New Corvette Museum Exhibit Explores History of Design

It’s a fascinating look at how the Corvette has evolved over the past 70 years.

Now Open

Some time ago, the National Corvette Museum announced its latest exhibit – dubbed “Driven by Design,” which aims to explore the history of automotive styling as it pertains to the Corvette. Now, this new exhibit is officially open to the public, giving them a chance to explore one of the more important factors behind the success of America’s sports car.

Long-Term Plan

The 6,500-square-foot Driven by Design exhibit is focused on the history of Corvette’s design process and the stories of the diverse group of individuals responsible for the most iconic sports car design of all time. However, this idea is nothing new, as it’s been in the works for a very long time.

Designed to Inspire

This long-term exhibit, located in the Museum’s Design and Engineering Gallery, has been planned by the curatorial staff – along with co-curator, Retired GM Design Chief Tom Peters – for several years and was designed to inspire, educate, and entertain the National Corvette Museum guests. This exhibit uses interactive elements, artifacts, hands-on objects, and motion-activated content to help guests learn about the design history of the Corvette.

Individual Recognition

The exhibit features Corvette’s Vice Presidents of Design beginning with Harley Earl in the 1950s through Mike Simcoe today. The exhibit also reveals the lesser-known stories of those who worked out of the spotlight but were no less influential in creating the lines that would shape the auto industry. Additionally, this exhibit shines a light on the diversity of the individuals responsible for Corvette’s iconic design.

Interactive Elements

This exhibit also provides a full overview of the intricate and exciting process of designing a car, from sketches and renderings to clay and prove-out models. From exterior and interior design to future-looking projects and designs. With the use of interactive elements, guests will see the actual tools and models that led to the Corvettes seen on the road today.

Telling the Stories

“This exhibit reveals the significance of individuals like Larry Shinoda, an Asian-American designer, and Tony Lapine from Germany, who both worked together on Corvette not long after World War II – during a very challenging time in America,” said Bob Bubnis, Curator of Collections and Exhibits Manager. “This exhibit also shares the history of women in design, from the ‘Damsels of Design’ in Corvette’s early days to GM Creative Designer Darby Barber, working on the cars of tomorrow. Corvette’s story is truly the story of America – where innovation and ingenuity are not bound by any societal construct.”

Inspiring the Next Generation

“We hope this exhibit will motivate young people to pursue their dreams and help them look beyond their limitations – real or perceived,” added National Corvette Museum President and CEO Sharon Brawner. “This team has spent countless hours creating Driven by Design to pull back the curtain on the auto design process, and we hope that this exhibit inspires the next generation of engineers and designers.”

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