It’s great to see automotive design conferences popping up around the world.  Being based in Detroit, we only have access to the annual AutoWeek NAIAS Design Forum and the Ward’s Automotive Interiors Conference.  There are similar conferences in California, the UK, and Italy, but the need for more is apparent: as automobile technology is affecting design, it is increasingly important for Designers to share their knowledge of successful design and innovation.

The Auto(r) design conference, just in its second year, brings this focus to Eastern Europe.  Held recently at Zagreb’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Auto(r) brought two days of lectures and workshops to the attendees and featured several prominent Designers and Design Thinkers: Maarten de Bruijn (founder of Spyker), Sebastien Stassin (designer of the KTM X-Bow), and Giancarlo Perini (Car Styling) were just a few of the individuals who provided insight.

The winner of the Auto(r) 2010 Design Challenge was Croatia’s Zdenko Vukoja.

For the full press release and more photos, read on below or visit www.automotivedesignconference.com.

(Thanks to Daniel for sending this along!)

Auto(r) 2010. automotive design conference

20-21March, Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb

Auto(r) is new automotive design conference that started last year. It was the biggest automotive design
conference in Europe in 2009 and again this year. For the second time it took place Zagreb, Croatia,
this time in Museum of Contemporary Art. Two days of lectures, panel discussions and workshops
attracted car and design enthusiasts from the region as a public. Auto(r) 2010 speaker list included
Maarten de Bruijn (Silvestris), founder of Spyker, inventor of their unique styling and designer of all
Spyker models until 2005; Sebastien Stassin (Kiska) motorcycle designer that created KTM X-Bow.
Auto(r) also hosted two world renowned automotive design theoreticians: Giancarlo Perini (Car Styling)
gave design overview of Geneva motor show 2010 and Enrico Fagone (Scuola Politecnica di Design)
has spoken on past, present and future of automotive design. Francesco Carbini (Scuola Politecnica di
Design) exposed clay modelling profession; Kemal Curić (Ford) made presentation on Ford Iosis Max
and Nemanja Lalicic (ex Honda) on his work that includes Stola Phalcon. Marko Lukovic (University of
Arts Belgrade) has spoken on his experience of winning Peugeot Design Contest and Dragan Zegarac
(Volkswagen) on LED technology and “night design”. Workshop was guided by Dario Dropucic
(freelance designer) and panel discussion by Boris Ljubicic, the most famous Croatian designer. Auto(r)
2010 Design Challenge winner was announced after jury consisted out of speakers has unanimously
chosen work of Zdenko Vukoja, amateur designer from Croatia.
KTM X-Bow dragged big attention as it was exposed in front of the venue and occasionally driven by
speakers.
Auto(r) is supported by Scuola Politecnica di Design, City of Zagreb, Renault, Volvo, Ford, Auto Design
& Styling magazine.
SPEAKERS
1. MAARTEN DE BRUIJN (Spyker, Silvestris) – Dutch designer end entrepreneur, co-founder of new
Spyker and designer of all models until 2005 when he left to start Silvestris and produce boats.
2. FRANCESCO CARBINI (DaimlerChrysler, Moto Guzzi, Audi, Ford, BMW, MINI, Italdesign Giugiaro,
Yamaha) Clay modeller and lecturer at Scuola Politecnica di Design, Milano.
3. DARIO DROPUCIC (freelance) – Croatian with Scuola Politecnica di Design Transportation design
degree.
4. ENRICO FAGONE (Car & Transportation design, founder and editor in chief) – One of world’s most
influential theoreticians on automotive design.
5. NEMANJA LALICIC (Stola, Honda, freelance) – Serbian designer in 2008 transformed Maybach
Exelero concept into Stola Phalcon Coupe for Arab oil sheiks.
6. MARKO LUKOVIC (winner of Peugeot Design Contest 2001., Zastava, freelance) – Winner of the
most famous automotive design contest in the world, organised by Peugeot and Assistant Professor
at two universities in Serbia.
7. GIANCARLO PERINI (Car Styling, founder and Editor for Europe) – One of the world most
prominent journalists specialised in automotive design. 1969-74 he was marketing and PR director
at Italdesign.
8. SEBASTIEN STASSIN (Piaggio, Honda Motorcycles, KTM, Kiska) – Motorbike designer credited for
style of extreme car KTM X-Bow.
9. DRAGAN ŽEGARAC (Volvo, Volkswagen) – Design Project Manager in Volkswagen design
department.