THE STORY
The Story
Welburn Design, LLC
A Multi-Media Design, Product & Entertainment Company
Welburn Design represents over four decades of global design leadership, rooted in automotive innovation and expanded across fashion, product design, and storytelling. Built on a foundation of aesthetics, functionality, and forward-thinking creativity, the company continues to shape modern design through experience, heritage, and vision.
THE COMPANY
The Company
Ed Welburn brings more than forty years of experience across automotive, product, and fashion design, along with deep expertise in design strategy and leadership.
Automotive design remains the core foundation of his work, with contributions to over 500 vehicle programs worldwide. Each creation reflects a disciplined balance of aesthetics, functionality, and innovation, shaped by a deep understanding of design history and brand development.
Today, Welburn Design continues to evolve across multiple creative disciplines, including:
- Fashion and athletic footwear design
- Product design and innovation
- Editorial and automotive publishing
- Children’s books and literary projects
- Feature film development
Welburn Design operates with a focused, highly capable team specializing in design, digital sculpture, and business development — combining creative excellence with strategic execution.
HISTORY & EXPERIENCE
History & Experience
A graduate of the Howard University College of Fine Arts, Ed Welburn began his career with General Motors, where he advanced through a wide range of global design roles.
His career culminated in his appointment as Vice President of Global Design at General Motors — becoming only the sixth person to hold the position and the first to lead GM’s global design organization across 11 design centers in 7 countries.
Under his leadership, a team of over 1,400 Creative People developed vehicles across GM’s global portfolio, including:
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Buick
- GMC
- Opel
- Vauxhall
- Holden
- Wuling
- Baojun
Beyond corporate leadership, Welburn remains active globally as a speaker, lecturer, and design authority, and serves as a judge at prestigious concours events, including:
- Pebble Beach
- Villa d’Este (Italy)
- Lugano (Switzerland)
- Suzuka (Japan)
- Marbella (Spain)
- Greenwich (Connecticut)
- Newport (Rhode Island)
- Las Vegas
- Amelia Island
FILM AND CREATIVE WORK
Film & Creative Work
Welburn’s influence extends beyond automotive design into film, storytelling, and cultural innovation.
His work on the Transformers film franchise, including the iconic Bumblebee Camaro, reflects a seamless transition between industrial design and cinematic storytelling.
He is currently developing a full-length feature film based on the life of Charlie Wiggins, an African American race car driver from the 1920s — bringing an untold story of innovation and resilience to a global audience.
LEGACY & RECOGNITION
Legacy & Recognition
Ed Welburn’s impact on design has earned global recognition across multiple disciplines.
- Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
- Inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame
- Recipient of multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Emmy Award winner
- Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts
- Only automotive designer with work archived in the Smithsonian Institution
- Ebony 100
His legacy reflects not only design excellence, but a lasting influence on culture, innovation, and global creative leadership.
CONTINUING THE VISION
Continuing the Vision
Welburn Design continues to push boundaries across industries — blending heritage, innovation, and storytelling to shape the future of design.