Toronto, Canada - After a one-year hiatus, the international design contest is back in 2007... with some pretty interesting additions. This competition not only showcases the genius and individual talents of young designers from around the world, but it also recognizes the collective effort of design schools all over the planet.
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| 3D rendering with AutoStudio |
Sponsored by Autodesk Autodesk, a global maker of industrial design software, is a proud sponsor of the event. The student who wins the grand prize will receive a $10,000 grant -- compared to $7,500 and $5,000 for second and third place, respectively. In addition, each of the three finalists will get a copy of Autodesk SketchBook Pro. The design school that collects top honors this year will be given by Autodesk a computer tool kit for industrial design, including ImageStudio, PortfolioWall and a series of books and DVDs about industrial design.
Judges This year's jury is made up of renowned people from the world of
design: Moray Callum, the new director of design at Ford North America, Robert Cumberford, a designer and analyst acclaimed by several design and auto magazines, Akira Fujimoto, editor of
Car Styling magazine, Ken Gross, from Edmunds.com and one of the judges at the Pebble Beach Styling Contest for a number of years, Daniel Sims, general manager of Mitsubishi's Californian design studio, and Michael Simcoe, executive director of design at General Motors.
2007 theme
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| Moray Callum, Director of Design at Ford North America |
Students had to design a vehicle that would appeal as much to teenagers as to baby-boomers. Their model should bridge the gap between these two generations and answer the specific needs of both. It would also need to be compatible with future technologies, because the production would only begin in 2014.
Young drivers are fond of small cars, while veteran drivers prefer smaller vehicles that are easily parked and better suited to their needs. Both groups love versatile vehicles offering easy access and a plethora of storage compartments. That's the challenge students were faced with.
And the winners are... Among the 38 semi-finalists, the first prize was awarded to Paul Kim for his Ford Legion. Second prize went to Ryan Campbell, creator of the VW Connection. Finally, Matthew Finbow finished third with his Concourse vehicle. The 2007 award for best design school went to the Academy of Art University, in California. Judges applauded the quality and the number of projects received from this school. In fact, both Mr. Kim and Mr. Campbell are students there.
photo: Autodesk, Ford