Finally, the final results for the 17th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest are nearly upon us. We look at the selection process and the people who make the award plaques.
Since it began in 2004, the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest has had approximately 9 million entries from over 140 countries and regions. The call for submissions for the 17 th contest was announced last summer. Winners of the national contests in each country and region progress to the world contest, where the winners will be announced in August.
This time on Toyota Times News, we bring you a look at the final round of selection held at Toyota’s Tokyo Design Research Lab in May.
The judges look at whether the children are drawing in a natural way, whether they are taking care to feature details like the materials used in their cars, and other perspectives as they exchange opinions. The drawings that have progressed to the final stage have been carefully selected from around the world. The struggle these judges face as they make difficult decisions comes through in the selection footage.
The Waku-Doki Award emphasizes the fun of driving cars. On the panel is racing driver Juichi Wakisaka and GAZOO Racing members. Driver Wakisaka expressed his expectations for the award; “Maybe everyone at GR will refresh their imaginations with the children’s drawings and make them into reality.”
The award plaques sent out to winners are made at the Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The people making the plaques are the young masters who work at the plant. From painting to assembly, the skills they have honed on the job are demonstrated well.
Cutting-edge 2.5D printing technology was used to print their drawings for the winner’s plaques. By using a unique sheet that puffs up when heat is applied, it is possible to create a print-out with a bumpy texture. The texture within a single drawing is determined through detailed data settings, and this data conversion requires skilled craftsmanship.
“We want to make children smile.” The masters build this award plaque with this thought in mind. See for yourself in the video.
In July, the 18 th Japan contest was announced. Everyone watching this video who is age 15 or less, why not try entering the contest?