The winners of this year’s Drive for Design contest, sponsored by the FCA US Product Design team, have been announced. Three students from Michigan and California have taken the top spots in the contest that gives an opportunity for high school students to win prizes while also learning about exciting career opportunities in automotive design.
The project brief for 2020 was to design the ultimate RAM truck of the future. Entries submitted from high school students in grades 10-12 from across the United States were reviewed virtually by FCA’s automotive design team and special guest judge Josh Welton.
“All of the entries were impressive, the work was very focused with a notable attention to detail, as well as their thought process – these are characteristics we look for when we go to hire designers to work for FCA,” said Mark Trostle, Head of Ram Truck and Mopar Exterior Design for FCA – North America. “Automotive design is a growing field and often overlooked by parents and students, our goal is to inspire and change that perspective. There are many career paths available within automotive design where young designers will have the opportunity to create some of the most exciting and technologically advanced products on the road today, as well as create what’s possible for the future.”
Trostle introduced Drive for Design in 2013 based on a contest he won as a high school student. He credits that experience as something that led him to his current professional role at FCA.
"I’m a truck guy, so I was especially stoked to see what this year’s competitors would bring to the table. They did not disappoint! The three winners each showed off sky high potential in technical skill and imagination without sacrificing what makes a Ram a Ram: functionality," said Josh Welton, Guest Judge. "If it’s going to be 'Built to Serve' it needs to first be 'designed to serve,' I’ll be first in line to rock any of their drawings should they come to life!”
The three student winners of the 2020 Drive for Design competition are:
First place – Job Skandera, 12th grade, Santa Clara, California
Second place – Vincent Piaskowski, 11th grade, Birmingham, Michigan
Third place – Alex David Kirschmann, 11th grade, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Vincent Piaskowski, who came second this year, is a second-time winner, placed third in last year’s competition.
