• Two Bentley designers win awards for Outstanding Product and Communication Design
  • Continental GT Convertible and pen partnership with Graf von Faber-Castell take pride of place
  • Jury composed of leading media, design and academic figures
  • Importance of brand design stressed as critical for a successful global automotive industry
  • Bentley

Two members of the Bentley Motors design team at the home of the world’s leading luxury car maker in Crewe, England, have been honoured by the German Design Council, in the only international design competition for automotive marques.

John-Paul Gregory, Head of Exterior Design, and Chris Cooke, Lead designer, were winners in the Automotive Brand Contest 2019 for the Continental GT Convertible 2018 and for the Graf von Faber-Castell for Bentley Collection pen partnership.

This special recognition for Outstanding Product and Communication Design was awarded in the Best of Best category ‘Exterior Premium Brand’, and in the category ‘Parts and Accessories’, respectively.

After receiving the award in Frankfurt last night, John-Paul Gregory commented, “We are really excited to receive such a prestigious award on behalf of Bentley and the design team. The Continental GT Convertible is a car we are truly proud of, and for it to be recognised by the automotive brand council is an honour.”

After the ceremony, Chris Cooke added: “It’s always great to receive recognition for the design work we are producing especially from the prestigious Automotive Design Council. This award is testament to the successful collaboration and hard work from both teams at Bentley and Faber-Castell. We look forward to continuing this success and momentum into our products of the future.”

The design team, under its director Stefan Sielaff, was noted for being able to find a self-contained and impressive form for the Continental GT Convertible that would point the way from its proud heritage confidently into the future – an exterior design destined to remain in existence.

  • Bentley