Who's Where: Larry Erickson named Chair of Transportation Design at CCS

The College of Creative Studies (CCS) has named Larry Erickson as the Paul and Helen Farago Chair of Transportation. As chair, Erickson will lead the College's Transportation Design department, a role previously occupied by Bryon Fitzpatrick who retired in the summer of 2007. Mark West has led the department for the last academic year as the interim Chair of Transportation Design. Erickson will also oversee the College's Master of Fine Arts in Transportation Design program when it launches in fall 2009.

Erickson joins CCS from Ford Motor Company where he most recently served as chief designer in Ford's Strategic Design Group working on advanced vehicle development. Prior to that he was chief designer on the 2005 Mustang Design team and chief designer in Ford Motor Company's Small and Medium Car Vehicle Center (SVC) Design Studio in Dunton, England. 

"This is an exciting time in the Transportation Design industry as the world looks to more energy efficient forms of transportation. I am thrilled to be joining a world-class institution like CCS at such an opportune time, a time when CCS graduates will utilize their training to make a real and significant impact on all forms of transportation," Erickson said.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., Erickson began his design career at General Motors' Advanced Aero Studio in 1983. He returned to California working for Bartlett Design on bus exterior and interior design and Tracy Design working on motorcycle and motorcycle accessory design until 1985.

Erickson then returned to General Motors where he served as a senior exterior designer and exterior and interior design manager in the Cadillac studio working on the Seville, STS and Eldorado programs and as vehicle chief designer in the Chevrolet studio working on the Malibu and Cavalier.

In addition to his work on production vehicles, Erickson also designed and built custom cars and hot rods. Working with the late Boyd Coddington, Erickson designed Billy Gibbon's Cadzzilla, Hogzzillas and Aluma Coupe. He has also worked with some of the most talented builders including Chip Foose and Craig Naff. Erickson is an inductee in the National Rod and Custom Car Hall of Fame and the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame. He serves on the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Board of Directors.

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