THE SIGNED EDITION, FROM OPEN CALL TO THE ORIGINAL
Canadian designer Marc-André Fauteux won “Elevate All-New Nissan MICRA: The Signature Edition”the open international competition Nissan ran with designboom, with an idea that turns the carIts exterior in a moving canvas of asymmetrical color and graphic form. The winning design has now been built as a full-scale prototype.
Launched in August 2025, the competition asked designers, artists and creative thinkers around the world to reinterpret the visual identity of the all-new MICRA through colour, material and graphic expression, without changing the car’s form. More than 1,000 people entered and eleven finalists qualified. Graphic artist and interactive designer Marc-André Fauteux, who has worked in visual design for more than two decades, took home the top prize.
all images courtesy of Nissan
“organized simplicity” across the entire surface of the car
Describing his approach, designer Marc-André Fauteux points out its meaning “organized simplicity”striking a balance between controlled geometric forms and spontaneous visual energy. The design wraps the MICRA in asymmetrical graphics that suggest movement even when the car is stationary: the prototype combines blue bodywork with a yellow front fascia and red accents.
The jury chose the concept for the combination of structure, movement and emotional impact, the same brief designboom and Nissan set at the beginning, which asked participants to treat the exterior as a canvas, leaving the bodywork, windows, wheels and headlights untouched.
the winning ‘signature edition’ concept turns the all-new Nissan MICRA into a moving canvas
from screen to sheet metal
For Fauteux, the competition was an opportunity to bring a graphic designer’s eye to an object that people use every day. ‘I saw the contest and immediately thought it was something special,‘ he says. ‘II have worked in design for many years, including in the automotive world, so the idea of transforming a car into a moving work of art really excited me.‘
It found its starting point in the car itself. ‘The all-new MICRA already has such a playful and expressive personality, it gave me a strong foundation to build creatively on,‘ he adds.
What attracts him is the idea of art that travels. ‘I love seeing bold and artistic ideas brought into everyday life,‘ he says. ‘Putting art in motion through something as mundane as a car makes the experience feel more expressive, creative and human.‘
The Fauteux design combines a blue body with a yellow front panel and red accents
from concept to prototype
The winning design has been built as a prototype and is on display at Nissan Automotive Europe’s offices in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France. ‘Marc-André’s winning concept captures the expressive design character of the all-new Nissan MICRA in a bold and innovative way,‘ he says Giovanny Arroba, vice president of Nissan Design Europe. ‘This competition highlights how creative talent can bring new perspectives to automotive design and graphic expression.‘
designboom highlighted the finalists and the winner earlier this year, and the project continues a series of open platforms the magazine has created for emerging talent since 1999, here giving an independent designer a global stage and a production-class car to work with.
the exterior is a moving canvas of asymmetrical color and graphic form
Marc-André Fauteux points out its meaning ‘organized simplicity‘
