2021 Drive for Design

Sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge. For many of the world’s top automotive designers, a little push from their art teachers is all it took for them to reach stardom.

Mark Trostle, head of Ram Truck and Mopar Design at Stellantis, wants to keep pushing students to sketch their best vehicles.

Nine years ago, he revived a contest he won in high school that helped drive him to success today. His achievements are evident, as he now leads the design efforts for some of the most desired vehicles on the road.

he is today, leading the design efforts for some of the most desired vehicles on the road.

The 2021 Drive for Design contest challenges U.S. high school students in grades 10-12 to sketch an electrified Jeep® vehicle of the future. And, just like in the professional world, there is a level of urgency – entries are due by May 14, 2021. Three students will be named winners from all valid entries received.

“Since the contest began nine years ago, we’ve been able to connect and help many young artists establish a career path in automotive design,” said Trostle. “In fact, we’ve had previous contestants as summer interns and recently we hired a former winner who is now working in one of the design studios. Regardless of where these students ultimately land, it’s rewarding to our team to be able make an impact on someone’s career.”

Three sketches will be selected and the winning artists will receive a virtual day of design with leading designers at the Stellantis Design Studios, Wacom and Apple products and a scholarship to attend a four-week summer program at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, one of the world’s premier colleges for Transportation Design and alma mater for both Trostle and Gilles. The CCS summer program curriculum includes the fundamentals of gestural sketching, drawing automotive concepts in perspective and how to translate designs into 3D models.

For detailed contest rules and information on how to submit sketches, visit www.stellantisdrivefordesign.com.

Launched in 2013, the Product Design Office created its Drive for Design contest as an innovative way to educate young artists about careers in automotive design. Starting locally in Detroit, Drive for Design has grown to become a national contest that awards talented students with prizes and unique opportunities to further develop their design skills.