Count Alexis Wladimirovich de Sakhnoffsky (1901–1964)  was educated as an engineer, began his career as a fashion illustrator, and was styling car bodies by his mid-twenties. De Sakhnoffsky’s dream-like vehicle designs won him recognition the world-over.  He practiced in the United States—including an office in Atlanta—from 1928 until his death in 1964.  From 1934 until the early 1960s, he was also the technical editor for Esquire Magazine—where hundreds of his illustrations appeared.

This exhibition includes original de Sakhnoffsky illustrations, photographs, and other documented examples of his work including: cars, commercial vehicles, bicycles, consumer products, juvenile products, furniture, and graphic design.

 de Sakhnoffsky was organized by the School of Industrial Design and made possible by the generous gift of Preston S. Stevens, Jr. BS Arch ‘52, B Arch ’53.

From Preston Stevens:

The Count was one of the Industrial Design giants of the twentieth century.

I have the honor to have helped nurture and assemble this collection. 

Sakhnoffsky's work is of particular interest to me because of the two auto design and restoration courses offered by Tech's Industrial Design School starting more than a decade ago and in which I have been involved.

Count DeSakhnoffsky was a pioneer in automobile design, having directed designs including those for Auburn, Cord, Packard, LaSalle, Austin and American Bantam.

By remarkable coincidence the collection was donated by the Count's family at about the time the School of Industrial Design enhanced its auto interest.

For more than a decade the school and I have looked for the right moment to display this treasure and this opportunity came with the College Of Architecture's celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Heffernan Architecture building in which I was one of the first students.

Please come by the East Archtiecture building to view this remarkable exhibition, you won't be disappointed.