Opel Sponsors Royal College of Art Students to Design Future Mobility

Nineteen students from 11 countries are competing for the grand prize of a three-month internship at General Motors' European Design Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany. Entrants come from eleven countries such as the UK, France, Germany, India and China.

Their challenge is to identify a potential Opel customer from 40 years into the future and design a vision of mobility for him/her. This vision will then have to be translated physically and aesthetically into a future Opel vehicle.

The project is part of the UK's Royal College of Art (RCA) Vehicle Design course's 40 year celebrations. A panel of judges that include Anthony Lo, Director of Advanced Design at GM Europe who graduated from the course himself, RCA Vehicle Design Director Professor Dale Harrow, tutors Sam Livingstone and Richard Windsor, as well as independent designer and part-time tutor Peter Stevens will adjudicate the proceedings.

"The concept of mobility 40 years ago is decidedly different from what you see today," said Lo. "What hasn't changed is the need and desire to innovate through design. Supporting the RCA in this competition is one way we can ensure that this spirit continues."

An exhibition showcasing the entries will take place on April 27 at the London Transport Museum.

Press Release

Opel works with Royal College of Art students to design future mobility

• Project celebrates 40 years of Royal College of Art Vehicle Design course
• Internship with GM's European design facility for overall winner
• Exhibition of entries at the London Transport Museum

In celebration of the 40th year of the UK's Royal College of Art (RCA) Vehicle Design course, Opel is sponsoring a competition for students. Their task: Design what the future of Opel mobility might look like in 40 years.

Some 19 students from 11 countries, including Germany, the UK, France, the Czech Republic, India and China are participating in the challenge. Students must identify the potential customer of tomorrow and use their profile to develop a vision of future mobility. Finally, they will create a physical, aesthetic representation of a future Opel vehicle.

The competition culminates in an exhibition Monday, April 27 at the London Transport Museum.

The winning entry will be chosen by a panel of judges that includes Vehicle Design Director Professor Dale Harrow as well as tutors Sam Livingstone and Richard Windsor. Anthony Lo, Director of Advanced Design at GM Europe, a graduate of the course, and Peter Stevens, an experienced independent car designer and part-time tutor, are also on the panel.

The winner will spend three months working at General Motors' European Design Center in Rüsselsheim, gaining valuable experience and insight through working hands-on with future technologies, like electric vehicles.

"The concept of mobility 40 years ago is decidedly different from what you see today. What hasn't changed is the need and desire to innovate through design," said Lo. "Supporting the RCA in this competition is one way we can ensure that this spirit continues."

Sam Livingstone, Principle Project Tutor at the RCA added, "Future-watching is so important to tomorrow's designers with changing life needs, mobility patterns and technologies to take into consideration. If we consider all these things together and what people will need and expect from their vehicle, then this project will culminate in a most thought-provoking exhibition."