Hyundai Motor chief designer wins FAI award

By Baek Byung-yeul

Lee Sang-yup, head of Hyundai Motor's Global Design Center, has received the grand prize at a renowned vehicle design award festival in France, being recognized for his contribution to advance the Korean carmaker's design capability.

Hyundai Motor said Wednesday that Lee, who serves as senior vice president, received the Grand Prize of Design at the 36th Festival Automobile International (FAI).

“It is a great honor to receive this Grand Prize,” the chief designer said. “I believe that our duty is to work for a better future and help Hyundai to be recognized through design that is tailored to the needs of our customers' lifestyles and their valuable time.”

Based in Paris, FAI is known as one of the most prestigious awards in car design. The Grand Prize of Design is given to a designer or company for its global strategy of innovation or pursuit of beauty, Hyundai Motor said.

Previous winners include acclaimed designers in the automotive industry, such as Jaguar's former head of design Ian Callum, and Hyundai Motor Group's President of Design Management Peter Schreyer.

Since joining Hyundai Motor in 2016, Lee has successfully shaped the company's design strategies and direction, leveraging over 20 years of extensive experience with world-renowned luxury car brands.

FAI said the event's organizer highly evaluated Lee's contributions to Hyundai Motor's Prophecy concept car. Hyundai Motor unveiled the Prophecy in a bid to showcase the latest design identity of the carmaker's electric vehicles.

“Every year, the jury chooses a designer for the Grand Prize of Design. This year, all members voted for Lee and recognized his wonderful work. The recognition is especially given for his contribution to Hyundai Prophecy's aesthetic beauty and purity,” an FAI official was quoted as saying in Hyundai Motor's statement.