Hongik University wins 2011 Ferrari World Design Contest

Seoul's Hongik University scooped first place honors in the 2011 Ferrari World Design Contest. 50 highly prestigious universities developed designs for Ferrari's cars of the future, and students from the Korean school beat the second-placed Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) of Turin, Italy, in the final while London's Royal College of Arts (RCA) finished in third place.

The ‘Eternità', developed by Kim Cheong Ju, Ahn Dre and Lee Sahngseok, was the winning design for Hongik University, while Azerbaijan's Samir Sadikhov, studying at IED, earned him second place with the ‘Xezri'.

RCA students Henry Cloke and Qi Haitao designed the ‘Cavalla Bianco', which earned them the third prize.

Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo said: "I saw at first hand the many genuinely innovative ideas that these talented youngsters sent us and could feel the enormous passion and commitment that had gone into them."

"I am certain that some of these suggestions will come to light in the Ferraris of the future."

Ferrari's design brief asked for a thoroughbred ‘hypercar' which featured new materials and technologies while being extreme in every aspect. Entrants were first asked to submit a 2D design before generating 3D models in 3D Autodesk Alias, while also creating a 1:4 scale model of their designs, highlighting detailing and the interior design.

Concepts focused on reducing fuel consumption through alternative propulsion systems, with emphasis on hybrid engines. Weight reduction was also a mainstay of the designs, with the aim of increasing the enjoyment of driving. Some proposals featured flowing lines while others favored a more geometric design.

The 'Autodesk Design Award', one of two special prizes, was also awarded to Hongik University for the best use of Alias software in the design process, and was presented by the technical partner.

For the second special prize for the "Most Unexpected Technological Solution" the award went to the team from China's Jiangnan University, for their audacious technical solutions contained in The Drake concept. The prizes were presented by Brenda Discher, Autodesk's Vice President, Industry Market, and Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa.

The three finalists received their prizes from di Montezemolo, Felisa and Paolo Pininfarina – Chairman of the Pininfarina Group, which has partnered Ferrari in the styling of its cars for over six decades – and Flavio Manzoni, director of the Ferrari Styling Centre, which organized the contest.

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Ferrari World Design Contest 2011 enters second phase

By Rufus Thompson