Shanghai, China, March 6, 2026 — When retro rhythms resonate with the pulse of the future, and classic DNA engages in a dialogue across time with avant-garde imagination... After four months of creative competition and professional evaluation, the top three entries of the inaugural "Ford China Design Challenge" have been officially announced. Three students - Wang Zelong from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Li Liurui from the Wuhan University of Technology, and Chen Bingjia from the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts - brought their profound insights into the "Explorer Spirit" and aesthetic interpretations of "Retro-Futurism" to complete their final project reviews at the Ford China Design Center.
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"Back to the Future": Top Three Works Unveiled in the Ford China Design Center Design Challenge
Mar 13, 2026
The design challenge kicked off in October 2025. With the theme "BACK TO THE FUTURE," the competition selectively invited several domestic universities, encouraging participating students to conceptualize their designs around the proposition of an "American Full-Size SUV." This challenge aims to inspire the young design students to use classic Ford SUVs as a wellspring of inspiration, injecting a design language belonging to the new era while carrying forward a glorious legacy.
The professional judging panel at the Ford China Design Center meticulously evaluated the submissions across multiple dimensions - including design concept, aesthetic expression, thematic relevance, and design techniques - ultimately determining the top three entries.
Notably, the finalists' ultimate works were presented only after being carefully polished during an immersive internship of nearly a month at the Ford China Design Center. During this time, each student received specialized mentoring from dedicated exterior and interior designers. They were given full access to the center's software and hardware facilities, allowing them to immersively experience the entire automotive design process through hands-on practice, thereby achieving a dual elevation in both creativity and professional execution.
Presentation by Wang Zelong, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
The three students undergoing a nearly month-long internship at the Ford China Design Center
Wang Zelong, from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, explored the morphological transformation of a full-size SUV from "square" to "round" within the context of retro-futurism. The overall design utilizes smooth, sweeping lines to outline the vehicle's silhouette, employing ring elements as the visual core to seamlessly connect the exterior and interior styling. This creates a spatial experience that is safe, composed, and rich in ritual, presenting a restrained yet unhurriedly elegant posture.
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Design by Wang Zelong, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
Presentation by Li Liurui, Wuhan University of Technology
The work of Li Liurui, from the Wuhan University of Technology, uses clean, retro surfaces as a foundation, integrating avant-garde future technology and streamlined aesthetics to achieve a contemporary reconstruction of tradition while paying homage to the classics.
The full-size body balances a transparent, panoramic field of vision with a highly private cabin, effortlessly adapting to the needs of diverse scenarios. The overall design is majestic and grand, possessing both a profound historical heritage and a pioneering contemporary style.
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Design by Li Liurui, Wuhan University of Technology
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Presentation by Chen Bingjia, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts
The project by Chen Bingjia, from the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, is named "Distant Islet", symbolizing a mobile spiritual oasis crafted for urban elites. Deeply inspired by Ford's century-old pragmatic spirit of serving people, Chen utilized an ultra-minimalist design language fused with cutting-edge technology to carve out an exclusive sanctuary of tranquility amidst the urban clamor. In the designer's vision, "Distant Islet" is not merely a mode of transportation, but a mobile private residence. Venturing far is not simply about conquering the distant wilderness, but about safeguarding the deeper sanctuary of the soul.
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Design by Chen Bingjia, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts
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