Willie G. Davidson To Receive Eyes On Design Award.

williegdavidsonWillie G. Davidson, Senior Vice President and Chief Styling Officer at Harley-Davidson Motor Company and grandson of Harley-Davidson founder will receive this year’s EyesOn Design Award presented by the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology. Regarded as the most prestigious award in automotive design, each year’s EyesOn Design Award winner is chosen by the industry’s top designers and EyesOn Design award winners from previous years. Willie G. joined Harley-Davidson in 1963; his creations include the design of several of Harley-Davidson’s most admired motorcycles. His artistic vision and passion for riding have made him a legend among throngs of enthusiasts worldwide who consider him the patriarch of motorcycling. Willie G. will accept the award with his wife, Nancy, during the EyesOn Design 2009 weekend events in Detroit, June 19-21 2009.

17 Responses to “Willie G. Davidson To Receive Eyes On Design Award.”


  1. 1 just my opinion Mar 12th, 2009 at 11:54 am

    Funny how these corporate guy’s feel it neccesary to pat each other on the backs even when there stocks are dropping at alarming rates and there dealers are hurting and on the edge of going under. What exactly is the award for maybe the v-rod that is selling so slow that you can walk into any dealer and buy one for fifteen thousand when they came out selling at more that twenty five thousand or maybe its the Buell that they can even give away. They might want to spend a little more time figuring out how to survive and less time pretending that they have saved the world. Hell lets face it if his designs were as great as he thinks they are HD stock would not be dropping and HD would not be selling unsecured bonds trying to get stable. Don’t get me wrong I love Harley’s in fact I own three of them and have been riding them for more than thirty years but pretending things are rosie will not help those dealers that are about to close there doors and it most certainly will not bring back those that have aready closed. What is next the bankers giving each other awards for financial responcibility ?

  2. 2 James (Kiwi) Mar 12th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Well HD are in some trouble but down under Aussie has had a recoerd year and I was in the dealer I buy from last week (NZ) and their sales were good though they thought it might be a quiet winter.
    Remeber we are in Autumn going towards winter.
    Was at a Rally in the weekend (March Hare) and people who own European bikes were talking about the XR1200 and some were contemplating a purchase.
    So design philosphy and change can create sales.Personaly I think some of the bikes coming out recently do look good, go well and even stop! So HD have learnt, and to survive will have to always evolve.
    Some of Willies designs have not always been great but at least he was trying things in a Company that was sooo conservative with customers that were even worse than conservative. they hated change but complained when there was none.
    Serious long time HD customers are hard to please so HD have broadened their customer base to survive and hopefully they will.Much of this has been at the hands of Willie G!

  3. 3 rodent Mar 13th, 2009 at 6:12 am

    Willie and his family are the human face of a conservitive badly run, dictatorial company.

  4. 4 Brock Mar 13th, 2009 at 7:51 am

    Maybe this should read….Willie G. Davidson To Receive Bailout

  5. 5 Gunrunner Mar 13th, 2009 at 9:00 am

    just my opinion, Ditto here – good comment.

  6. 6 Jeff Nicklus Mar 13th, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Just My Opinion ….. what Gunrunner said X’s 2 !

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  7. 7 JB Mar 13th, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Where were his eyes when the ‘Rocker’ was being designed?

  8. 8 Brock Mar 14th, 2009 at 10:05 am

    LMAO at JB…..Good one

  9. 9 Lee Wimmer Mar 14th, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    Gee , I wonder if Willie had any input into Harley’s Heavy breather Air intake…………Oh no wait it looks just like Wimmer’s so I guess NOT.

  10. 10 just my opinion Mar 15th, 2009 at 12:15 am

    Taken from the HD dictionary
    DESIGNING Too copy the work of others that is selling well.

  11. 11 Lee Wimmer Mar 15th, 2009 at 11:33 am

    just my opinion

    That’s a good one!
    but so true. Notice that the baggers now have the little heat shield wings at the rear of the motor and the seat. We sold a bunch of them that kurayakyn had made………not so much now that Harley copied them.

  12. 12 burnout Mar 15th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    everything the company does, good and/or bad, helps my little ol shop. peace

  13. 13 alan Mar 16th, 2009 at 7:35 am

    WHY /

    I NEVER SEE ANY DESIGN ON HARLEY DAVIDSON THEY LOOK THE SAME FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS
    JUST MORE CHROME AND MORE BLING BLING

    SO WHAT ?

  14. 14 Craig Vetter Mar 16th, 2009 at 8:31 am

    As a designer, Willie G has always understood what a Harley-Davidson actually is. To Willie G, Harley-Davidson is an American tradition. Willie G spent his life protecting that tradition. Thanks to his instincts, a Harley is still recognizable as a Harley. I solute Willie G. Davidson. Craig Vetter, Designer

  15. 15 Grim Mar 23rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    I am an employee at the York, Pa plant and let me say that ” I Believein what Williw G is doing”. If you haven’t seen some of the work coming out yetthen you have no real reason to comment. The man has come up with some ideas that will keep Harley-Davidson as a motorcycle that will be around for many years to come. Case in point the Rocker is unlike any other Harley anyone has ever seen. Also the new Cross-Bones although it looks like a springer it is a bike to be reckoned with.

  16. 16 Grim Mar 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    Forgive my spelling typin a lil to fast

  17. 17 Stan The Man Apr 25th, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    Willie G rocks!! He gets to spend his time around beautiful HD motorcycles all day and I envy him. I was a cop for 38 years (retired now) and every time I heard the roar of one of our police bikes I stood at attention. Way to go Willie G!! You earned it and much more. Thanks for saving the company when it was needed the most. Otherr wise who can figure where we’d be today with out the best motorcycle in the world.

    Stan The Man

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Cyril Huze