BMW & British Vogue continue to champion emerging talent with Future Creators Design Competition.

BMW has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to supporting emerging talent by partnering with British Vogue to launch the Future Creators Design Competition – a search for the next generation of fashion and jewellery design stars.

Judged by renowned fashion designer Simone Rocha, British Vogue Fashion Features Director Julia Hobbs, and BMW Senior Colour and Materials Designer Charlotte Kanters, the competition invited aspiring designers, including students and recent graduates, to create a piece inspired by the sleek lines and pioneering technology of BMW’s Vision Neue Klasse vehicles.

The BMW Vision Neue Klasse and Vision Neue Klasse X preview the next generation of BMW vehicles launching from the end of 2025, highlighting innovations in electrification, digitalisation and circularity. The BMW brand is already progressing towards a more circular future today, using secondary materials across many of its current models – for example, in the floor mats of the BMW iX and BMW X1.

The competition drew an extraordinary response, with hundreds of entrants showcasing remarkable creativity. During the judging process, Kanters sought designs rooted in circularity which, as she put it, “captured the philosophy of the Neue Klasse” by incorporating recycled materials to enhance the product. Meanwhile, Hobbs looked for “a new definition of luxury.”

After careful consideration, the judging panel narrowed down the talented list of applicants to three deserving winners: Destiny Pinto, Joaquin Flores and Selina Kwong.

Destiny Pinto, 22, BA Design for Art Direction graduate, University of the Arts London.

Pinto’s entry was inspired by the Vision Neue Klasse’s human-centric design, as she transformed assistive medical devices from functional clinical aids into striking pieces of art. “Because of my arthritis,” Pinto explained, “I would wear a clinical-looking compression glove, my best friend at the time also wore a clinical-looking ostomy bag. As someone who was very interested in fashion and wanted to match things with what I was wearing, I decided to start there.”

Merging utility and style, Pinto’s designs included compression wear, prosthetics and her competition entry, a hearing aid which drew visual inspiration from the vision vehicles’ clear lines and kidney grille. Impressed by Pinto’s submission, Hobbs said, “It’s 2024 – we want a definition of luxury which embraces everybody and what she’s shown us is so intelligent, it’s inspired by her community and it’s pieces that look really incredible.”

Joaquin Flores, 24, BA Jewellery Design student, University of the Arts London.

Flores combined his fascination with automotive engineering and jewellery-making skills to present plans for both a sculptural ring and innovative eyewear influenced by the Vision Neue Klasse’s distinctive silhouette. Concerned by the morality of mining and extracting precious metals, he opted to use secondary materials – such as scrapped vehicle components – in his designs. “You have to think about responsible design and how you’re not going to extract what you can reuse,” said Flores. Excited by the plans, Kanters commented, “I really liked that he was designing jewellery that reflects light the same way as the surface of the car. It was a really special approach, and I found it very inspiring.”

In line with Flores’ philosophy, forthcoming BMW Neue Klasse vehicles will contain a higher proportion of secondary raw materials and significantly reduced material variety to enhance circularity. In addition, the introduction of an improved dismantling concept will also help optimise the vehicle recycling process.

Selina Kwong, 24, MA Fashion graduate, Royal College of Art.

Kwong persuaded the judging panel with her collection of intricate high-fashion garments made using recycled fishing nets. This waste material was a common sight in Kwong’s hometown, a Malaysian fishing village, and so she was particularly struck by BMW’s use of salvaged nets in the construction of its Neue Klasse Vision vehicles.

As both a homage to her heritage and a nod to BMW design, Kwong used fishing net threads to accessorise her pieces: “I was inspired by the traditional techniques of weaving from our culture used for making nets or small baskets for fishing,” said Kwong. During the judging process Rocha praised the “unexpected” material choice: “I think it’s very circular to bring it into a fashion context and to think of it as a textile, as a garment.”

In recognition of their ideas, the talented trio each received £5,000 to help bring their designs to fruition and were invited to visit to the BMW Design Studio in Munich, where they received expert mentorship from the BMW Design team.

Equipped with their prize money and the valuable insights gained from their time in Munich, the three winners will continue to develop their final designs over the coming months. To follow the trio on their individual design journeys, keep an eye on British Vogue’s Forces for Change website.

The Future Creators Design Competition will feature in the December issue of British Vogue. To learn more about the competition and BMW’s partnership with British Vogue, click here. For more information about the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, click here.

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About the BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2023, the BMW Group sold over 2.55 million passenger vehicles and more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2023 was € 17.1 billion on revenues amounting to € 155.5 billion. As of 31 December 2023, the BMW Group had a workforce of 154,950 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action, from the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

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About British Vogue

Vogue is the world’s leading voice on fashion and culture. Part of the Condé Nast portfolio, Vogue examines the world through the lens of fashion — how we dress, live and socialise; what we eat, listen to and watch; who leads and inspires us. With thought-provoking, relevant and always influential storytelling across platforms, Vogue defines what is next.

For further information please contact:

Tom Evans
Senior Press Officer, BMW
Tel: 07815 371 705
Email: Tom.Evans@bmw.co.uk

Chris Overall
BMW Media Relations Manager
Tel: 07815 370 990
Email: Chris.Overall@bmw.co.uk

Christina Burnham-Hepe
General Manager, Communications
Tel: 07815 371 206
Email: Christina.Burnham-Hepe@bmw.co.uk