The winning entries of the 29th annual Michelin Challenge Design Competition for the College for Creative Studies (CCS) were honored recently at the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education in Detroit, Michigan. The winning transportation students received scholarships as part of a $35,000 donation from Michelin to support the school’s Transportation Design program.
Eight students from the CCS Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program entered this year’s challenge, which was based on the global Michelin Challenge Design theme of “Mobility, Utility, Flexibility – Designing for the Next Global Revolution.”
Students were challenged to design a revolutionary pickup truck, or open bedded vehicle, with the size, performance, versatility and distinctive new features that will dramatically increase sales by appealing to new customers in one of three regions: developed countries, BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), or underserved countries.
The distinguished panel of judges for this year’s event were Addam Ebel, design director, General Motors; Michael Gillam, exterior design manager of RAM Trucks, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; and Craig Metros, design director, North American Truck, SUV and Commercial Vehicles, Ford Motor Company.
Michelin – CCS Winners
“The pickup, or open bedded theme, has proven to be very timely as several manufacturers have recently announced or introduced vehicles for a number of non-traditional markets,” said Ben Ebel, chairman, Michelin Challenge Design program. “The students at CCS have worked hard to creatively meet this design challenge by exploring these opportunities and we congratulate them and the CCS faculty who have once again risen to the challenge.”
“The relationship between CCS and Michelin has been a fruitful one that offers our students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and be recognized by such a renowned automotive brand,” said Raphael Zammit, chair MFA transportation design and associate professor at the College for Creative Studies. “This contest showcases our students as forward-thinking visionaries regarding the future of transportation while giving them valuable real-world feedback experience.”
The Michelin Challenge is the longest running design competition at CCS.
Global Challenge
The next global Michelin Challenge Design theme “Michelin Concours d’Elegance 2050: Future Classic”, is open to all and invites participants to design a vehicle for the year 2025 that will become a classic and defines, or represents, this transitional era in automotive design and technology to win the Michelin Concours d’Elegance in the year 2050. Entrants can now register at www.michelinchallengedesign.com.
About Michelin North America
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company has earned a long-standing reputation for building innovative premium tires. In addition to tires, the company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs about 22,850 and operates 20 major manufacturing plants.
For more information and images, visit www.michelinchallengedesign.com or contact:
Tom Sullivan
Michelin North America
Cell: 704-222-5488
Email: tom.sullivan@michelin.com | www.michelinmedia.com
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