Hartmut Warkuss to receive 2014 EyesOn Design Catalyst Award

Hartmut Warkuss, former head of Volkswagen Design, will be awarded the 2014 Catalyst Award by EyesOn Design at next week's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

Warkuss, who is credited with overseeing the design of the Bugatti Veyron, the VW Concept (new Beetle) and the Audi TT Concept, will be presented with the award by Peter Schreyer, Hyundai's president and chief design officer and the 2014 recipient of the EyesOn Design Lifetime Design Achievement Award.

Schreyer, who met Warkuss when he was an intern at Audi in 1978, says, "He was chief designer at that time... I learned a lot from him about car design and how to get a feeling for a brand. He knew how to develop talent and many successful designers came out of his era."

The EyesOn Design Catalyst Award is presented annually to an executive who has inspired great design and is one of four EyesOn Design awards.

Four EyesOn Design Awards are presented in total, with the others being for Best Concept Vehicle, Best Production Vehicle, and the first Award for Innovative Use of Color, Graphics and Materials. All are chosen during the NAIAS preview days by active and retired design heads of car manufacturers and transportation design chairs from the top car design schools.

By Rufus Thompson