CDN-GM competition: Phase 1 now closed

Back to school. Not most students' favorite time of year, signaling both the end of summer and a return to the long days of lectures and long nights of sketching. This year, however, it also means a chance to win one of five internships, including housing, at GM's Warren, MI design studio courtesy of the GM Interactive Design Competition 2012 – if you got your entry in on time!

Although the submission phase is now closed (September 2nd was the final day), the competition is about to get really exciting. In the next few weeks, the judges will be deciding on the finalists who will fight it out for a spot on the podium (the five-step podium) at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2013.

We've received almost 300 entries and over 1,700 individual submissions, with many competitors waiting until the final week to upload their designs. If you haven't been to the site recently, be sure to visit the contest website and take a look at some of the top-quality work that's been posted in the last weeks. Remember to check back often to find out the results of the first-round of judging.

So good luck to everyone who submitted entries. The quality of work was exceptional and the judges and mentors will have their work cut out for them in narrowing down the list of finalists. It's been a pleasure to interact with the entrants in the comments, and I hope that everyone was able to learn and grow in the school "off-season", which should give you an advantage as you head back to school again this year.

By Drew Meehan