Detroit Grand Prix poster winner crowned

Posted by Talbot Payne on April 8, 2025

For years the Detroit Grand Prix has created lasting images of late race charges, wheel-to-wheel passes, and champagne-drenched victors.

It also has inspired a vault full of classic posters.

College for Creative Studies student Eli Archer won the 13th annual Detroit Grand Prix Student Poster Competition this week with a creative image featuring a young woman waving checkered flags while roller-skating through downtown Detroit streets — the skates taking the form of IndyCar and IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship racers. The 20-year-old sophomore from Indiana won by a nose over fellow CCS student Robin Contreras.

College for Creative Studies student Eli Archer won the 13th annual Detroit Grand Prix Student Poster Competition.
Detroit Grand Prix

“I just thought roller skating was a different way to incorporate the cars into the design,” said Archer, a native of Zionsville, Indiana, near Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “I wanted this poster to personify Detroit and reflect Detroit in the cars and the cars into the race.”

Five finalists from CCS — all students from the 18-member Digital Illustration class led by instructor Brian Kotulis — submitted their work to a distinguished panel of judges at the college’s A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education in downtown Detroit. The design competition has been synonymous with the Detroit GP since its inception as a Formula One race in 1982. For the past 13 years, it has featured a collaboration between the Grand Prix and CCS.

“We are so excited to celebrate the 13th year of our unique collaboration with CCS and we are honored to build on the tradition of the Official Grand Prix commemorative poster and provide opportunities for young talented artists to shine,” said Detroit GP Chairman Bud Denker, one of the contest judges. “Eli’s poster design captures the personality of Detroit, along with the fun and the excitement of the Grand Prix.”

Drivers race past regular traffic during practice sessions head of the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix.

Drivers race past regular traffic during practice sessions head of the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix. Katy Kildee, The Detroit News

In addition to Denker, judges included Raphael Zammit, chair of the Graduate Transportation Design program at CCS; Ryan Root, performance, motorsports and accessories designer for General Motors Co.; Erika Cryderman, senior marketing specialist for Lear Corporation; Bobby Keyes, vice president of the Detroit Sports Media Association; Neal Rubin, columnist for the Detroit Free Press, Genna Barner, page designer for The Detroit News; and Fox 2 Detroit news anchor and reporter Amy Lange.

Detroit GP fans also were heard as the final five designs were posted on social media, with their favorites factored into the judging process. Rounding out the podium after Archer and Contreras was third-place finisher Luca Olgren. Jacob Nguyen and David Klink earned honorable mention recognition for their designs.

Though an Indy native, Archer admitted he wasn’t a big racing race fan as a youth but said his grandfather’s passion was always present. His winning entry was the result of the sophomore’s own journey in learning more about motorsport.

“I’m so shocked to win this competition, especially seeing how strong the designs were from the other competitors,” he said. “This was such a fun process, and I really liked learning about the history of the Grand Prix and what it means to the city.”

College for Creative Studies student Robin Contreras was runner-up for the 2025 Detroit GP poster contest.
Detroit Grand Prix

Archer’s winning design will be refined over the next few weeks before the official poster is revealed Tuesday, May 6. This hands-on experience allows students to hone their business skills working with a “client” to produce a final product. In addition to the competitive experience, all five finalists will receive a small scholarship from the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear and the Detroit Sports Media Association.

The 2025 commemorative poster will be available for purchase online at DetroitGP.com as the GP’s May 30-June 1 dates approach.

The 35th Grand Prix event in the City’s history returns for the third year in a row on the 1.7-mile, nine-turn downtown circuit that circles the Renaissance Center. Tickets are available at DetroitGP.com/Tickets or through the event’s Ticket Hotline at 888-811-PRIX (7749).

Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.

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