Regarded as the most prestigious award in automotive design, each year’s Eyes On Design Lifetime Achievement Award winner is chosen by the industry’s top designers and award winners from previous years. This year, Willie G. Davidson, Senior Vice President and Chief Styling Officer at Harley Davidson Motor Company, will be presented Eyes On Design Lifetime Achievement Award.
Willie G. Davidson will now join the ranks of these famous designers given the same award in the past: Harley Earl, Tom Gale, Chuck Jordan, Sergio Pininfarina, Nuccio Bertone, Raymond Loewy, Bruno Sacco, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Chuck Pelly, Jack Telnack and Marcello Gandini.
For those of you that do not know, Willie G. Davidson is the Grandson of one of the original founders of Harley-Davidson. He studied graphic arts in Wisconsin before attending the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from the Art Center, he held positions at Brook Stevens Associates where hes designed furniture and outboard motors. Then Willy G. held employment at some of the major automakers which included Ford. However, his design interests were heavily influenced by his grandfather’s love for the Harley Davidson Motorcycle and the custom motorcycle scene in California which led him begin to designing custom motorcycles as a hobby.
He joined the design department at Harley Davidson in 1963 which in turn lead to the design of several of the motorcycle company’s most admired motorcycles. Willie G. Davidson was the instrumental force behind Harley Davidson’s designs of the Super Glide which was my first Harley Davidson motorcycle, the Low Rider and the Fat Boy. His artistic design vision and love for riding motorcycles have made him a legend among throngs and throngs of motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide.
Willie G. Davidson will be presented this prestigious award during the Eyes On Design 2009 weekend events which take place June 19, 20 and 21, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. Please join me in congratulating Willie G. and his influence in making the Harley Davidson motorcycle and custom motorcycle marketplace what it is today.
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