Chris Bangle to receive EyesOn Design Lifetime Design Achievement Award

Chris Bangle is to receive a Lifetime Design Achievement Award from EyesOn Design.

The jugers, all past winners of the award, include Walter de'Silva, Tom Gale, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Chuck Jordan, Robert Lutz, Shiro Nakamura, Sergio Pininfarina and Jack Telnack.

Bangle is best known for his pioneering work at BMW Group from 1992 until 2009, when he left his position of Chief of Design. He radically transformed not only the design language of BMW's cars, but the whole philosophy of the company into one led by design. Despite the controversy of the  designs of some cars produced during this time, particularly amongst the wider automotive press, they resulted in record sales for the company.

After studying at Art Center College of Design, his career started at GM's European arm, Opel in Germany, followed by Fiat in Turin. He has since returned to Italy to establish Chris Bangle Associates.

The 2012 Lifetime Design Achievement Award will be presented to Bangle next June during EyesOn Design's week of activities at the annual black tie event in the grounds of Eleanor and Edsel Ford House, Michigan.

By Owen Ready