If you've ever dreamed of being a car designer, here's your chance to earn some serious cash by designing a Smart fortwo.
The Smart brand of Mercedes-Benz is opening a worldwide design contest today. Go to the Web site www.styleyoursmart.com to find instructions on how to win prizes with a total value of €5,000 ($7430).
"The design contest offers all Smart drivers and fans a platform to lend expression to their creativity," says Marc Langenbrinck, Smart's managing director.
If you already have some talent and imagination, the key to the whole thing is mastering the online design configurator. Smart types say it lets budding designers work with colours, prints, patterns and shapes. You can also play with graphic ideas online.
Naturally, in this age of social media, the site encourages visitors to exchange, and also comment on and rate ideas and designs. Smart wants to boost interest in the brand and its slow-selling cars (sales were down 29 per cent in Canada last year) by sparking a Smart design community.
You have until February 23rd to finish making your own Smart. Then, what Smart calls an “independent expert jury” will select the best ideas using ratings from the online community.
If you take part, let me know what you think of the experience.
