The 2014 VACC Automotive design awards were held on June 27, with the winners vowing to stay as determined as ever to work as professional automotive designers, despite previous announcements that car making, in Australia, will cease.
At the presentation ceremony, Aman Bhatti, Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon was named best designer, secondary school category and Merric French, Monash University, won best designer, in the tertiary institution category.
“I am thrilled to win an Award and can’t thank VACC enough. I am passionate about vehicle design and can’t wait to become a professional designer. I also want to thank Ford to picking me for their Internship Program for the second successive year,” says Aman.
Minister for manufacturing, David Hodgett presented the Awards at Deakin Edge, Federation Square. More than 200 guests attended, including heads of design from Ford, Holden and Toyota, and members of their design teams, car companies, industry organisations, education institutions, students, parents and teachers.
“Design is my passion and I am already professionally employed in the automotive design sector. It’s demanding and at the same time exhilarating. I’m confident about the industry’s future and this award strengthens my desire to be part of it,” says French.
VACC executive director, David Purchase congratulated all the winners and says, “given the closure news from the car companies, it was important this year to promote the automotive design sector.”
“The evening contained a discussion with the heads of design from Ford, Holden and Toyota who were put on the spot about the future of their design departments. It was good for students, parents and teachers to hear that Australia’s automotive design sector, which is based in Victoria, will continue to require aspiring young designers,” says Purchase.
The VACC Automotive Design Awards is an annual student vehicle design competition for Victoria’s secondary and tertiary students.
2014 VACC Automotive Design Awards – Roll of Honour
Secondary Schools Category
• Winner – Aman Bhatti, Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon
• Runner up – Tom McCausland, De La Salle College, Malvern
• Highly commended – Alexander Holmes, Girton Grammar School, Bendigo
Tertiary Institutions Category
• Winner – Merric French, Monash University
• Runner up – Kouhei Kawakami, Monash University
• Highly commended – Dennis Yu, Monash University
Ford Internship Program
• Aman Bhatti, Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon
• Alexander Holmes, Girton Grammar School, Bendigo
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