Academy of Art University to Sponsor Sixth Annual MOTOR TREND/CIAS International Design Contest

ANAHEIM, Calif.--July 13, 2004--MOTOR TREND and the California International Auto Show (CIAS) are pleased to announce their partnership with the Academy of Art University for the 2004 MOTOR TREND/CIAS International Design Contest. As official sponsor of the amateur categories, the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, will offer two first-place amateur awards for the contest, and renowned automotive designer and Academy of Art University Director of Industrial Design, Tom Matano, will serve on the judging panel for this prestigious design competition. The final round of judging will take place prior to an awards presentation announcing the design contest winners on October 27, 2004.

As amateur prize sponsor of the 2004 CIAS MOTOR TREND International Design Contest, the Academy of Art University will award the first-place winner of the Amateur: 18 Years of Age and Older category with two free online design classes. These tuition-exempt classes can be taken in the spring, summer or fall 2005 semesters, and can be applied toward earning an entire degree or professional certificate. The Amateur: 17 Years of Age and Younger first-place winner will receive either an Academy of Art University Summer Study Grant or a scholarship to their Summer Art Experience. The Summer Study Grant is a six-week college-level summer session ideal for the high school senior considering pursuing an art degree. The Summer Art Experience offers high school students six weeks of professional-level visual art instruction.

In addition, both first-place amateur winners will receive a $500 cash prize, courtesy of the California International Auto Show, as well as a trophy, certificate of achievement, a complimentary one-year MOTOR TREND subscription and recognition in a future issue of MOTOR TREND magazine and on www.motortrend.com.

"One of the contest's goals is to offer our readers the chance to get their design work exposed to leading designers in the automotive industry, and we look forward to seeing what creative concepts will be developed," said Matt Stone, executive editor of MOTOR TREND and chief contest judge.

Tom Matano, director of Industrial Design at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, will serve on an impressive panel of judges comprised of MOTOR TREND editors and some of the most renowned automotive designers and industry professionals in the automotive industry. Matano has 30 years of experience in the automotive design industry and has held design positions at General Motors and BMW. In addition to holding the position of executive designer and director of Mazda North American Operations, Matano also managed the Chief Designers group that creates the entire Mazda car line designs, as well as the European and North American studios.

Open to amateur, student and professional designers from around the world, the theme of the 2004 MOTOR TREND/CIAS International Design Contest is "Brand It Your Way," challenging contestants to conceptualize a vehicle design that embodies the characteristics and traits of a specific, non-automotive brand. The deadline for entries to be received is September 13, 2004 and winners will be announced on Media Day at the California International Auto Show, on October 27, 2004. The public is invited to view the top contest submissions in person at the 2005 California International Auto Show, which runs October 27 through October 31, 2004 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Winning entries will also be featured on www.motortrend.com.