By KIMBERLY DeMUCHA
demucha@newsroom.byu.edu
Sleek design.
Glossy metallic colors.
A rugged outdoor feel with a functional interior.
All of these features define General Motor's new Hummer.
Out with the old, boxy traditional Hummers, and in with the new, rounded futuristic Hummers designed by BYU students.
Industrial design students have spent thousands of hours to produce designs and three-dimensional models for a class that is preparing them to enter the world of transportation design.
Three years ago, BYU began a partnership with GM and since then, GM has been placing the creative process into the hands of students, said John Marshall, professor of design and project chairman.
'Over the last three years, we have been working with GM to show them, and other potential employers, the possibility of student talent in our design department,' Marshall said.
Students participate in the project as part of a class they are required to take, said David Hoeft, industrial design instructor.
Some students estimated they have invested close to 100 hours per week on the project throughout the semester.
'The last couple of weeks I think I have worked close to 120 hours, but during the entire semester, I have put in anywhere from 80 to 100 hours per week,' said Chris Nascimento, a senior from Riverside, Calif., majoring in industrial design.
Gerry Ayala, also a senior in the program, echoed Nascimento saying, 'I haven't slept in the last three days.'
If you want to succeed in this field, you have to be a hard worker and pour your heart and soul into it, Ayala said.
On hand for Thursday's display was a recruiter from GM. Sheryl Garrett, a resource manager for the creative designers, came to BYU to look for new talent and possibly make some job offers.
'BYU has a very well-rounded program, and those of us from GM are excited to see what the students have to offer,' she said.
During the first two years of the program, GM hired three students from BYU and has already hired two more students this year, she said.
Dan Gifford, 24, a senior from Las Vegas, is one of the new hires.
'I wouldn't have gotten the job without the sponsored programs with GM through BYU's industrial design program,' Gifford said.
Clay Dean, design manager for Chevrolet and Hummer trucks, said this project has helped students become involved in the design process and helped GM to build a portfolio for the Hummer.
'We want to design a vehicle that can fit every lifestyle, every need and every person,' Dean said. 'So that means we need more than one universal model of the Hummer.'
The students showed off their creativity at the Brimhall Gallery, in the George H. Brimhall Building, by presenting Hummers built for the snow or the desert. Even a model with an electric engine was featured.
The public can view the 16 different models in the Brimhall Gallery through this afternoon.
According to Marshall, other automobile companies like Chrysler and Ford will also view the models.