Polestar design contest winners announced

Polestar has announced the winners of its second annual global design contest which offered both student and professional designers the opportunity to create a work under the theme of progression.

The contest invited designers to showcase innovative thinking that encourages positive change in society, including responses to the ongoing climate crisis.

The design vision did not need to be a car, but it had to embody the spirit of Polestar and demonstrate that design can be the driving force for positive change.

Hundreds of entries were received from a truly international mix of designers. These were narrowed down to a shortlist of 10, from which the overall winners were chosen.

Entrants first submitted sketches, which were assessed by Head of Design Maximilian Missoni and a panel of Polestar designers. The finalists were then invited to remote coaching and guidance sessions to aid in the development of their ideas.

Frenchman David Vultaggio won the professional category with his “H_UB” design concept – a new garage concept featuring a combination of a brand experience centre and a place to be whilst charging a vehicle.

The design featured a Polestar hydrogen seaplane, Polestar electric bicycle, and the Polestar Precept announced in 2020. “H_UB” recognises that car brands are moving away from just designing and making vehicles, to offering a complete ecosystem of mobility solutions and different ways to access energy.

Chinese man Mingwei Liu won the student category with his “Glad to be dirty” design – a car which tackles local pollution with on-board, externally visible air filters.

The vehicle is a small, simple geometric car with an architectural interpretation on the Polestar design vocabulary. This design encourages people to embrace the process of cleaning the air, making a difference to the quality of their shared environment.

An honourable mention goes to Finnish man Kristian Talvitie for his “KOJA’ architectural idea. KOJA is housed in a tree canopy that provides a rich, immersive experience in a natural environment. This makes it more accessible for people who otherwise would need to travel far to experience the wilderness.

“It was both inspirational and humbling to interact with so much emerging and experienced talent. We saw the designs evolve from creative sketches to 3D models, and show that the design world is a melting pot of exceptional individuals,” says Missoni.

The winning designs will be brought to life as 1:5 scale models and an exhibition will then visit Polestar Spaces around the world.

The winners will receive a trophy and a trip to Polestar headquarters in Sweden to experience both the brand and the cars up close – as well as test drive cars at the Hällered proving grounds. To support their continued development as designers, they’ll also receive a new computer and tablet.