3/24/2025
By Jenn McKeogh, senior manager, GM News
Design plays a major and often overlooked role in the automotive industry – and it has long had a crucial role in the way General Motors approaches building new vehicles. In 1927, GM became the first auto manufacturer to standardize the design process in product development – the legendary Harley Earl built GM Design, originally known as the Art and Color Section, from the ground up. Earl’s team developed many of the design techniques still used today, almost a century later.
While many things have changed over the last 100 years, GM’s need for design talent remains high – and the automotive industry provides a rich and rewarding career path for creative artists. But it is an option that might not be obvious to the average art student.
As part of its push to cultivate talent, GM Design’s outreach and development team hosts YMAD – Youth Modelers, Artists and Designers – an annual program for students in grades 7 to 12. For 20 years, YMAD has introduced young artists to automotive design careers, highlighting what a future at GM can offer.
Understanding design
YMAD offers middle and high school students a chance to work with GM employees to gain a better understanding of the foundational elements of design. It’s also a chance for students to fine-tune their skills with sketching, digital and clay sculpting, and the application of color, materials and finishes.
Program recruitment begins each October. By December, YMAD officially kicks off with students participating both in-person, at GM’s design centers, and virtually.
“We originally started with Southeast Michigan students coming to our Warren Tech Center, but the program has expanded throughout the state – and now the entire U.S.,” said Melinda Gray, outreach and development manager, global design. “We’ve already brought students into our design center on the West Coast and are targeting the UK this year.”
The 11-week program runs through February, culminating in a grand finale at the Warren design dome, which provides students the opportunity to display their projects in a professional setting, with GM leaders in attendance.
Taking it up a level
GM also offers an exclusive summer program for a limited number of students to work in our design studios alongside professional designers to sketch and sculpt with the team.
Jeff Perkins, creative manager of GM design, says exposing students to the opportunities in creative careers is one of the program’s most important benefits.
“I’ve been working with YMAD for over 15 years, and I regularly meet students and parents who didn’t realize a lot of these career paths exist,” said Perkins. “Working directly with GM creatives is an incredible opportunity for students to see what a career in design can be.”
GM designers and mentors also partner with college students – often former YMAD participants – on sponsored design projects.
“In many cases, the undergrads we sponsor are students that we’ve already worked with at the high school level,” said Krista Vines, early career talent lead. “As a result, they understand what it’s like to have an actual design brief to work from.”
A talented legacy
The 2024/2025 program concluded this month. This year’s class included 30 onsite and 18 virtual students, as well as 55 volunteer mentors – many of whom were former YMAD students themselves.
“My Grandpa Frank was a clay modeler at GM for 29 years. After joining the YMAD program in my senior year of high school, I realized for sure designing was also what I wanted to do with my life,” says YMAD mentor and former student Alex Fischer.
Fischer went on to attend Detroit’s College of Creative Studies. He joined GM in 2019 as a creative designer in the architecture studio. Today, Fischer works in the advanced design studio in Warren and recently took on a role as a part-time design professor at CCS.
“GM has a rich history of cultivating young artistic talent,” said Crystal Windham, executive director, GM industrial design, who leads the outreach and development program. “As a result, over the years, we have many individuals that participated in our outreach and development programs, like YMAD, and are now working at GM Design. Some are even currently serving as program mentors – a rewarding full-circle experience.”
To learn more about careers in GM Design, visit careers.gm.com. YMAD will begin accepting applications for the 2025/2026 year in the Fall.
