GREENVILLE, S.C. (Aug. 27, 2012) –Michelin today announced the finalists of the 2013 Michelin Challenge Design™, its annual global vehicle design competition that brings forward and displays significant design work that would normally not have an opportunity to be displayed. Selected by a distinguished jury of the world’s top automotive designers and industry experts, the work of 15 participants was chosen from more than 900 registrants representing 72 countries and will be displayed at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
This year’s Michelin Challenge Design theme “HALF! Lightweight with a Passion” asked participants to explore how design contributes to and impacts the ongoing effort to develop more lightweight vehicles that achieve greater fuel efficiency.
“In the quest for vehicle weight reduction designers have many factors to consider such as expressions of safety and style within a lightweight package and how these guide the materials selection and fabrication processes,” said Stewart Reed, Chair of the Transportation Design Department, Art Center College of Design, and Michelin Challenge Design jury chairman. “Addressing the real-world challenges that advanced vehicle designers face has been a hallmark of the Michelin Challenge Design and the 2013 theme continues the legacy of identifying the talented designers who may help create tomorrow’s vehicles.”
Now in its twelfth year, Michelin Challenge Design has received entries from more than 5,000 aspiring designers from more than 100 countries.
This year’s finalists will be recognized during Michelin’s annual private Designer’s Reception. The 2013 finalists are:
- Jorge Biosca, Spain
- Thierry Dumaine, France
- Andrea Filogonio, Italy
- Wei Guo, China
- Jeremy Helle, United States
- Shun Liu, China
- Lucas Lopez, Argentina
- Takashi Nishimura, Japan
- Vruttant Phatak, India
- Cristian Polanco, Guatemala
- XiaoQuan Qian, China
- Jose Eduardo Sanches, Mexico
- Antonis Schley, Germany
- Marcel Sebestyen, Hungary
- Song Wei Teo, United Kingdom
“Now more than ever, successful automotive design relies on close cooperation between design, engineering, manufacturing and planning,” said John Moloney, vice president of original equipment marketing for North and South America. “The experts that make up the Michelin Challenge Design jury understand these important links and helped to ensure that the 2013 finalists are the best of the best at combining the art and science of automotive innovation.”
2013 Michelin Challenge Design Jury
The 2013 Michelin Challenge Design jury is made up of:
- Chris Chapman, Chief Designer, Hyundai America Technical Center
- Dave Marek, Division Director Advanced Design, Honda R&D-Americas
- Chuck Pelly, Founder, Designworks USA, The LA Design Challenge, and The Design Academy
- Rich Plavetich, General Manager, Nissan Design America
- Stewart Reed; Chair, Transportation Design Department, Art Center College of Design, Consultant and Jury Chairman, Michelin Challenge Design
- Frank Saucedo, Director, General Motors Advanced Design Studio
- Freeman Thomas, Director, Strategic Design, Ford Motor Company
- Geoff Wardle, Director of Mobility, Industrial Design, Art Center College of Design
For more information, visit www.michelinchallengedesign.com or contact:
Lynne Fowler Stephanie Brinley
Michelin North America, Inc. EMC Strategic Communications
office: 1 864 458 6365 office: 1 248 816 0108
mobile: 1 864 561 9914 mobile: 1 248 703 8172
lynne.fowler@us.michelin.com stephanie@emcstrategic.com