Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the global winners in its Young Designer Competition, which invited children around the world to design their dream Rolls-Royce of the future.
The four category winners, who hail from Japan, France, China and Hungary, range in age from six to 16.
Devised to provide a creative outlet for children aged 16 and under, confined by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the competition attracted more than 5,000 entries from over 80 countries. With no rules or specified judging criteria to constrain them, children were able to let their imagination run free, creating designs of extraordinary richness, creativity and diversity.
Faced with a truly formidable task, the judges selected overall winning designs in four categories - Technology, Environment, Fantasy and Fun - based on the most popular themes that emerged from the 5,000-plus entries.
Launched in April as lockdown conditions were imposed across the globe, the competition proved an instant success; so much so, the original deadline for entries was extended.
Asked only to design their 'dream Rolls-Royce of the future', the competition participants had complete creative freedom, allowing them to develop ideas of astonishing scope, complexity and vision far beyond the realms of automotive design.
Many are capable of flying or travelling underwater. The designs also featured a host of clever devices and novel technologies to save labour, provide pleasure and entertainment and benefit humanity and the environment.
Reflecting on the competition, Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, "The most important thing I've learned from this competition is that whatever our circumstances, we have the power to create amazing things because our imagination is always free to fly. I hope the children who took part will recognise this, too, and that it will be something positive they can take from their pandemic experience."
