Volkswagen sent over some photos of the winning customized car prototypes from the recent Design-Your-Own Polo contest. Amateur and professional designer alike used MAQET’s character design software to create their own dream vehicles, and 40 winners were chosen to have their designs turned into scale models. You can now see 10-inch, 3D-printed versions of the multi-colored design by Boston-based artist, Howie Green (above, right) and the happy bear camouflage colorway of Tokyo-based super-couple, Shin + Nao (above, left).

We actually think that VW’s choice of winners was quite well-picked. MAQET is all about enabling other people’s creativity, so to us, success is seeing the execution of original ideas–even those that might initially make us say: HUH?! For instance, the Polo covered in kisses (above, front row, far left) seemed an odd idea at first, but then it hit us: The designer is saying (in a very straight-forward way), “I love you, VW Polo! Pick me!” Of course, we’re extra proud of our MAQET artists who made the final cut, and Howie Green has another design (above, front row, far right). His rainbow ride is all about happiness, not just for the driver, but for everyone whose path crosses the car.

Even though we make models and work with 3D printers every day, everyone at MAQET HQ still enjoys the magic of seeing a fully formed, full-color prototype emerge from the ‘pixie dust’. Click through to watch the 10-inch Polo prototypes being born at the VW Headquarters. And remember: All 40 cars will be exhibited at the Danish Design Center in Copenhagen on May 25th. During the opening event, Polo will announce which winner will receive a real car with his/her design to drive for two months over the summer. The suspense is killing us!

Click through >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yosiell Lorenzo is currently in Chicago for the opening of Relentless, an art show featuring work by Yosi and three other artists (Tyler Coey, Brent Nolasco and Matthew Ryan Sharp) in the M. Collective.

Yosiell Lorenzo in the Chicago Reader

One of Yosiell’s new works, Innocent Heathen, was even profiled in the Chicago Reader! Besides his MAQETs, Yosiell is also known for his deeply textured paintings and resin Sicklings sculptures.

Wounded Sicklings by Yosiell Lorenzo

Congratulations on a Relentless opening!

Wounded Sicklings by Yosiell Lorenzo

Innocent Heathen by Yosiell Lorenzo

Second Best by Yosiell Lorenzo

Head’s up Hedgehog fans: Full sets of Frank Kozik’s Sore-Bet Heathrow the Hedgehog MAQETs are now sold out. These Plastin^TM Heathrows are bright and clean with interior Kozik & MAQET logo hits. If you’re wondering about the “sore-bet” / “sorbet” flavorway thing; it’s just a little pun-fun.

Each of the 5 colors are limited editions of only 6 pieces. You will not see them again in this size and color combination. The Heathrow figures stand almost 5 inches tall. Seaberry (blue) is sold out, and Watermelon (pink) is almost gone. Passionfruit (purple), Lime (green) and Lemon (yellow) are still available now.

We know you prefer real photos to renderings, and we’re working on it! So here’s a photo of Frank Kozik and a full-size orange Heathrow from SDCC. Just stare at something pink or purple or green or yellow and then look back at this pic for the sake of comparison. Go get ‘em!

We wanted to take a moment to congratulate MAQET artist, character designer, fashion icon and proud papa, Scott Tolleson (and his wife Kathy of course) on the birth of their second daughter, Piper. We are sure that big sister Lyla (who sold her first original painting at the EARTH MOVEMENT show) will take the new arrival under her wing. Congratulations to this adorable, artistic and argyle family!

Like everyone else, I was saddened to hear of Maurice Sendak’s passing today. Sendak was an amazing person who did amazing work. In my mind, Where the Wild Things Are was one of the first books to recognize the worlds of creativity inside the minds’ of children.

It has been many years since I’ve read it, but I suspect that I’ve carried Sendak’s principles and spirit with me all along. When I started MAQET, I initially thought of it as a platform for enabling the creativity of young artists. Thinking outside the box (as children often do), a hedgehog, a bear and a viking become Japanese Schoolgirls.  While those particular customizations were done by Shin Tanaka, a professional artist, yesterday, we showed you a great abstract bear by 5-year old Camille.

