Pininfarina has announced the winners of its 2024/2025 Global Design Contest during a ceremony at the company’s headquarters in Cambiano, marking a key moment in the Pistons & Pretzels automotive culture event. This year’s contest, part of Pininfarina’s 95th anniversary celebrations, invited final-year students from design schools around the world to submit their concepts for the future of mobility, with a focus on the emotional and functional potential of materials.
With the theme “Materiality, the Umami of Mobility,” the contest explored how materials shape the sensory and experiential aspects of transportation. Eight finalists, chosen from a pool of global applicants, presented innovative projects emphasizing sustainability, accessibility, sensory value, and creative use of materials. The finalists hailed from prestigious institutions including the National Institute of Design (India), Strate School of Design (France), IAAD (Italy), and Hongik University (South Korea).
Felix Kilbertus, Pininfarina’s Chief Creative Officer, hosted the event, which also saw virtual participation from the team in Shanghai and a distinguished jury. The judging panel included Anne Asensio from DassaultSystèmes, RossellaGuasco from Stellantis, and renowned designer Peter Stevens, who assessed the projects alongside Pininfarina’s in-house design team.
Among the winners, Saikhom Krishnakanta Singh from the National Institute of Design (India) was recognized for his project Deo, blending cultural heritage with sustainable design practices. Wang Haoyu of Strate School of Design (France) earned top honors for his project Botanist, which focused on nature-inspired systems and a user-centric design approach. Ankita Anand, also from NID India, was acknowledged for Innaphi, a concept that explores flexible and culturally grounded urban mobility. Additionally, Jin Woo Choi from IAAD (Italy) received special recognition for Inne, a project exploring minimalist and contemplative spatial design.
The contest’s winners will be awarded internships at Pininfarina’s design centers in Italy or China, offering them valuable hands-on experience in the automotive design world. This ongoing contest continues to serve as a key platform for rising design talent to collaborate with industry leaders and bring their visionary ideas to life in the realm of mobility design.
Pininfarina is a renowned emblem of Italian design, celebrated worldwide for its ability to craft enduring, elegant creations rooted in the fusion of innovation and aesthetics. Headquartered in Italy, the company operates internationally, delivering design solutions across various sectors including transportation, industrial products, architecture, interiors, and automotive design.
Its architectural and interior projects span a wide global footprint. Notable examples include the Air Traffic Control Tower at New Istanbul Airport in Turkey, residential developments such as Cyrela by Pininfarina, Heritage, and Yachthouse in Brazil, as well as projects in the U.S. like The Concourse Club and the Andare residences. In Italy, Pininfarina has contributed to iconic sites such as the Juventus Stadium in Turin, the New Stauffer Center for Strings in Cremona, and the Urban Lounge in Milan. In the UAE, the firm has left its mark with the Iconic Residences in Dubai.
Pininfarina Architecture is powered by a diverse team of 120 professionals, each bringing expertise from top global institutions. Their multidisciplinary experience spans architecture, engineering, social sciences, and interaction design—united by a shared passion for creating forward-thinking, human-centered environments.
