2014 Michelin Challenge Design jury meets to select winners

The 2014 Michelin Challenge Design judging panel has selected the top three entries of its ‘Driven/Undriven' contest after an intense two-day session at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

On the first day, the jurors discussed each individual submission before whittling them down to just 15 finalists. Their work will be presented at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in January 2014 as part of the Michelin Challenge Design exhibit.

The next day saw judges make the tough decision of who would be the top three participants to be featured in special displays at the exhibit. The designers will be invited by Michelin to attend the show.

The thirteenth edition of the contest asked entrants to explore how a connection can be created with autonomous vehicles.

All jurors said they were impressed with the standard of this year's work, believing it to be even better than last year's, and also highlighted the complexity of the theme and how hard it was to communicate in 2D the visual properties of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles.

After the final decisions were made, the jurors and contest organizers began discussing next year's theme, named as 'Drive Your Passion: Engaging Senses, Soul and Emotion'. More details will be announced on 10 October.

This year's jury consisted of: Stewart Reed (Chairman), chair, Transportation Design Department, Art Center College of Design; Chris Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai America Technical Center; Hubert Lee, creative director, Mercedes Benz Advanced Design North America; Dave Marek, division director, Honda R&D-Americas; Rich Plavetich, general manager, Nissan Design America; Freeman Thomas, director, Strategic Design, Ford Motor Company; and Frank Saucedo, director, General Motors Advanced Design Studio. Michelin Design's Ben Ebel and Damien Michelin also joined them.

The finalists will be revealed next week before the announcement of the top three later this fall.

By Rufus Thompson