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Michigan Design Council

Michigan Design Council

The State of Design

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Josiah LaColla

Josiah’s creative passion is centered around the unification of design emotion and technology. Ignited by the rumbling, glossy sheet metal of his father’s classic cars and the inspiringly intricate, yet peaceful geometry of his mother’s flower gardens, Josiah has been fully immersed in the creative field and drawing since he was 3 years old. After years of creating fantastical scenes spanning the depths of the ocean and far reaches of space, the clutches of reality kicked in and Industrial Design coalesced into the most likely vehicle for his ideas to physically be created and proliferated in the real world.

A logical, calculated approach to aesthetic design paired with real-world mechanical understanding has vaulted his ability as a creative designer to communicate with engineers to create high quality products. Following his graduation from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, he constructed two purpose-built SEMA show vehicles for Subaru, moving on to pioneer experimental aerodynamic features for semi-trucks and pushing high-end recreational vehicles one step closer to automotive build quality and appearance. At Sundberg-Ferar, he’s done everything from lead the development of a line of commercial and agricultural trucks for the Chinese domestic market, high speed train system designs, robotic walking cars, and re-working the housings of in-sink food waste disposal units.

Josiah has served as a mentor for the MDC for 7 years, each time further inspiring the students he engaged with. His spare time is spent carefully restoring and improving his small fleet of personal vehicles and exploring the boundaries of residential & furniture design.

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Officers

  • Jeff DeBoer
  • David J. Byron
  • Christine Tertzakian
  • Jake Sansburn

Advisors

  • Don Tuski
  • Grey Parker
  • Matt Clayson
  • Ken Dirkin

Designers

  • Josiah LaColla
  • Evan Crawford
  • Austin Clark
  • Ryan Featherstone
  • Josh Corder
  • Matt McPhail
  • Arthur Brown

Educators

  • Gillian McColgan
  • Amy Van Allsburg
  • Casey Wollenzier
  • Kristi Law
  • Mark Lacombe
  • Marvin Gage
  • Carrie Roth
  • Denise Smyk
  • Catherine Wagner
  • Juliann O’Brien

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