Discuss “Look like your car”

You have seen it all — from the box on wheels to the sleek cat-like form that hugs the road. These are the cars you yearn for or lampoon. Some cars are so hot they make you stop in your tracks or approach carefully when they are parked. Some cars inspire reverence, others mockery. But the design of a car goes beyond that — it not only has something to do with how others see you, but it can also change how you see yourself.

“Some people identify themselves by their car; some people don’t care,” said Mark Baskinger, a professor in the design department.

If you’re a car buff and stopped by the 2006 Pittsburgh International Auto Show, you have already seen some of the newest designs from well over 30 car manufacturers, including luxury...