MAQET has always been about celebrating creativity. We try hard to break down the barriers of production so that personalized collectible art objects are within the reach of anyone with an imagination and an Internet connection. We will miss Maurice Sendak’s countless contributions to art and literature. We know wherever he is, he is among fans and friends.

We’ve always maintained that MAQETs are egalitarian art objects. When we were 15, we hated 21+ concerts. And now that we’re grown up, we find it terribly unfair that we can’t ride the kiddie rides at the carnival. (How awesome are these cars???) So we made MAQET with everyone in mind: From Scott Tolleson, a professional designers working for Disney (Check out his Bernie Cotton MAQETs) to Camille, a 5-year old girl who already possesses a keen sense of color theory.

With some assistance from her (proud) papa, Lee, Camille chose Nao’s Dankeschoen Create Your Own Character template, and immediately went to work with magic markers on a paper printout. Lee and Camille enjoyed the ability to view the bear in 3D before ordering the collectible. Once satisfied, the bear was given a name (Rainbow), and dispatched to the worker elves at MAQET HQ.

Please take a look at Lee’s post about MAQET on Howdy Kids: The Magazine for Parents of Exceptional Children. Here’s his verdict!

For special occasions or gifts, it’s really exciting to see your child’s artwork translated into 3 dimensions. We’re already brainstorming what our next creation will look like. If you’re not the artistic type, you can also go rogue and cover your figurine in photographs of a family vacation or quotes from your favorite book. Anything you can illustrate by hand or compose in a computer graphics application can be placed on a toy. For the cool factor alone, MAQET’s offerings are totally worth the price.

Thanks for sharing your MAQET, Camille! We encourage parents to check out the Howdy Kids website for all its great content AND our special discount code for free shipping on your next MAQET.

MAQET is incredibly proud to announce that three designs from our very own talented roster of MAQET-makers were chosen among the Top 40 customized cars in The VW Polo Principle contest! VW received over 1400 entries by all levels of artists from all over the world. Each individual designed his/her personal vision of a Polo automobile using our original character designer software.

Boston-based Howie Green and Tokyo super-couple, Shin + Nao are advancing to the finals with their colorful cars. Along with 37 other lucky car customizers, their designs are in the process of being 3D-printed as incredible 10-inch Polo prototypes. All 40 cars will be exhibited at the Danish Design Center in Copenhagen on May 25th. During the opening event, Polo will announce which winner will receive a real car with his/her design to drive for two months over the summer.

What an incredible opportunity. It’s time to make sure those driver’s licenses are up to date! Howie, Shin and Nao, we’re rooting for you!

Volkswagen’s Polo Principle design contest is in full swing, and we’re stoked to see so many interesting custom cars made with our character design software. If you haven’t tried it out yet, you’ll be surprised how fun and easy it is!

Volkswagen Polo and Nao Shimojo!

Speaking of surprises, look who we found test-driving a VW Polo! It’s Nao, who, in conjunction with Shin, designed the great Dankeschoen custom skin below. If you can read Japanese, check out Nao’s blog post about it here.

MAQET isn’t on the jury for picking the contest winners, so we’re at liberty to call out a few of our favorites so far

Volkswagen and MAQET have partnered for a contest that puts you in the driver’s seat! Using MAQET‘s character designer at The Polo Principle website, you can put your own spin on the new VW Polo. VW will select one winner to have his/her design applied to a real Polo automobile! The winner will then get to drive that Polo for 2 months during the summer. VW’s panel of judges will also select the 40 most creative prototype designs to be 3D-printed and exhibited in Copenhagen this May. After the show, the 40 winning 10-inch custom physical prototypes will be handed back over to their respective creators. This is a real opportunity for car customizers to show their skills in front of a world audience!

The VW Polo contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. Scandinavian names are currently dominating the entries, so get going, gang! Customize your own VW Polo and check out an exciting use of MAQET’s unique software here. MAQET is proud to have partnered on this exciting contest with Volkswagen, a another company that values artistic innovation.

Each month, Pixar chooses an artist to spotlight on the official Pixar Times blog. This month, it’s our own Yosiell Lorenzo! Yosiell’s original Sicklings characters seem to have Monsters Inc’s Mike Wazowski in a bit of a pickle… Click here to read the full interview. Congrats Yosi!