Why do we do these logistic design competitions?

The answer is two-fold: One, we want to find out what’s going on in the heads of design students and graduates around the world, so we can stay on top of our game. Two, we want to identify new talent, and be able to offer these young people a paid internship at one of Toyota’s Design Centers. For their good as well as our own. Simply.

In the 2016 challenge we shifted the focus from tow tractors to forklifts, and asked students and graduates to come up with concepts that would revamp or revolutionize the look and function of our vehicles. The competition was named “Forklifts. Like you’ve never seen them before.” The number of students and graduates attracted by the 2016 theme grew to 562 people. Belgian Fabian Breës from the University of Antwerp won the jury’s vote with his “Toyota Flock”, a set of automated logistic vehicles that can work together, and save both money and energy.

2016 Forklift

The Winners

1st Prize

FLOCK

This concept explores on the question if a set of autonomous logistic vehicles can work together in a way that human-driven vehicles can not. Pricing, eco-efficiency and overall workflow optimization were the design drivers adressed in this concept.

Find out more about the winning contribution

Fabian Breës

Fabian Breës, Universiteit Antwerpen

2nd prize

Drone Logistic System — People’s award winner

My idea was to manufacture Drone logistic system. New archetype of material handling vehicle whose centre of gravity changes minimally. That will save a lot of energy which is spent by transporting weight balance along with the cargo itself in case of conventional forklifts. Thanks to the “U” type architecture the drone can embrace the cargo by its own chassis and fasten it for safer transportation.

Find out more about the winning contribution

Josef Cerny

Josef Cerny, Vysoká škola výtvarných umení v Bratislave

3rd prize

Modular Hybrid Forklift Truck - KAMU

Toyota KAMU concept is a modular hybrid forklift truck. It combines pallet jack and ordinary forklift truck in a way forklift truck industry has never seen before. KAMU can operate alone in situations that usually require two separate tools. It is designed in terms of better usability and ergonomics.

Find out more about the winning contribution

Antti Laukkanen Sami Laihos Valjami Räisänen

Antti Laukkanen, Sami Laiho and Valjami Räisänen, Umeå Institute of Design

2016 Finalist Interview

2016 Award's Ceremony

About The Competition

The designers of the three prize-winning entries from the 2016 competition.
The three prize-winning forklift designs presented at the CeMat exhibition in Hannover, Germany.