Futuristic Cars, Family Fun and Creative Collaboration

The Creativity Department is thrilled to collaborate once again with Toyota Dream Car USA and the Art Centre of Plano. On the afternoon of Saturday, January 8th we’ll be leading an afternoon for families to rev up their imaginations, get the creative wheels turning and start designing their original dream car work of art for submission to the Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest. Submissions created by youth, ages 4-15, are accepted online or by mail through January 31, 2022

During the workshop, Laura and Matt Grundler, veteran art educators and founders of The Creativity Department will roll through the creative process using inspiration from Hot Wheels, the Petersen Automotive Museum, and even take a brain break to read an amazing storybook by Peter H. Reynolds.

During the family event, we will have supplies on hand to use, snacks for brain breaks, and every child will take home their own Toyota Dream Car coloring book.

If you can’t attend the hands-on family workshop, we have an activity for parents or teachers to lead with kids below.

Step 1: Look and Think

Take a virtual field trip to the Petersen Automotive Museum and the Toyota Automobile Museum

While taking the virtual tour, have the kids look for cars they find interesting.
Ask kids what they SEE when they look at that car, then what they THINK about the car, and last what they are WONDERING about the car.

Step 2: Plan

Now that kids have seen examples of interesting cars on their virtual museum tours it’s time to brainstorm and sketch.

Brainstorm: Ask kids to dream about what their cars could do in the future? It’s important to get kids to DREAM.

How could a car help a community?
What kinds of unique things could a car do in the future that it can not do in 2022?
What kind of unique technology could a car have in the future that we don’t currently have in 2022?
How could a car help the globe?

Sketch: Now that kids are deep into using their imaginations, have them sketch all the interesting things that the car they are designing can do.

Kids should sketch more than one idea to help them find their best ideas.
Here is a brainstorm/sketch sheet that you can use.

Step 3: Create

After kids have sketched a couple of ideas work with them to pick the best one then start the final drawing their contest drawing,

Step 4: Reflect

Before kids finish their Toyota Dream Car art, have them stop at a few points in the art-making and reflect.

Consider together, are there any changes to make, additional ideas to add in, or craftsmanship to clean up.

Step 5: Share

When the child’s Toyota Dream Car is ready, SHARE it with the contest!
With the assistance of an adult, they complete an entry form, which is submitted with the drawing (the original, if sent by mail; an image, if using the online form). Details – with official rules, artwork guidelines, and entry forms – are at www.ToyotaDreamCarUSA.com.

The Toyota Dream Car Contest is designed to inspire creativity in youth, ages 4-15, and help them imagine the future of mobility, a total of nine U.S. winners will be announced during March 2022. The top three in each of the three age categories (4-7 years old; 8-11 years old; and 12-15 years old) will receive cash prizes ($750 first place in each age category; $500, second place; $250, third place), ready-to-frame digital scans of their drawings, and award certificates. In addition, their artwork will be submitted to Japan for consideration in the World Contest, along with the nine top entries from nearly 90 countries.

Judging is based on three criteria: execution, uniqueness, and artistry of concept. Each artwork submission consists of a drawing by an eligible youth, accompanied by a completed entry form signed by a parent or legal guardian (multiple submissions are accepted, but each drawing must be accompanied by a separate entry form).

Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan held the first worldwide contest in 2004. Nearly 90 countries now participate each year under the same rules but with varying artwork submission periods. The free youth contest has been presented in the United States since 2012. The annual contest accepts artwork submitted by parents or legal guardians of children between four (4) and fifteen (15) years of age who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.ToyotaDreamCarUSA.com.

Need more inspiration make sure to follow @toyotadreamcarusa and @creativitydept on Instagram.