Honoring the best production and concept cars making their North American or worldwide debut.
Each year, the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology sponsors the EyesOn Design Awards at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Held at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan, the EyesOn Design Awards celebrate the finest examples of modern automotive design. Each annual event is covered by the automotive, national and international press.
Why does an eye institute present awards?
The Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology knows that it is only with good vision that a person can fully appreciate the beauty of good design. The DIO takes part in the event in part to celebrate this focus on design, and also to raise money to support its goal of assisting and educating the visually impaired – helping them to maintain independence and dignity, while learning how to live a satisfying and productive life in a sighted world.
However, the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology also has a more direct link to automotive-related issues. It is a world leader in facilitating collaborative research related to the eye. This includes two biennial research congresses, one of which (The Eye, The Brain & The Auto) explores the relationship between vision and the safe operation of a motor vehicle.
Judging
Judges are chosen from the most prestigious members of the design community, including active and retired design heads of automotive original equipment manufacturers, transportation design chairs from top design schools and leading designers from independent automotive design studios.
In addition, from this group, three Chief Judges are selected by Thomas Gale, Founding Chairman of the EyesOn Design Awards at the North American International Auto Show, to represent design from a broad perspective. With these three internationally renowned leaders, the judging process is ensured to be fair and the credibility and importance of the award-winning vehicle designs is easily recognized by the automotive design community.
Awards
Each year, one new Concept Vehicle and one new Production Vehicle introduced at the North American International Auto Show are presented with an EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence. In addition, the DIO presents the following awards:
- EyesOn Design Catalyst Award: This award is presented to the automotive executive who recognized, believed in, enabled and fostered the career of an EyesOn Design Lifetime Design Achievement Award winner. The first Catalyst Award was presented by Wayne Cherry to Robert “Bob” Lutz, in January 2013.
- EyesOn Design NAIAS Exhibit Design Experience Award: This award is presented to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) exhibit that exemplifies the manufacturer's brand experience aspirations. The judges for this award are automotive designers, and award criteria include architectural design of the display, lighting, music, associates' dress and visitor interaction. This award will be presented for the first time in January 2014.
All EyesOn Design awards are made of optical crystal of great purity with a very high index of refraction. Like the eye itself, these awards transmit and refract light in a spectacular manner.
For more information about the EyesOn Design Awards at the North American International Auto Show, go to brophy.com/NAIAS or call the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology at (313) 824-4710.
