Last Friday, Chicago’s design and automotive communities braved the murky winter weather to gather at TEAMS Design. About 200 Chicago Auto Show attendees, designers, IDSA members, and other guests came out for post-Auto Show festivities at the West Town industrial design studio.

With a range of activities, guests had great opportunities to do more than just meet and mingle.

In a Gran Turismo 5 tournament, about 40 drivers competed for best time on the game’s Viper and Corvette tracks. The participants raced using custom-made driving cockpits created especially for the game by TEAMS Senior Industrial Designer James Dangora and Industrial Designer Jongho Nho.

The Cool Wall turned out to be a great source of conversation and controversy. Inspired by cult-favorite car show Top Gear, a bulletin board was set up with notable products that ranged from “seriously uncool” to “sub-zero”. Throughout the night, images were moved back and forth along the wall as guests argued the coolness (or lack thereof) of particular cars, watches, shoes, headphones, and even internet memes like Chuck Norris and Boo the Dog.

A highlight of the evening came from Chrysler. Design Manager Brad Gieske and Interior Designer Winnie Cheung of Chrysler Group gave the crowd an intimate look at the 2012 Dodge Dart, telling the design story behind the compact sedan that debuted this January at the Detroit Auto Show.

To fuel the crowd’s creativity, sketching stations were set up both at a sketching table and on projected Wacom Cintiqs. In keeping with the night’s theme, many guests tried their hands at their own automotive or motorcycle designs.