TUAS design students won the first prize in an international design competition
Nea Kosonen and Elisa Määttänen, two industrial design students at TUAS, won the first prize of the Toyota Logistic Design Competition held in Hanover, Germany. The theme of the competition was ‘towing tractor’.
Two TUAS design students designed a tow tractor for arctic airports called Bubo. Bubo received recognition from the jury for its originality and user-friendliness. A victory in an international design competition organised by an internationally renowned brand is a true recognition for Finnish design competence and for TUAS Degree Programme in Design.
There were students from more than 100 educational institutions in the field of design from 17 different European countries taking part in the Toyota Logistic Design Competition. The Finnish duo received recognition from the jury especially for the originality and user-friendliness of Bubo. Bubo’s design team interviewed several baggage handlers in Finland and researched their problems. Bubo is designed for arctic airports and especially for baggage handlers working in these unpredictable conditions. The team also studied the ergonomics of towing tractors. The name of the winning design, Bubo, refers to an eagle owl – the shape of the vehicle is inspired by an eagle owl.
Design students Kosonen and Määttänen were awarded with a prize of EUR 4,000. Furthermore, their design will be displayed at the world's leading fair for intralogistics to be held in Hanover between 19 and 23 May 2014.
Recognition for the whole design training
The award also serves as recognition for the whole TUAS Degree Programme in Design. The winning duo appreciates especially relatively small group sizes, where teaching is individual. Kosonen and Määttänen, who both will graduate this spring, are planning to complete some postgraduate studies and visit the Toyota product development department located in Mjölby, Sweden.
The jury of the design competition included jury members from Toyota’s headquarters located in Japan, and from Toyota Material Handling Design Center located in Sweden. The final decision on the winner was made by the Management Team of Toyota Material Handling Europe. Toyota Material Handling is the world’s leading name in materials handling solutions and the largest manufacturer of forklift trucks measured by revenues. In the competition, they were looking for new-generation towing tractor concepts. Tow tractors are generally used, for instance, at airports, and in factories and hospitals.