Eighth edition of the “MAIER International Design Competition”

Today, the award ceremony for the eighth edition of “MAIER S. COOP International Design Competition” was held, a contest aiming at the use of lighting as a design element for the vehicles of 2025. The delivery ceremony took place in the Automotive Intelligence Centre of Amorebieta-Etxano. The event was attended by Iñigo Ucín Corporation, President of MONDRAGON Corporation, Robert Lesnik, Exterior Design Director at Daimler, François Farion, Colour & Trim Design Director at Renault, Williane Oliveira, Colour & Trim Design Director at Byton, and François Duris, Design Director of Huawei Technologies.

Broad participation 

In this edition, a total of 128 projects from countries such as the United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, China, India and Brazil were presented, and over €15,000 were distributed among the winners of the competition. The first prize for the “Professionals” category, of €8,000, was given to the FLUX VISIONS project, developed by the Viennese architect of Bulgarian origin Nikolay Ivanov. The prize for the “Students” category, of €4,000, was given to the AURA project, by Victor Groten, from San Sebastian, Spain, a Design Engineer from the University of Mondragon and currently a student of the Master’s Degree in Styling and Concept of the Automobile, at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. The prize for the “Best material sample”, of €2,000, was given to the group of students formed by Vicas Sethi, Anuja Sanjeevi and Sharan Ahooja, of the College for Creative Studies of Detroit (United States). Finally, the prize for the “Best University” category, of €1,500, went to Mondragón Unibertsitatea.

A contest promoted by MAIER

The MAIER Group, rooted in the sector for automotive components, is a business group characterised by the functional development of both exterior and interior products of the mainly plastic-based vehicle, with decoration being a prominent feature (painting, chrome-plating, hot stamping, etc.). The MAIER Group, based in Ajangiz, Biscay, currently has twelve production plants, located in Ajangiz (head office), Navarra, and Vigo, in Spain, as well United Kingdom, Italy (2), Czech Republic, India (2), China (2), and Mexico. It also has a Technology Centre based in Ajangiz, specialising in innovation and technological development, as well as several technical centres in the United States, China, and India.

In 2018, had over €360 million in invoicing, nearly 70% of which corresponded to international sales. Its total workforce amounts to 3,000 staff.

Its products include: front grilles and components for front- and rear-end modules, components and sub-assemblies for rear doors, pillars, air intake grilles, and a wide range of interior components.