⏷ Open for more inspiration
Theme
Frutiger Aero refers to a design style that was prominent between the mid-2000s and early 2010s. It originated in user interfaces–namely Windows Vista and its Windows Aero architecture–but later influenced various other media, product design and marketing. The term was assigned retrospectively in 2017 by Sofi Xian, and as of the 2020s, has experienced a resurgence as an object of nostalgia.
Readmore in the main post or through research!
Brief
Focusing on Frutiger Aero’s themes of optimism, nature, exploration, and technological progress, you are assigned the task of designing a vehicle of any kind, suited to navigating and inhabiting its world.
Picture yourself heading into a Frutiger Aero landscape, winding road or city to explore, unwind or simply inhabit it.
Rules
Bodytypes allowed: ALL
Designs expected: CONCEPTS ONLY! (will be lenient as some concepts look more or less like production ready designs)
Maximum wheelbase: 2.8m / 110in (visually / not game stats)
Minimum amount of wheels: 3
Model and Trim Year: 2003 - 2013
All Advanced Trim Settings are allowed
Interiors will be judged but aren’t required
Engineering won’t be judged (as this is a TDC)
An ad or showcase post is required
Judging Criteria (in order of importance)
Adherence to the theme
Concept (overall design as well as the cohesion, purpose and appeal within the setting of the challenge)
Detailling
Proportions
Submissions
Model and Family names: TDC3 [BETA or STABLE] - Forum Username
Trim and Variant Names: Whatever
Submissions OPEN: 28 Jul, 2025
Submissions CLOSE: 2025-09-01T03:59:00Z—your local time
No re-submissions!
All submissions must be sent in via forum DMs to @pen15
[Changelog]
[23.07.2025] ✓Fixed Firefox rendering issues (main post)
[23.07.2025] ✓The brief now more clearly calls for concepts rather than production vehicles (second post / first post was already clear)
[24.07.2025] ✓Updated the brief to allow all bodytypes AND vehicle classes and be more clear overall
[24.07.2025] ✓Updated, reshuffled, removed 2, and added 10 new cars to the inspiration (both posts)
[24.07.2025] ✓Updated rules to be consistent across both posts
[28.07.2025] ✓Submissions open
[12.08.2025] ✓Added 'at least 3 wheels' hard-set rule. Less than ideal to add a rule so late in but it was an oversight. Sorry for any inconvenience. (both posts)
[01.09.2025] ✓Slideshow wallpaper! For fun (first post)