The contest assignment is to produce designs - for lifestyle objects, furniture, architecture, technical equipment, etc - that draw inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz GLK model - which debuted at Auto China 2008 - and are targeted to the car's customers.

"The Design Project" sees the participation of six European design schools from six different Countries: France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Each design team will have a senior designer and as many members as they wish, as well as an allowance of €7,500 to create graphics, animations and an exhibition stand.

The selected schools are:

• IED Barcelona for Spain;
• Istituto Marangoni of Milan for Italy;
• School of Applied Sciences of Hamburg for Germany;
• ENSAD Paris for France;
• ECAL Lausanne for Switzerland;
• Nagy University for Art and Design of Budapest for Hungary.

The final works will be presented during the official launch of the GLK.

The work-in-progress designs will be visible at the schools locations.

The winner will be selected by an international jury led by Professor Peter Pfeiffer.

The contest will have a grand prize of €10,000 for and an additional €5,000 special award for "the most outstanding exhibition space and design detail."

Additional information are available on Wallpaper* magazine and on the contest official website.

(Source: Wallpaper* )