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The milestone 1927 model year Cadillac LaSalle was the first production vehicle designed by a professional designer. Harley Earl (seated), considered the father of automotive design, had been customizing cars for Hollywood stars when GM hired him first to create the LaSalle and then to create the industry’s first full-time in-house design studio, which Earl headed until his retirement in 1959.

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General Motors established the Art and Colour Section, the industry's first in-house design studio, in 1927 under the leadership of Harley Earl. Tens years later, the name of the department was changed to the General Motors Styling Section to reflect its expanding role in the company. Styling Section produced this pamphlet in 1938 to explain how art relates to the automobile industry. Click here to view the entire Modes and Motors pamphlet.