Li Ding, an LA-based automotive designer at Rivian Automotive Inc., has earned the prestigious 2024 MUSE Design Award in Transportation Design for his concept project, Vision Root Coupe. This award-winning design blends retro simplicity with modern innovation, capturing the essence of classic European sports coupes while pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle aesthetics.
Drawing inspiration from the iconic 2002 Turbo, Vision Root Coupe demonstrates that innovation doesn’t require abandoning the past. The concept reimagines the 2002 Turbo’s distinctive “X”-shaped headlamp as a striking Daytime Running Lamp (DRL), giving the vehicle a recognizable and iconic visual signature. The traditional double kidney grille has been reinterpreted into two sleek vertical lines, enhancing the vehicle’s modern, clean front end, while the wide air flap below echoes the original 2002 design.
The body of Vision Root Coupe features a quintessential sports coupe profile, defined by a long hood, compact cabin, and a striking coke-bottle shape. The design’s simplicity and pure geometry reflect a timeless approach to automotive design, blending homage to the past with forward-thinking modernity.
This visionary concept has gained media attention and acclaim, including being featured on Designboom and Interesting Engineering.
Learn more about the project here.
Looking back on his experience with IDSA, Li emphasizes the impact the community has had on his design journey, stating “it has been a great honor to be part of this design community. Ever since my college time, I have been helped by IDSA friends and faculty members with great industry insight and guidance. The exposure to other creative professionals also inspires and motivates me to come up with better designs. I feel the joy and enthusiasm being part of this.”
"Ever since my college time, I have been helped by IDSA friends and faculty members with great industry insight and guidance."
About Li
Li Ding is an automotive designer currently working for Rivian. Previously, he has worked for Volvo Cars, ICONA Design Group, and GAC Motor. Graduated from Art Center College of Design, Li holds a degree in Transportation Design. His area of expertise is in exterior styling, crafting sleek and innovative vehicles with a focus on modern aesthetics. In the past, he has been involved in multiple concept and production car projects. Most recently, he contributed design sketches for the Volvo EX90 official launch. Passionate about blending technology and art, he is currently exploring the future of sustainable transportation and how it can reshape the industry.