upload all-new nissan MICRA design competition reveals finalists

ELEVATE ALL NEW NISSAN MICRA: THE SIGNATURE EDITION

Nissan, in collaboration with designboom, announced the 11 finalists of the Elevate All-New Nissan MICRA: The Signature Edition, an international design competition that began on August 11, 2025. Open to creatives worldwide, the competition invited designers, architects, students and visual thinkers to reinterpret the identity of Nissan’s all-exterior Nissan. Following a multi-phase selection process jointly reviewed by Nissan and designboom, the finalists now advance as nominees for a Signature Edition that will be the final winner to be revealed on March 30, 2026.

Nissan, in partnership with designboom, has announced the 11 finalists for the Elevate All-New Nissan MICRA: The Signature Edition

EXPRESSING THE BOLD PERSONALITY OF THE ALL-NEW NISSAN MICRA

The competition was conceived as a platform to translate the bold personality of the all-new Nissan MICRA into a sophisticated, elevated visual language. Participants were asked to work within strict constraints, retaining the car’s bodywork, windows, wheels and lighting, while enhancing its presence through colour, graphics, patterns, materials and surfaces. In more than a thousand initial entries, the proposals demonstrated how subtle interventions, bold color decisions and careful detailing could change perception and identity without structural change.

Structured in three phases, the competition began with an open call for portfolios and creative statements, from which approximately 100 participants were selected to develop full proposals. These were further refined through jury feedback before the field was narrowed down to the final team. The iterative format encouraged designers to respond critically to the guidance, enhancing conceptual clarity and sharpening what it means to create a true “Signature Edition” rather than a purely decorative edit.

Among the finalists, recurring themes show a shared sensitivity towards culture, movement and material expression. Some suggestions are drawn from Japanese craftsmanship and philosophy, translating the ideas of imperfection, restraint and touch into contemporary automotive design. Others explore movement through gradients, waves or pixelated graphics that refer to energy, technology and electric mobility. Several finalists extend their ideas beyond the outer skin, proposing cohesive interior touches or functional accessories that reinforce a holistic identity.

Sebastian Burdon, UK: A Pulse of Innovation

NISSAN AND DESIGNBOOM’S CHOICE OF FINALISTS

Instead of bold transformations, many of the designs chosen favor a balance between boldness and elegance, experimentation and recognizability. Graphic signatures echo the projector’s geometry, ceiling lines become canvases for perspective-based patterns, and restrained palettes are activated through contrast, texture or metallic detailing. Together, the finalists illustrate how a compact urban vehicle can function as a cultural object, conveying narrative and emotion through design.

Founded in 1933, Nissan is a global automotive brand that connects drivers with bold, innovative design in the most exciting way possible. The company offers advanced mobility solutions and distinctive vehicles known for their style, performance and everyday appeal. The company offers easy access to intelligent, forward-thinking design across a wide range of models, from compact city cars to electrification and beyond, including the all-new Nissan MICRA, the focus of this international design competition.

Marc-André Fauteux, Canada: The all-new Nissan MICRA: an expression of boldness and poise