Yesterday, DESIGN Canberra announced the four winners of the DESIGN Canberra x BMW car wrap competition at the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion, National Arboretum Canberra.

Four local designers have been selected to feature their work wrapped around brand-new BMW models and this new work have been unveiled on this week at the National Arboretum.

Originally conceived by DESIGN Canberra festival partners Rolfe Classic BMW three years ago, this year’s car wrap competition has expanded to wrap four BMW models. The 2020 competition included different categories to bring exciting new perspectives to this unique design opportunity and this year’s winners are:

• Cassie Blanco (University student category) – BMW i8 Roadster
• Toby (High School student category) – BMW X7
• Sarah Annand (Craft ACT member category) – BMW 5 Series
• Jodie Cunningham (Open category) – BMW X2.

Category 1: Urban design (university students)

Celebrating Canberra’s iconic urban design identity. From the time of Walter and Marion Griffin’s visionary design a century ago through to contemporary and sustainable design developments today, Canberra has been – and will always be – a living design laboratory.

WINNER: Cassie Blanco

“Canberra is known around Australia for it’s plentiful roundabouts. I wanted to create a map design that showcased all the roundabouts in Canberra – scaled down, but accurate proportionally. Then it was a game of dot-to-dot, to unveil this unique, roundabout map design”, Cassie explains.

“Along with my Canberra roundabout map design I featured on the BMW i8 Roadsters doors, I have created a complimentary roundabout design on the left and right sides of the front of the car. The additional stripes I’ve designed at the sides of the logo at the nose of the vehicle are representative of the car’s unique doors that are wing-like. This is the prominent feature of the vehicle design.”

Cassie’s exterior design for the BMW i8 Roadster incorporates Canberra’s urban identity, road structure and the car’s prominent features. The exterior design is backed with the values of BMW overlayed with the theme of Canberra’s urban design identity. Cassie explains: “The research that went into this design, in conjunction with my design background produced something truly unique. The design intrigues – it connects Canberra and the car. The placement of the design compliments the natural structure of the car.”

Category 2: The bush capital (students)

Celebrating the diverse flora and fauna, stunning views and rich history of our natural environment. With national parks covering more than 50% of the territory, Canberra truly is Australia’s Bush Capital.

WINNER: Toby from Blue Gum Community School

Toby’s design is inspired by nature. He said, “Where there are trees, there is urban camouflage”. Toby design was created by using a digital design app called Procreate App. His final work is inspired by bird droppings.

Category 3: Making in the city of design (Craft ACT members)

Celebrating the artists, designers, makers and craftspeople who choose to live, work and make here in Canberra, a city of design. Canberra’s thriving craft and design community is made up of jewellers, ceramic and textiles artists, glass and furniture makers. They bring creative and unique perspectives to the cultural life of our city. This category is open to current members of Craft ACT.

WINNER: Sarah Annand (Oat Studio)

Sarah’s aesthetic is influenced by architecture, which has been a love of hers for as long as she can remember. This passion for our built environment runs throughout her creative journey; with her early photography studies around 15 years ago focusing on architecture of New Zealand; dissecting the shapes of building facades and creating new architectural compositions with the fractured images.

Category 4: Canberra icons (Open category)

Celebrating the symbols and emblems of our city. From the pioneering designs of Monaro Mall and the Shine Dome to the iconic Bus Bunkers, see the beauty in our surroundings and share why we love where we live.

WINNER: Jodie Cunningham

• The design Canberra Futures – Turn Around, by artist Jodie Cunningham is a symbolic ‘Luck Charm’ for the Canberra community, it utilises contemporary symbols and joyful colours to celebrate action in the form of renewable energy that can give us hope. Temporarily overshadowed by the COVID -19 crisis, the climate emergency looms large as we steel ourselves for the next bushfire season. The symbol of the pinwheel represents both ‘turning our luck around’ and the spinning blades of a wind turbine. The hexagon, flower and drop shapes are traced from the Marion Mahoney and Walter Burley Griffin 1911 Plans for Canberra, and act as symbols for our city. The hexagon – the city centre, the flower a symbol of growth and renewal, the rain drop – the water that quells our environment’s thirst. This car wrap design provides hope that is part of our communities ‘Turn Around’.

Canberra-based signage company Rojo Customs has printed each of the designs onto the award-winning cars. The wrapped cars will be exhibited during the DESIGN Canberra festival at signature events throughout the festival from 9-29 November 2020. The winner of the University, Open and Craft ACT Member categories will receive a $250 cash prize and a BMW for the weekend from Rolfe Classic BMW, a dinner for two at Braddon Merchant from Midnight Hotel, Autograph Collection. The winner of the High School category will receive $250 cash prize and a BMW for the weekend from Rolfe Classic BMW, a Midnight Store $50 gift voucher from Midnight Hotel and a Bev Hogg ceramic takeaway cup and Sean Booth ACT Brooch, courtesy of Craft ACT. Total prize value = $1000.

The 2020 car wrap competition is proudly presented in partnership with Rolfe Classic BMW, Midnight Hotel, Autograph Collection, the University of Canberra and ROJO Customs.

“Rolfe Classic BMW are founding partners of this fast-growing festival. Their passion for design excellence and precision aligns perfectly with the values of DESIGN Canberra. With their support we are excited to be able to present the DESIGN Canberra Car Wrap competition and expand engagement to more designers than ever before – from established designers and professionals to the designers of tomorrow” said Rachael Coghlan CEO of Craft ACT and Artistic Director of DESIGN Canberra 2020.

DESIGN Canberra is supported by our generous festival partners, who help curate multiple events such as exhibitions, tours and talks with numerous individuals and organisations. Our experienced creative team has a passion for collaborating with like-minded organisations, facilitating ideas, connecting artists, and bringing the right audiences to experience them. The car wrap competition is supported by our sponsors who represent design excellence in their sectors: Rolfe Classic BMW, University of Canberra and ROJO Customs.