May 07, 2026
ArtCenter College of Design Presents the 2026 Design Invitational, A Celebration of Transportation Design Excellence
With a Special Focus on Italian Design, the Major Exhibition at the College’s Hillside Campus Showcases More Than 65 Vehicles and Other Modes of Transportation, Including Cars, Motorcycles, and an Aircraft
PASADENA, CA – ArtCenter College of Design is pleased to announce the 2026 Design Invitational, the College’s annual exhibition of important and iconic vehicles ranging from timeless classics to groundbreaking concepts. The popular event returns to Pasadena on Sunday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Sculpture Garden of the College’s historic Hillside Campus. First established in 2001 as Car Classic, this year’s exhibition places a special focus on Italian design and features more than 65 vehicles, including cars, motorcycles and even an aircraft, from the ArtCenter community and private collections.
For automotive and design enthusiasts, the 2026 Design Invitational is a world-class, expertly curated transportation design showcase. For students of the College's acclaimed Transportation Design program, it is something more: a living classroom and a rare opportunity to meet designers and collectors, and to study important vehicles up close— from rare historic cars to the latest in modern design, including significant examples by ArtCenter faculty and alumni.
“Design Invitational is the ultimate fusion event,” says Transportation Design Chair Marek Djordjevic (BS 91 Transportation). “It brings together multiple generations of design and gives students and the public a unique opportunity to see the past, present and future as a continuum."
A curated exhibition of must-see vehicles spanning eight decades, ArtCenter’s 2026 Design Invitational features a special focus on Italian design, with a significant number of vehicles on display representing the marques of Alfa Romeo, DeTomaso, Ducati, Ferrari, Fiat, Lamborghini, Lancia, and Maserati. One highlight is a jewel from the acclaimed collection of David Lee: a dark-green-tinted 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3, part of what Lee refers to as his “relish” collection, a witty complement to the yellow and red Ferraris in his “mustard” and “ketchup” collections. Other Italian highlights on display include a landmark 1952 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT, one of the cars that defined the modern grand tourer; a 1960 Porsche 356 Zagato Speedster, a rare fusion of German engineering and Italian design; and one of fewer than 10 surviving examples of a 1969 Fiat Michelotti Shellette.
Additional highlights of the exhibition include ArtCenter alumni and faculty members Nikita and Iliya Bridan’s “Dropped Alfa,” a 1974 Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 the brothers modified into an off-road vehicle after the original vehicle suffered a 6-foot drop off a flatbed truck; a 2026 Pebble Flow, a 25-foot all-electric travel trailer designed by alumnus Page Beerman; and a mockup of alumnus Brad Kappel’s Cirrus Vision SF50, the world’s first certified single-engine personal jet that has a cruising speed of 300 knots and a cabin that seats up to seven.
A full list of vehicles will be added prior to the event on the ArtCenter Design Invitational event page, though the final lineup is subject to change.
ArtCenter’s 2026 Design Invitational is open to the public. Tickets are $35 each; children 18 and under are free. Parking is free, but is first-come, first-served.
EVENT INFORMATION
ARTCENTER 2026 DESIGN INVITATIONAL
Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ArtCenter College of Design (Hillside Campus)
1700 Lida Street, Pasadena, CA 91103
Registration is required. Please use this LINK to purchase a general admission ticket ($35).
Admission is FREE for ages 18 and under, with registration.
About ArtCenter College of Design
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. With a mission to educate, inspire and empower creative and design leadership, the College is renowned for its undergraduate and graduate degree programs spanning industrial design, media and technology, as well as visual and applied arts. With deep industry relationships, state-of-the-art facilities and a strong faculty roster, ArtCenter provides real-world experience aligned with industry needs. Through rigorous, hands-on, practitioner-led instruction, the College prepares students for meaningful creative careers. For nearly 100 years, ArtCenter alumni and faculty have shaped many of the world’s most iconic products, vehicles, campaigns and creative works, leaving a lasting impact across art, design and culture.
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