by Charis Marshal, Student Public Relations Writer
Cedarville University Students Reimagine the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger for 2035
The Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger have long defined American automotive appearance and performance. But behind every sleek exterior and precision detail lies the imagination of designers who shape the future of the industry.
Cedarville Design Students Take on Automotive Challenge
Seniors from Cedarville University’s industrial and innovative design program studying at the International Center for Creativity (ICC) in Dublin, Ohio, recently tackled both the rewards and challenges of automotive design in a five-week intensive course.
Working in brand-specific teams for the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger, the senior class envisioned the “2035 Pony Car,” a forward-looking concept and modeling project that taught real-world industry practices through hands-on experience.
“Although this course is not a sponsored project, it mirrors a real-world transportation design challenge,” said Tom Balliett, co-founder of the ICC and instructor for the course. “Students work under authentic timelines, deliver against professional milestones, and are required to manage their time and resources effectively. The result is a deeply experiential learning process that builds confidence, professional discipline and a strong portfolio.”
Industry-Driven, Faith-Integrated Design Education
This hands-on approach reflects the broader philosophy of Cedarville’s design program, the leading program among private Christian universities.
Operated in partnership with the ICC, the program emphasizes faith-integrated, industry-driven learning. Through relationships with companies, including Chick-fil-A, Honda and Answers in Genesis, students are routinely exposed to real-world design challenges that mirror those found in professional studios.
Concept Cars: Blending Brand Heritage With Innovation
That philosophy came to life in the Pony Car project as each team developed two design concepts for their assigned brand — a standard version and a high-performance model — resulting in six unique vehicle designs. Students assumed specific roles within their teams including lead designer, clay modeler, virtual reality (VR) modeler and component designer.
“While the designs should pay homage to each brand’s historical roots,” said Balliett, “They must be new, forward-looking and original concepts, avoiding retro design in favor of fresh interpretations that push the boundaries of brand identity.”
Design Execution: Sketches, Clay Models and Digital Renderings
Throughout the course, students produced sketches, clay models with integrated 3D wheels and lights, CAD files with digital renderings, animations, VR models, foam models and interior concepts. These project deliverables encouraged students to combine creativity, technical skill and brand heritage to design the future of an American automotive icon. The project concluded with a final presentation featuring 1:7 scale clay models, integrated 3D-printed components and detailed renderings that captured the style, personality and design intent of each vehicle.
“I learned a lot from this project both as a designer and a child of God,” said David Stralnic, a senior innovation and industrial design student from Valparaiso, Indiana. “The biggest takeaway for me was how to be a good teammate. To succeed, we all had to go above and beyond expectations. I worked on the CAD models and 3D prints for our clay model, but I also worked on whatever other 3D prints were needed to enhance our model.”
Building Skills in Communication and Adaptability
In addition to technical proficiency, the students strengthened their communication, collaboration and creative problem-solving skills through daily critiques and design reviews.
“The most challenging part for me was learning to be okay with multiple changes in my design,” said Stralnic. “I learned what it is like to work on a team, serve my team and depend on them, and I learned to be willing to modify my ideas for the overall design or to match the preferences of a lead or client.”
Guest presenters — including Italian automotive designer Boris Fabris, local industrial designer and clay sculptor Brian Shane and ICC co-founder Jim Stevenson — provided additional expertise into the design process and professional expectations.
Preparing for Careers in Automotive and Beyond
“We teach what I like to call a ‘Swiss-Army-knife approach’ to design,” said Balliett. “We equip students with versatile, transferable abilities that open doors not only in automotive styling but also in product development, prototyping and advanced fabrication. This prepares them for roles across the transportation and mobility spectrum, from clay sculpting and VR design to color and trim, or even product and prototype development for leading OEMs and tier suppliers.”
At the ICC, education extends beyond design proficiency and aesthetics to include purpose and a servant’s mindset. Students are challenged to consider how a biblical worldview intersects with their profession and how to serve others through design.
“Ultimately, I want students to see that design is more than styling — it’s empathy in action,” said Balliett. “By following a disciplined process and applying design thinking, they learn to balance creativity with strategy and purpose. Whether designing an automobile, a consumer product or a mobility solution, the principles remain the same: understand people, identify needs and deliver excellence through collaboration and craft.”
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
