ABOUT

Design Challenge

Each year for the past nine years, the Design Challenge theme is chosen by the Design Los Angeles Board of Directors. The board is made up of a dozen design studio executives. Automotive design studios from around the world are invited to participate and this year, studios from Germany, Japan and the U.S. will compete to design “HIGHWAY PATROL VEHICLE 2025.”

This year’s Design Challenge asks automotive design studios to create a highway patrol vehicle that meets the challenges of a specific region’s transportation and societal conditions in 2025.

The vehicle should empower highway patrol officers to meet new demands and effectively both “protect and serve” the public while considering not just enforcement needs but emission concerns, population growth and transportation infrastructure, among other trends.

Entries are judged based on various factors including:

· Consideration of future needs for advanced technology, speed and agility on future freeway systems.
· Creativity of the solution.
· Meeting the defined region’s mandated emission standards if applicable.
· Environmental sensitivity: maintenance and recyclability.

Tom Matano

Tom Matano has almost 30 years of experience in the automotive design industry. In 1983, he joined Mazda’s North American studio as a Chief Designer and become VP of Design and EVP of Western Operations for Mazda R&D North America, Inc., and Executive Designer & Director of Mazda North American Operations. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Matano has been moved to Mazda headquarters in Japan, as an Executive Designer in the Global Advance Studio, oversees Japan, Europe and North American Advance studios, and the General Manager of Mazda Design in charge of the Chief Designers. His accomplishments at Mazda include the RX 7, Miata, and many other projects by the design teams he managed and created. Mr. Matano is committed to becoming an educator, and using his diverse knowledge and experience to enhance the Industrial Design program at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Bruce Meyer

A renowned collector of historic winning race cars from LeMans to Indy to Bonneville…is the founding Chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. A car guy's car guy, known and respected by all in the industry, he serves on the Board of the Nethercutt Collection, the Steering Committee of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as well as The LeMay Museum in Tacoma, Washington.

He received the Meguiar's Award for the Collector Car Person of the Year, the Automotive Icon Award by the Petersen Automotive Museum and is a member of The Dry Lakes Hall of Fame for his tireless work and promotion of historic hot rodding.

From Duesenbergs to Dragsters…from Cobras to Corvetts…from Indians to Indy cars, the best are represented in his stunning collection which has won multiple awards at Pebble Beach and Concours from coast to coast.

He began his collection in 1964 with 300SL Gullwing and has had extensive experience piloting the best of the best worldwide. He has participated in the historic Italian Mile Meglia, the French Tour Auto, the English Goodwood Festival of Speed as well as the important US rallies…from the Colorado Grand to the Arizona Copperstate. The experience eminently qualifies Bruce for membership on our distinguished Panel.

Imre Molnar

As Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Academic Affairs at the College at the College for Creative Studies, (CCS), Imre brings a diverse international perspective to the academic leadership of the college. Professor Molnar joined CCS in the fall of 2001 following work in the outdoor apparel industries as Design Director for the industry leader Patagonia. He was also Director of Operations at the nationally renowned, industrial design-consulting firm Hauser, Inc. This commercial experience was preceded by a long tenure at Art Center College of Design, culminating in his appointment as Director of Education at the school’s prestigious Swiss campus. As a leader in design issues, Imre has been a featured lecturer on strategic design management for businesses around the globe, including Nokia, NCR, Volkswagen, BMW, the Ford Motor Company and JETRO (Japanese External Trade Organization), and at government symposia.

Imre received his training in design at the National Art School of Sydney in Australia, and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Art Center College of Design. Prior to leaving Australia, he held a pivotal role with the Australian Design Council. In his position as State Director, Molnar raised coordinated initiatives to integrate design disciplines with industry. His federal government directive was to assist Australian industry to produce better products through design--thus enhancing that nation's economic global competitiveness.

Imre's experience also includes international multi-disciplinary design consulting and workshops at universities and design schools around the world.

Stewart Reed

Mr. Reed launched his career in transportation design by joining Meyers Manx, then Toyota's Calty Design Research studio from 1980 to 1986 as Chief Designer. From 1986 to 1994, he served as VP of Design for Prince Corporation in Holland,Michigan, where he built a highly respected design team. In 1994, Mr. Reed created Stewart Reed Design to consult to the manufacturing industry in both automotive and consumer products. In 2005, Stewart Reed joined Art Center College of Design as Chairman of Transportation Design, enhancing the College's already strong relationship with the automotive industry.

Be there at 6:30 PM as one studio is named the winner of the 2012 Design Challenge Competition.

Challenge fellow designers in an open, head-to-head competition for top honors. Sketch-Off competition to follow Design Challenge winner announcement.