Car Design News Contest 2008 will be judged by senior auto design directors from major automotive manufacturers, including Martin Smith, executive vice president of design at Ford Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa, and Shiro Nakamura, senior vice president and head of design at Nissan (see the complete jury panel).

This contest is unique as all designs will be created as virtual computer models.

There are two contest categories - professional designer and student designer - with top prizes that include a software license for Alias DesignStudio software, $2,000 in cash and 12 months membership to Car Design News.

The contest will begin on 16 January 2008 with the announcement of the design brief, full panel of judges and assessment criteria.

The design brief will focus on the lives of three "Millenniumites" (people born in 2000) as they might be in 2028.

The deadline for the projects submission is 26 March 2008; finalists will have additional eight weeks to further develop their proposals. A gallery of all finalist and winning entries will be published 2 July 2008.

"This is a contest created by car designers for car designers, and we expect the most skillful and creative professionals and students from around the planet to participate," said Sam Livingstone, director, Car Design News. "The final digital gallery of finalists and winners will showcase some of the most exciting designs ever seen."

The contest is spoindored by SABIC Innovative Plastics and Autodesk.

For more information, visit www.cardesignnews.com.

(Source: Car Design News)