Special Collections.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    BFA, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Product Design, Interior Design, Architecture Design, Animation, Photography and video.

    Mold and Composite Technician

    Our Design Fabrication Engineers collaborate with the Design studios to develop 3D parts that can be fabricated and assembled by the Design Fabrication shops. The team utilizes Siemens NX, along with other CAD tools to aid in the design process by engineering the studio’s conceptual designs into 3D life-like models.

    Work Experience:
    6 years of documented experience in a relative trade.

    Prototype Trim Technician

    Our Design Center Trim Technicians are a group of highly skilled craftsman that offer a variety of talents. Actual physical properties are provided for the Design studios to look at and review for concept and production vehicles. Their areas of expertise include seat foam milling, pattern digitizing, automated textile cutting, embroidery, steering wheel wrapping and stitching, laser etching and engraving, soft trim seat pattern development, among others.

    Work Experience:
    6 years of documented experience in a relative trade.

    3D Printing Technician

    The uses and capabilities of 3D printing in the development, design and engineering world are just beginning to be fully realized. A part mock-up that once tool weeks to create can now be printed in a matter of hours. Faster prototyping doesn’t just save time; it can lead to more options to be tested and better end products.

    Work Experience:
    6 years of documented experience in a relative trade.

    Fabrication Engineer

    Our Design Fabrication Engineers collaborate with the Design studios to develop 3D parts that can be fabricated and assembled by the Design Fabrication shops. The team utilizes Siemens NX, along with other CAD tools to aid in the design process by engineering the studio’s conceptual designs into 3D life-like models.

    Typical Degree/Major:
    Associates Degree in Product Development, or related degree. Working knowledge of Siemens NX through work experience or technical education.

    Metal Model Maker

    Our Metal Model Maker construct a variety of models used for design evaluation and clinic purposes and provide a variety of services to support quality preproduction vehicle development and research activities. The metal shop is a custom build activity utilizing the latest technologies. Services include tool design and build, part fabrication, body-in-white weld tools, research projects, teat lab fixtures and CMM and scanner support.

    Work Experience:
    Journeypersons Card or 6 years of documented experience as a Metal Model Maker or 6 years experience in a relative trade for a “Journeyman in Training” position.

    Wood Model Maker

    Our Wood Model Makers provide a variety of services and physical properties that are used during the design evaluation process. The role provides a variety of activities, including the fabrication of wood and foam armatures, 3D models and mock-ups, and performs fiberglass surface work in interior/exterior models and theme model builds.

    Work Experience:
    Journeypersons Card or 6 years of documented experience as a Wood Model Maker or 6 years experience in a relative trade for a “Journeyman in Training” position.

    Paint Technician

    Our Design Center paint technicians specialize in producing show quality paint finishes and coating applications on all Design Center properties. The paint shop uses the latest custom materials and processes that are developed both in-house and by suppliers, on a variety of substrate materials. The finishes demonstrate design intent, during the development process, and highlight concept and show vehicles that will be on display to the public.

    Work Experience:
    Journeypersons Card or 6 years of documented experience as Experimental Painter.

    Leadership

    Crystal Windham

    Crystal Windham
    Executive Director of Global Industrial Design

    Crystal Windham is the Executive Director of Global Industrial Design at General Motors and is responsible for supporting General Motors’ visual identity and its global brands. She leads many teams, including color and trim, design sustainability, graphic design, experiential events, community outreach, merchandise development, creative visualization and more. Previously, Windham was the Director of Design for Cadillac Interiors leading the team responsible for some of Cadillac’s most iconic interiors, including the 2021 Cadillac Escalade and, most recently, the Cadillac LYRIQ. Since joining General Motors in 1994, her assignments have included multiple vehicle brands and special project work abroad.

    She became the first African-American female director in GM Design’s history in 2008 and spearheaded several award-winning interiors, including the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and 2014 Chevrolet Impala.

    Windham encourages students to consider higher education and careers in art and design through the programs offered by the Outreach + Development Team. She remembers how her art teacher changed the trajectory of her life and wants to be that inspiration for others. Her awards include Urban Wheel Designer of the Year, the Emerging Leader Award from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Automotive News 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.

    OUTREACH + DEVELOPMENT TEAM

    GM Design Outreach
    and Development Team

    outreach.development@gm.com

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