CCS Transportation Design student Jason Song was awarded the Automotive Hall of Fame Global Scholars Award on Thursday, Oct. 8, during Car Design News’ Car Design Dialogues Detroit event at the Department at Hudson’s. The award is granted to emerging automotive designers who demonstrate creativity, originality and the potential to make meaningful contributions to the future of the industry. Song’s thoughtful and user-focused approach to mobility design that combines creativity with purpose earned him this recognition. The award was presented through a partnership with the Ralph L. and Winfred E. Polk Foundation, with additional support from GM Design.

Song participated in a panel discussion following the award ceremony alongside CCS’s Undergraduate Transportation Design Chair, Paul Snyder, General Motors’ Executive Director of Industrial Design, Crystal Windam and Car Design News Editor-in-Chief, James McLachlan. The discussion focused on the future of automotive design, specifically the possibilities of artificial intelligence as it integrates with human judgment and creativity, the importance of foundational design skills and career opportunities for emerging designers.

The Car Design Dialogues Detroit 2026 event concluded with the award presentation and discussion. Song’s recognition highlights both his accomplishments and potential as an emerging automotive designer. It also reflects the Automotive Hall of Fame’s commitment to supporting emerging talent and CCS’s ability to prepare creative talent to shape the future of transportation and mobility design.

Read more about CCS’s participation in the Car Design Dialogues Detroit panel here.

Jason Song sitting cross-legged on a white stage couch, wearing a black suit jacket, white collared shirt, and sneakers while gesturing with his hands during a panel discussion.
Four panel guests—Paul Snyder, Jason Song, Crystal Windham, and James McLachlan—sit on a stage couch during Car Design Dialogues Detroit event.
Close-up of a yellow banner featuring the text "Car Design Dialogues Detroit" along with the event hashtag "#CDNDETROIT".

Located in the heart of midtown Detroit, CCS’s prime location offers unparalleled opportunities for art and design collaboration. Our students have found countless ways to make a positive impact on local metro Detroit businesses through innovative art and design problem-solving.

Last year alone, CCS students collaborated to problem-solve timely topics for 15 metro Detroit businesses and nonprofit organizations. They addressed a range of issues in healthcare product design, sustainability, mobility, and even emerging augmented reality technology.

Embracing the city’s rich history of cultural and sporting events, students continue to participate in annual design competitions to create the newest posters for iconic Detroit events such as the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear, the Movement Music Festival and the 313 Presents Pine Knob concert series.

Here’s a look at some of the partnerships:

  • Augmented Reality Center (ARC) in partnership with Oakland University x Communication Design & Strategy, Graduate User Experience Design and Entertainment Arts
  • Crain Communications – Automotive News x Illustration
  • 313 Presents x Illustration
  • Detroit Grand Prix x Illustration
  • GM x Transportation Design & Graduate User Experience Design
  • Godnii x Graduate Color & Materials Design
  • Hagopian Rug Competition x All Departments
  • State of Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification with support from the Global Epicenter of Mobility x Transportation Design
  • Zumiez and Somerset Collection x Illustration
  • BorgWarner x Product Design
  • Carhartt x Fashion Design
  • Henry Ford Health x Product Design
  • Changing Lives and Staying Sober (C.L.A.S.S.) x Interior Design and Graduate Color & Materials Design

The Detroit: The City of Chefs film, a documentary about Detroit’s culinary heritage, won a 2025 Michigan Emmy Award for Best Historical Documentary.

The stop-motion animation in the opening title sequence of the film was created by CCS students, faculty, and staff during the Sponsored Studio course DMA 485B Stop Motion: Detroit Chefs within the Entertainment Arts department in the Winter 2024 semester. Created in collaboration with Keith Famie of Visionalist Entertainment, the film also features work by culinary students at Schoolcraft College.

The film aired on PBS in 2024 and can be viewed at PBS Detroit.

The Apple Foundation Program at CCS will welcome its first cohort in October 2025, offering a free introductory app development course with access to laptops and additional devices.

The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is excited to launch the Apple Foundation Program, a free app development program coming to the College’s A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education in collaboration with Apple. This technology lab and educational program will be available in October 2025 at no cost to students and community members. Additional details are available here.

This cutting-edge program offers a series of one-month courses, with daytime and evening classes to accommodate diverse schedules. Participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of Swift, Apple’s programming language, and the principles of app design and development, helping them to expand their technology skills and foster creativity. Apple devices will be provided to participants for the duration of the program, at no additional cost.

Registration is first-come, first-served. The first cohort will welcome 15-30 participants with a minimum of eight sessions over the year. Participants must be 18 years or older, and registration is open to metro Detroit residents, no prior coding or technology experience is required to participate.

“At CCS, we’re excited to welcome the Apple Foundation Program to our campus and provide cutting-edge learning opportunities for our students and for metro-Detroiters looking to continue their education,” said Don Tuski, President of CCS. “We are always looking for new ways to activate our local community and provide them with valuable resources. Detroit is the perfect place to pilot this excellent program.”

ABOUT THE COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a nonprofit, private college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. CCS fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens, and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business.