Returning To Detroit With Ford For The 2016 NAIAS And Ford By Design

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I love to drive. I have never hidden the fact that the Ford Mustang makes me smile. It makes me happy. Every single time. Ford knows there are other people besides me who feel this way, which is part of the thinking behind their new By Design car campaign.

As a part of this exciting new campaign, Ford is bringing a new level of interactivity to outdoor advertising by showcasing how their products make consumers feel. Consumers like you and I have the opportunity to design artwork for digital billboards that will go up in major cities across the country, from Times Square to the San Francisco Bay Bridge. To make this experience even more unique, you will receive a “billboard selfie” – a webcam shot of your design from cameras located across from the billboards.

To create a one-of-a-kind design, visit www.FordByDesign.com on your computer or smartphone and select one of six major cities and your car of choice, along with an assortment of colors and effects to complete the artwork. Once you’ve submitted, Ford will then display it to a billboard in the city chosen by you. Along with your design, the billboard will also display your first name and hometown.

I chose the Shelby GT350R for my submission, which is shown above. There were other models, including the Mustang GT, Fusion, Focus and even the jawdropping Ford GT, but the coloring of this particular model really made me happy today.

Speaking of design, I will be attending the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit this coming week, once again as a guest of Ford.

Last year was the first time I attended NAIAS. It was huge and busy and I loved every minute of it. Being present for the announcement of the return of the Ford GT, as well as the unveiling of the new Shelby GT350R and Raptor, was amazing. Seeing that Ford GT drive out onto that stage literally took my breath away. Touring the Rouge Factory and getting an up close look at what goes into design and development at some other stops was really interesting too.

I cannot wait to see what new designs and announcements they will be sharing. I’ll be joining other members of the media to be up close for all of the big announcements during NAIAS press days on January 11-12. The show opens to the public on January 16. If you love cars as much as I do, be sure to follow me on social media, watching for the hashtag #FordNAIAS.