• by Tanya Gazdik , April 17, 2020

Several automakers are offering design-oriented projects to help parents keep their kids occupied at home during the pandemic. 

Nissan North America is offering 23 downloadable coloring pages featuring Nissan classic cars, current models, futuristic concepts and some "cult classic" models, such as the Nissan Figaro and ChoiMobi. Nissan designers from around the world created the pages over the last few weeks.

"To draw, draw, draw, in our world, is one of the best ways to close the gap between wonderful creative impulses in your head and making it a reality – especially as we face this global pandemic together," said Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan's senior vice president for global design in a video from his home promoting the initiative.

"Our team of designers, worldwide, are using this time to breathe, to draw, to dream creatively. I know that some of their best work will come from the challenges that we're facing now. So we thought, 'Why not give everyone a chance to express themselves creatively and share it with those who will appreciate it?’"

Albaisa, with input from his two young sons, shows what he is currently drawing. Designers from his team will post additional videos in coming weeks to talk about their design inspirations, what they are drawing, how they became car designers, and tips for those looking to break into the business.

Individuals can tag their drawings, from sidewalk art to napkin sketches to the downloaded coloring book pictures, with #drawdrawdraw.

"We're looking forward to celebrating passion and creativity," Albaisa says "Don't be surprised if you see a Nissan designer comment on your drawings and artwork.”

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is encouraging a new generation of aspiring designers to bring their automotive dreams to life through the “Young Designer Competition.”

Launched to provide parents and children with a distraction during the worldwide coronavirus outbreak, Rolls-Royce is calling on kids under age 16 to design their dream Rolls-Royce of the future. 

The competition is an extension of the annual Rolls-Royce employees’ Family Day Celebration, held at the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England. This year, Rolls-Royce is opening up the competition to a worldwide audience. The deadline for entries to be submitted is May 18.

The marque’s design team will judge all entries and select an overall winner, who will receive a rendered illustration of their design as well as a chauffeur-driven journey in a Rolls-Royce Phantom for their first day back to school, with their best friend. Runners-up will receive a hand-signed certificate from Torsten Müller-Ötvös, the chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Ford Motor Co. is another automaker coming to the aid of parents trying to occupy both themselves and kids while under a stay-at-home mandate. The automaker posted an activity book online for kids (and adults)  in early April including sketches of Mustangs and classic Fords to color. STEM activities are also in the works. 

The automaker asks that parents share their kids’ work with social networks and use the hashtags #keeplearning, as well as #Fordemployees and #stayhome.

“Sharing helps build connection and spread levity, humor, innovation and educational activities to other parents during this difficult period,” according to the automaker. 

Seventeen Ford designers participated in this project and drew the sketches on the activity pages. Some of them are parents, and will be sharing their sketches with their kids so both can color together, according to Ford.