Mercedes-Benz partnered with FIDM Graphic Design students for their annual "Foot to the Pedal" promotion, allowing the students the opportunity to showcase their design skills. The annual campaign features children's pedal cars designed by celebrities and then displayed at Saks Fifth Avenue in Los Angeles before being auctioned off at the Carousel of Hope Ball to benefit juvenile diabetes research. This year Elton John, Teri Hatcher, and Anna Molinari were among the stars to lend their creative vision. Using only sketches sent in by the celebrities, the FIDM students masterfully interpreted the design concepts of the drawings and created the colorful graphics needed to make every car a stylish work of art. Each pedal car was painted to the stars' specifications and then adorned with rhinestones, decaled with student art and upholstered in leather, making the cars unique and fun. The finished products clearly illustrated the celebrities' visions as well as the talent that is being cultivated in FIDM's Graphic Design program.

The students who participated were Gen Asaki, Matthew Weiss, Andrew Leslie, Michael Anderson, Brieanne Emery, Kirk Fannin, Grace Hye-Young Kang and FIDM alum Salvador Sahagun. All were thrilled about the opportunity to participate in the promotion and have their work presented at the elegant charity event.