design competition Archives

Winners of 2020 Volvo Cars & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge announced

Six Malaysian interior design firms have been picked as the winners of the 2020 Volvo Cars & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge. The event, which began in May this year, required participants to submit their most creative ideas which could bring Scandinavian philosophy of human-centric design to the fore, focusing on functionality and sustainability to bring out the natural and organic beauty of a product.

For 2020, the Swedish car brand has collaborated with duduk (a brand by Eco World Development Group Berhad) and lifestyle publishing house Aurizn. This year, participants had the opportunity to join an online briefing with Jonathan Disley, Head of Design at Volvo Car Asia Pacific and Owen Ready, Head of Strategic and Brand Design of Volvo Cars, where they learned how to consider Volvo Cars’ Scandinavian philosophy to inspire their designs.

In addition to designs that display a high level of originality and understanding of Scandinavian aesthetics, this year’s submissions were also judged based on functionality, material quality, the emotional quotient that the space brings, and sustainability – all of which shape Volvo’s design philosophy.

Public involved in voting
From the 50 entries received, 22 submissions passed initial evaluation on budget compliance and completeness of inventory. These were then put online for the Malaysian public to vote for their favourite designs, where the votes had accounted for a portion of the total score given by the panel of judges. The 10 designs with the highest online voting scores were shortlisted for final judging, out of which the six highest scorers were announced winners.

Among the 10 shortlisted designs, A&A Concept Design & Contract Sdn. Bhd., Forfar Design Sdn. Bhd., IQI Concept Sdn. Bhd., Orb Group Sdn. Bhd., Kort Studio and Studio BEVD Sdn. Bhd. were chosen by online voters and the judging panel.

*Winners of the 2020 Volvo Cars & Aurizn EcoDesign Challenge*

A Volvo for 6 months
The winning firms will each have usage of a Volvo S90 T8 Inscription Plus for 6 months and, more importantly, they will be awarded contracts to furnish the top three floors of two duduk by EcoWorld projects. In total, the six contracts are worth a combined value of RM4.5 million across both developments. This represents the first occasion in which a new property development is available for purchase with interior design inspired by Volvo Cars’ philosophy.

“Scandinavian design at its best is often understated yet stands out by the mere presence of its simplicity,” said Nalin Jain, MD of Volvo Car Malaysia. “This functional, open and minimalistic design language can be seen in all Volvo cars. On the outside, we have clean and proportioned lines that look and feel just right; and inside, careful craftmanship, attention to details, and quality, earthy materials that create an open, uncluttered space. The six winners today succinctly captured Volvo’s design philosophy and translated them into Malaysian homes, and for that, they have my heartfelt congratulations.”

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‘Upcycle’ is theme for Michelin’s global design competition in 2020

Michelin North America’s 20th global design competition – Michelin Challenge Design – in 2020 will linking the past to the future of sustainable mobility. The design theme — Upcycle — will challenge the entrants to take inspiration from previously recognized works over the past two decades.

Previous Michelin Challenge Design themes have included Electrification (2010), Lightweighting (2013), Autonomous and Semiautonomous Vehicles (2014), Mobility for All (2016), and Inspiring Mobility in Megacities (2019).

“The world is pursuing a circular economy, which does more with less by using fewer resources and raw materials in the production of solutions for the societal, environmental and economic challenges of our time,” said Nicholas Mailhiot, Chairman of Michelin Challenge Design.

Inspiration from previously recognized
To recognize the role of design in sustainable mobility, artists, designers, engineers, architects, urban planners, futurists or teams are invited to take inspiration from one or more of 300 previously recognized Michelin Challenge Design entries. Entrants will visually communicate how their repurposed Upcycle design increases societal, environmental or economic value.

Three winners will be honoured at a private reception during the Movin’On Summit to be held in June 2020 in Montreal, where their winning entries will be displayed, and design portfolios reviewed by Michelin Challenge Design jurors and top designers from the auto industry.

“To move toward a circular economy, we are all challenged to find a second life or purpose beyond reusing and recycling. Deepening the integration of design into the Movin’On global sustainable mobility summit through Upcycle is an ideal way to celebrate our 20th Michelin Challenge Design competition,” said Mike Marchand, Partnerships Director, Sustainable Development & Mobility, Michelin North America.

2019 Michelin Challenge Design — *A submission for this year’s competition from a team of designers from China and India.*

More than 14,000 entries from 134 countries
Created by Michelin in 2001 to encourage and recognize young designers around the world, Michelin Challenge Design has become one of the most prestigious global design competitions. The program’s jury members are made up of advanced design leaders for major mobility producers and recently have been joined by experts from the global sustainable mobility community. Through the first 19 challenges, Michelin has received more than 14,000 entries from 134 countries.

Recent winners and finalists have come from South Korea, India, United Kingdom, Russia, Algeria, United States, Italy, Germany, Columbia, France, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Czech Republic, Australia, Indonesia, Belgium, Turkey, Mexico, Albania and Bahrain. Let’s add Malaysia to the list as well!

The Michelin Challenge Design competition is now open for pre-registrations. The entry portal for submissions is at www.michelinchallengedesign.com which will open on January 1, 2020, and close on March 1, 2020.

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