Students from India, France, and Italy recognized for innovative use of materials in mobility design; internships at Pininfarina studios in Italy and China awarded to support their professional growth.
10 Jun 2025 | 846 Views | By Sarthak Mahajan
Pininfarina has announced the winners of its 2024/2025 Global Design Contest during an award ceremony held at its headquarters in Cambiano, as part of the Pistons & Pretzels automotive culture event. The contest, one of the highlights of the company's 95th anniversary celebrations, invited final-year students from international design schools ...
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Pininfarina has announced the winners of its 2024/2025 Global Design Contest during an award ceremony held at its headquarters in Cambiano, as part of the Pistons & Pretzels automotive culture event. The contest, one of the highlights of the company's 95th anniversary celebrations, invited final-year students from international design schools to present concepts for future mobility that explore the emotional and functional potential of materials.
Under the theme “Materiality, the Umami of Mobility,” the contest focused on how materials influence the sensory and experiential aspects of transportation. Eight finalists, selected from hundreds of global entries, presented projects centered on sustainability, accessibility, sensorial value, and creative material application. The shortlisted participants represented institutions such as the National Institute of Design (India), Strate School of Design (France), IAAD (Italy), and Hongik University (South Korea).
The event was hosted by Felix Kilbertus, Chief Creative Officer at Pininfarina, and included virtual participation from Pininfarina Shanghai and the jury. The jury included Anne Asensio from Dassault Systèmes, Rossella Guasco from Stellantis, and designer Peter Stevens, who assessed the projects alongside the Pininfarina design team.
Saikhom Krishnakanta Singh from the National Institute of Design (India) received recognition for his project Deo, which combined cultural heritage with sustainable design. Wang Haoyu of Strate School of Design (France) was awarded for Botanist, featuring nature-inspired systems with a user-focused approach. Ankita Anand, also from NID India, was recognized for Innaphi, a project exploring flexible and culturally influenced urban mobility. Jin Woo Choi from IAAD (Italy) received a special mention for Inne, which focused on minimalistic and contemplative spatial design.
Winners will receive internships at Pininfarina design centers in Italy or China, providing opportunities for hands-on experience. The contest continues to serve as a platform for emerging design talent to engage with industry professionals and explore real-world applications of their ideas in mobility design.