Michelin Challenge Design has held its annual jury meeting and review of entries. The event took place at the Canepa Motorsports Museum in Scotts Valley, California on 14-15 July.
The museum is home to a large number of significant racing cars, including a rare 1976 Tyrrell P34 six-wheel Formula 1 car, a 1969 Porsche 917K and the 1985 Rothmans Porsche 962C.
The Michelin Challenge Design jurors enjoyed an ideal setting to consider the best of the 1,122 works submitted by designers from 81 countries in this 14th year of the Michelin Challenge Design program. The venue was especially appropriate for the theme: Drive Your Passion. Engaging Senses, Soul and Emotion.
The 2015 theme also was brought to life by members of the jury who completed a drive on the iconic Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Barbara to Scotts Valley in personal vehicles that they felt embodied passion.
Led by jury chairman Stewart Reed of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, jurors included:
- Richard Plavetich, General Manager, Design Business, Nissan Design America
- Frank Saucedo, Director, General Motors Advanced Design Studio
- Thomas Sycha, Design Manager, BMW Group Design, Europe
- Freeman Thomas, Director, Strategic Design, Ford Motor Company
- Mark Trostle, Head of SRT Design, Chrysler
- Jason Wilbur, Manager, Honda Advanced Design Studio
- Damien Michelin, Honorary Juror, Michelin North America
The 15 finalists will be announced during the week of 18 August and will have their entries featured on the Michelin Challenge Design stand at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2015.
"I'm shocked by the participants and where they're from; Slovenia, to Russia, to Iran, Iraq, everywhere. I mean it's crazy how global it really is," said Frank Saucedo of General Motors.
Nissan's Rich Plavetich agrees, "Year after year the number of entries keeps growing, the interest keeps growing and the international part of this keeps growing, which is fantastic. We are seeing entries from China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and all over the world."
Commenting on the Michelin Challenge Design jury review process, first-time juror Mark Trostle of Chrysler said, "It's great to be able to give each entry its time and respect and to take in what was this person really thinking and what they were trying to convey? It's really exciting."
"It never ceases to amaze me what kinds of new things we see in Michelin Challenge Design," said Stewart Reed of Art Center College of Design.
For more information, head to the Michelin Challenge Design website.
