The Target 2030 Automotive Design Awards under the auspices of the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC), provides an opportunity for members of the Australian automotive industry to come together, socialize, network and promote the design sector.
Target 2030 Winners, Tania Romano, James Roberton, Ali Jafari, Minister Dalla-Riva, James Patrick, Beichen Nan, Sam Karopoulos, Todd Linnett
The Automotive Design Awards recognise and reward Victoria’s next generation of automotive designers.
Target 2030 is an automotive design competition for secondary and tertiary students in Victoria, which in 2012 is in its sixth year. It offers a challenge for students to develop skills, advance training and to promote careers in the automotive industry. This year’s competition offered three categories: design, model-making and essay, for both secondary and tertiary students. This year a new category has been added – the People’s Prize, voted for by visitors to the week-long public display.
This year’s sponsors of the event were Ford, Holden, Toyota and AutoHorizon Australia. The VACC provided $26,000 to cover prize money.
Speaking at the awards ceremony on Thursday evening, The Victorian Minister for Industry and Manufacturing, Richard Dalla-Riva described the event as a very important initiative that supported a very vibrant Victorian industry that began well over a century ago, when the first steam car – the Thomson was produced in Melbourne in 1897, followed by the Tarrant car in 1901.
“The design segment is the core of the automotive industry, and this competition offers a window for future designers to enter the industry.” Dalla-Riva said.
The Essay Competition winner – secondary student was Tania Romano from the Academy Mary Magdalen, and the tertiary winner James Patrick from RMIT University.
Both received a cheque for $500 and the same amount also was presented to their educational facility.
The Model Design award was won by Kapolous from Trinity Grammar in Kew, and the tertiary award in this category by James Robertson from Monash University, with a $3000 cheque to both students and their facility.
The Overall design awards were presented to Tod Nanette from Mildura Secondary College and Ali Jafary from Monash University, both and their facilities receiving $3000,
The People’s Choice Award was won by Bechem Maan from Monash University, also $3000.
The four judges of Target 2030 were Neil McDonald, Ford Australia Brand Communications Manager; Richard Ferlazzo GM Holden Chief Designer; Paul Beranger Toyota Australia corporate Manager Styling and Design and Brian Tanti AutoHorizon Australia Foundation CEO.
All entries were of high standard, and displayed considerable innovation and displayed maturity and appreciation of the design concepts that a progressive industry is seeking, across the three categories.
