Sketchbattle and Auto Show 2025
Detroit Autoshow made it’s way back to its January scheduling, bringing the Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment to the top floor of Designers Night the week of show.
I am down to cover all the cool events that are in Detroit. We promote our city, we are proud of it and we share that pride with the community we have built. As far as Auto Show goes, this 2025 year had more of the dealership showcase we’ve come to know, but the main difference was the internal workings for this years marketing and event team. Let’s run through the highlights real quick then get to Sketchbattle.
When y’all scroll through our feeds, I know you want to see the hot muscle cars, concept rides, and anything cool and unique as far as autoshow coverage goes. Ford debuted the Mustang GTD based on the GT3 Imsa Mustang. With 815 – horsepower, it’s the closest thing you can get to a street legal race car. This “Spirit of America” special edition was launched the night before media day, with some big names on stage. Sorry, I didn’t go. I didn’t think I needed to fight my way up to the stage to get the closest shot and clout chase, not my style. I’m there to enjoy the moment and not get trampled for “engagement”.
Cool
And then they had the F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, winner of the 102nd Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado. See this is neat, I know the show is there to sell product but I want to be WOWED, and getting to see this in person was really cool. It’s pretty legendary to place first in the Hill Climb, so getting the chance to see the engineering that goes into a 1,600 HP F-150 Lightning in person is something you could only experience here at the show. At least it was last week, they will probably have it on display in the future but I liked seeing it regardless.
The concept cars are my personal favorites. We are still obsessed with the space age style and sleek luxury that I’d know I’d break, but it’s art. Buick, Cadillac, and Chrysler displays, all in time for Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer debut this summer.
Cadillac
Buick
Chrysler
OK that’s all you’re getting from me on the show, cause I need to talk about something that needs all the focus.
I’ve posted about Sketchbattle, Sketchbattle Jr. and all the work we do with our friends Brook and Judith of Middlecott Design. A quick rundown: Sketchbattle, aka, “The Fight Club of Design” is a live sketching event centered around a unique automotive theme with 2-3 rounds for viewers to watch and leading designers in our industry to judge. There’s a grand prize winner, peoples choice, Darby Jean award, and through the years, sponsorship picks. It’s always a ton of fun and the place to be if you are serious about getting into all aspects of design. Shoot, realistically you could go to any event and network with contacts that could take you further in your career, but Brook and Judith narrow things down and create an atmosphere where you can take advantage of the show. Events like Sketchbattle, which are few and far between and may not be done with as much heart and passion as Brook and Judith have, provides something in one space that skill sets of all ages need; access.
This years Sketchbattle Pro was held in the Ballroom of the Bankle building, home of on and off again Judge Camila Pardo’s studio space. He ran the autoshow designers night on floor 1 while the competition went down upstairs in the historic ballroom. This year competitors were required to incorporate AI into the second round design with the theme of ‘Rugged Mobility’ in the shade of Axalta’s color of the year, ‘Evergreen Sprint’.
We here at Mobsteel and Detroit Steel Wheel provided the grand prize of $1,000 cash and the custom championship belt with a Brazen watch from our good friend Eddie. Turns out I am PRETTY good at rolling 100 singles into a little wad of cash. There were incredible experiences and equipment given as other prizes for sure, but the real prize is having an audience of design professionals observe how you operate under pressure. Hell of a way to “get your foot in the door”.
Just do yourself a favor and look up when the next event is, and how to get involved. Link is here.