02.10.2004 young stylists pen their dreams at the biannual anfia stile italiano giovani competition in turin

The Italian Association of Automotive Industries - ANFIA - have held the inauguration and prize-giving of their biannual International Exhibition Stile Italiano Giovani. The venue this year was the glamorous Turin Chamber of Commerce at Palazzo Birago.

The Stile Italiano Giovani competition was created in 1998 by the ANFIA coachbuilders group to discover and offer opportunities to young talents in the field of automotive design. The competition is a way for upstart designers to show their creative freedom and their ability to interpret ideas without any prejudices

This year, a great number of young non-professional designers between the age of 16 and 28 from around the world participated with unpublished projects that offered ideas for the interior and/or exterior of all types of road-going vehicle.

A jury consisting of authoritative exponents of styling and planning companies associated with ANFIA, selected the best 20 works. 

President of the jury for the 2004 edition was Leonardo Fioravanti, a designer famed for his glorious Ferrari designs at Pininfarina and more recently for his own styling centre located in Moncalieri, Turin. Lorenza Pininfarina, President of ANFIA, also made an introductory speech alongside Alessandro Barberis and Ugo Cavallera. Other well-known faces included Ken Okuyama, Creative Director at Pininfarina.

The three best projects received cash prizes of 5000, 3000 and 2000 euros respectively. Additionally, for the 2004 edition, two more prizes were awarded. Fulvio Cinti, editor of the famed Auto & Design magazine, awarded the youngest designer selected. The ADI - Association for Industrial Design also awarded the best interior project.

First, second and third prize was awarded to Stefano Marchetto, Andrea Loi and Kamil Labanowicz respectively.

Over a cocktail party, after interviews with the international press, the young designers marvelled at a selection of 8 concept cars from Turin's finest coachbuilders. Resplendently displayed in the inner courtyard of the Palace, under a rich Italian evening sky, the concept cars included Pininfarina's Citroën Osée, the Lancia Fulvia Coupé and the Bertone Aston Martin Jet 2.

The evening drew to a close with a delicious and lively meal at a traditional Piemontese restaurant, where the designers could continue to chat with the press and competition organizers.

The Stile Italiano Giovani exhibition is open to the public until 10 October 2004 at Palazzo Birago, Via Carlo Alberto 16, Turin.

By James Granger in Turin

Photo credits (unless stated): James Granger