Pierre-Paul Andriani
Brandy Ryan
Are you ready to imagine the future of mobility and show your ideas to the people shaping the automotive industry?
Autodesk Automotive is excited to launch the third edition of the Autodesk Automotive Student Design Competition, a global competition created to help emerging designers push their creativity, sharpen their digital skills, and gain real industry visibility.
Why enter?
After the success of the 2026 edition, “The Original & The Remix,” the 2027 Challenge will take students in a bold new direction. The official theme will be revealed during the kick-off webinar on 5 October 2026 at 16:00 UK time, so teams will need to be ready to move fast, think big, and bring their strongest ideas forward.
More than a student competition, this is a chance for young designers to experience a professional design process, learn industry workflows, collaborate like a studio team, and create work seen by leading automotive and mobility design professionals.
Design challenge
- Take on a real-world design brief that tests your creativity, design thinking, storytelling, and digital execution.
- Create an original concept using Autodesk Alias and bring it to life with Autodesk VRED, the same tools used by professional automotive design studios.
- Develop a portfolio-worthy project with support from Autodesk experts through dedicated learning sessions and webinars.
Competition Requirements
- Open to registered students (undergraduate and graduate) worldwide.
- Participants must be currently enrolled in a higher education institution.
- Entries must be submitted by teams of 2 to 6 students, and each school may enter multiple teams.
Industry visibility
The three Autodesk Automotive Student Design Competition finalists, selected by the judging panel, will be invited to present their work live at the 2027 Automotive Innovation Forum (AIF). These young designers will take the stage, showcase their designs in the exhibition area, and put their ideas in front of an international audience of designers, leaders, and mobility experts.
AIF is Autodesk’s flagship automotive event, bringing together creative leaders from automotive design studios around the world. For student teams, it is a rare opportunity to share their vision, make industry connections, and be part of a conversation about what comes next.
Competition dates
| 14 September 2026 | Soft launch – design brief shared with participating schools |
| 5 October 2026 | Official kick-off webinar |
| 26 October 2026 | Team Entry Deadline |
| October–December 2026 | Bi-weekly Autodesk Alias and Autodesk VRED webinars to help teams build skills and develop their concepts |
| 1 February 2027 | Final Submission Deadline |
Enter the Autodesk Automotive 2027 Student Design Competition
Students should speak with their school lead or design programme coordinator to form a team and confirm participation. Schools can contact Autodesk at designstudio@autodesk.com for registration details.
STAY CURIOUS – STAY INSPIRED – STAY TUNED #AIFDESIGNCHALLENGE
This story was developed using a blend of human expertise and AI tools supporting the research and drafting. Our team shaped, edited, and fact-checked the final content to ensure accuracy and alignment.
Sharpen Your Skills
Alias and VRED Learning Editions are free for non-commercial use. Learn more and start your journey today.