BA (Hons) Printed Textiles & Surface Pattern Design student, Emily Armitstead, has taken the top prize in Hyundai's Innovators of the Future competition.
The competition asked students to create their vision of a future for Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) interiors. It is predicted that in 50 years’ time all SUVs will be driverless, so the designers need to rethink their interiors completely, demonstrating innovation and creativity.
Speaking about her entry Emily told us:
“Tasked with designing the driverless SUV interior I was able to apply my love for colour, material and design, usually aimed towards hospitality interiors, to a different area of interest. Influenced by extremities in the polar regions of earth, this ethereal design concept creates diversity in colour, texture and form, exploring conspicuous themes of iridescence and reflection through the interaction of light and reflective surfaces.”
The judging panel liked the innovative approach and were particularly impressed with the emphasis on aspects of sustainability in Emily's project which saw "the climate as part of the language of the interior” whereby "waste was no longer viewed as waste".
Emily will be sent on an exclusive trip to Seoul, South Korea, with a friend and £1,000 of spending money. She will be taken on a tour of the Hyundai factory in Seoul, to see where new concepts come to life, and will have her work showcased on the Hyundai website.
She is thrilled with her success and is excited about the opportunity, telling us:
“I feel very privileged to be chosen as the winner of Hyundai's Innovators of the Future 2018. I am very much looking forward to visiting Hyundai’s HQ in Seoul, South Korea where I will receive a tour of the factory and get the chance to see designs come to life. I am so thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Third year BA (Hons) Printed Textiles & Surface Pattern Design student, Lucy Fricker, received a commendation for work, being judged as one of the top five entries. Her work will also be showcased by Hyundai on their website.
