Back in April, at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, Rolls-Royce attempted to cut through the national sense of ennui by inviting kids to design their dream car of the future. Launched to “provide parents and children with a welcome distraction during the worldwide coronavirus outbreak,” anyone up to the age of 16 could apply, with the winners receiving a money-can’t-buy rendering of their drawing from the Rolls-Royce design department.
More than 5000 kids entered, from more than 80 nations, and now the results are in. They’re amazing. We know it’s a PR exercise, yes, but fair play to Rolls-Royce for giving these kids the chance to see their sketches realised so spectacularly.
We’re told that entries included the usual outpourings of randomness you’d expect from a child’s brain – unicorns, bees and rockets – but the creativity and deference to world issues surprised Rolls-Royce itself. “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,” said the company.
The competition was divided into four categories with a winner selected for each, as well as three ‘highly commended’ entries for a total of seven. And so, finally, the winners. We know that’s what you’re here for:
Category winners
Technology | Rolls-Royce Bluebird II by Chenyang, age 13, China
Environment | Rolls-Royce Capsule by Saya, age 6, Japan
Fantasy | Rolls-Royce Turtle Car by Florian, age 16, France
Fun. | Rolls-Royce Glow by Léna, age 11, Hungary
Highly commended
Rolls-Royce Bolt by Declan, age 10, United Kingdom
Rolls-Royce Prosperity by Tim, age 9, Germany
Rolls-Royce House of Esperanto by Alisa, age 6, Russia
“We are delighted to announce the winners in our Young Designer Competition,”said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “The entries that stood out for us were those that showed a real depth of thought, effort and expression, and incorporated lots of different details. The winning entrants didn’t just draw ‘the nicest car’: they created amazing experiences that showed the freedom of their imagination, not hindered by physical, real-world constraints.”
Keyword: GALLERY: Rolls-Royce reveals lockdown young designer contest winners. The results are amazing