The Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment, known as the “Fight Club” of automotive design, will bring the industry’s creative community to St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit on Jan. 16. Presented by BASF, the event was created by Brook and Judith Banham of Detroit’s Middlecott Design and Frank Schwartz of Advanced Automotive Consulting Services to celebrate and elevate design as a competitive skill.
“We wanted to create a way to truly bring love to Detroit and show why our city is the design capital of North America,” says Brook Banham. “Bringing in industry legends of design and emerging talent from the College for Creative Studies (in Detroit) to show what their made of in this creative showdown was the perfect vehicle.”
During Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment, designers participate in three, 30-minute elimination round battles, each sponsored and created by automotive companies including: Harman International, Lacks Enterprises, and BASF. The winner of the final round will be crowned Sketchbattle champion and receive a $2,500 cash prize and a championship belt designed by Mobsteel.
The night’s activities will be led by emcee and ring announcer Terry Ayrault, chief creative officer of the JRT Agency/CG Detroit, while Satori Circus will act as the referee. In turn, DJ Nemo Junglist will feature local artists.
“Sketchbattle makes it possible for emerging artists to energize the crowd with their creativity. It is truly a fun event,” says Paul Czornij, head of BASF’s automotive color design for North America. The company operates five production plants in Wyandotte. “It’s a great fit for BASF, since, as a leading company in automotive color design, we’ve long understood how the aesthetic and the technical come together to bring color to life.”
A suggested donation of $20 can be paid at the door. More information can be found here.
