Wayne K. Cherry
Photograph
Wayne K. Cherry during his employment with General Motors
Born1937 (age 86–87)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationArt Center College of Design
OccupationCar designer
Years active1962-2004
EmployerGeneral Motors
Known forGeneral Motors Vice President of Design (1992-2004)
PredecessorCharles M. "Chuck" Jordan
SuccessorEd Welburn

Wayne K. Cherry (born 1937) is an American car designer educated at Art Center College of Design and employed by General Motors from 1962 through 2004, retiring as Vice President of Design. Cherry worked for General Motors in the United States from 1962 until 1965, when he moved to the United Kingdom to take a position with General Motors' Vauxhall Motors subsidiary, becoming Design Director at Vauxhall in 1975. In 1983 General Motors consolidated all European passenger car design under Cherry and made him Design Director at General Motors' Adam Opel AG subsidiary. Cherry returned to the United States in 1991 and in 1992 became General Motors Vice President of Design. Cherry retired from General Motors in 2004.

Cherry was one of twenty-five nominees for the 1999 Car Designer of the Century.

Education

In the 1950s, Cherry read an article about the Art Center College of Design and wrote to the college, asking how to become a car designer. The college replied, telling Cherry to submit a portfolio. Cherry submitted a portfolio that included sketches of cars and engines, and was accepted to the college.[1] Cherry graduated with a bachelor's degree in industrial and transportation design in early 1962.[2]

Career

Cherry joined General Motors in 1962 after graduating from the Art Center College of Design, initially working at General Motors in the US as an Associate Creative Designer.[1][2][3] Cherry was a member of the team that designed the original Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird and the team that designed the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado.

In 1965, Cherry transferred to General Motors' United Kingdom-based Vauxhall Motors subsidiary. His first project was in 1965 under Assistant Director of Design Leo Pruneau working on the Vauxhall XVR concept car.[4] became Assistant Design Director at Vauxhall in 1970.[2] In that same year, the Vauxhall SRV concept car was shown. Under Cherry, General Motors released the redesigned 1973 Vauxhall Firenza with its aerodynamic "droopsnoot".[2] Cherry became the Design Director for Vauxhall in 1975.

In 1983, General Motors consolidated the design activities of its Vauxhall and Opel subsidiaries. As part of the consolidation plan, Cherry became Design Director at General Motors' Rüsselsheim, Germany-based Adam Opel AG subsidiary and became responsible for overall design of passenger cars in Europe.[2] During his time at Opel, Cherry supervised the design of the Astra, Corsa, Calibra, Tigra, among many others.

Cherry returned to the United States in 1991 to direct the design studios of General Motors' Chevrolet and Geo divisions.[2] In 1992 Cherry became Vice President of Design for General Motors worldwide, [5][6] one of seven to have held the position, including Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, Irv Rybicki, Chuck Jordan, Ed Welburn and Michael Simcoe.

While Cherry Vice President of Design, he oversaw the designs of the Pontiac Solstice, Cadillac Sixteen concept car, Hummer H2, Chevrolet SSR and many other vehicles, including the Cadillac CTS introduced in 2002.

Cherry retired from General Motors on January 1, 2004.[2]

Automobiles Designed

As Design Director at Vauxhall & Opel:

As Vice President of Design for GM:

Awards

The 1993 Opel Corsa received 20 international design awards.[2] In 1999, the Global Automotive Elections Foundation nominated Cherry to a group of twenty-five designers competing for Car Designer of the Century.[7] In June, 2013, Cherry received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 McCourt, Mark J. (August 2013). "Personality Profile: Wayne Cherry". Hemmings Classic Car. Hemmings Motor News. 9 (11): 52–55. ISSN 1550-8730. OCLC 55658551. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2013. I came across an article about Art Center [Pasadena, California's Art Center College of Design], and wrote to them to ask how to become a car designer. They told me to submit a portfolio, so I did some sketches of cars and of engines, and I was accepted.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Cherry, Wayne K." GM Heritage Center. General Motors Company, Inc. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2013. A portfolio of car sketches helped him gain admission to the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, where he soon won a scholarship that led to a bachelor's degree in industrial and transportation design. After graduation, Cherry joined General Motors' advanced design studios in 1962.
  3. ↑ MacKenzie, Angus (July 2010). "Cadillac VSR Concept". Motor Trend. Source Interlink Media. ISSN 0027-2094. OCLC 423854316. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2013. [Cherry] joined GM in 1962, straight out of California's Art Center design school...
  4. ↑ "Wayne Cherry - Retired GM Vice President of Design re - Hemmings Motor News". www.hemmings.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  5. ↑ Levin, Doron P. (September 16, 1992). "Company News; With New Design Chief, G.M. Quiets Speculation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2013. The General Motors Corporation named Wayne K. Cherry its new vice president of design staff today, filling a key position that oversees how all G.M. cars and trucks look, as well as their comfort and styling characteristics.
  6. ↑ Krebs, Michelle (May 1999). "Q&A With: GM's Top Designer, Wayne Cherry - Trends". Motor Trend. Source Interlink Media. ISSN 0027-2094. OCLC 423854316. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013. When named GM's vice president of design in 1992, Cherry became only the fifth person to head that operation in GM's long history.
  7. ↑ "ArtCenter Gallery - 2003 Cadillac 16 Concept by Wayne K. Cherry". www.artcenter.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  8. ↑ Borney, Nathan (October 22, 2012). "GM Design Chief Wayne Cherry To Get Lifetime Award". Detroit Free Press. www.freep.com. OCLC 49606245. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2013. Cherry will receive the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology's 2013 Lifetime Design Achievement Award, which will be presented during the EyesOn Design show in June 2013.
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