Nissan has built a full-scale prototype of the winning design from its international “Elevate All-New Nissan MICRA: The Signature Edition” competition, turning the new Micra into a bright, asymmetric graphic statement.
The winning concept comes from Canadian designer Marc-André Fauteux, a graphic and interactive designer with more than two decades of experience in visual design. His proposal was selected from more than 1,000 entries submitted by designers, artists and creative thinkers around the world. Eleven finalists were shortlisted before Fauteux took the top prize.
The competition, launched in August 2025, asked participants to reinterpret the visual identity of the new Micra through color, material and graphics. The brief was specific: the car’s body shape, windows, wheels and headlamps had to remain unchanged. The exterior was the canvas.
Fauteux approached the project through what he calls “organised simplicity.” His design uses controlled geometric shapes without making the car feel static. The graphics run across the Micra’s surface in an asymmetric composition, creating a sense of motion even when the car is standing still. The prototype combines a blue body with a yellow front section and red accents, giving the compact hatchback a playful but carefully structured presence.
The jury selected the concept for its balance of structure, movement and emotional impact. It also matched the spirit of the original brief, which invited designers to treat the Micra not as an object to be redesigned, but as a surface for expression.
For Fauteux, the appeal was in applying a graphic designer’s perspective to something familiar and functional. “I saw the competition and instantly thought it was something special,” he said. “I’ve worked in design for many years, including within the automotive world, so the idea of transforming a car into a moving piece of art really excited me.”
The new Micra itself became the starting point. “The all-new MICRA already has such a playful and expressive personality, which gave me a strong foundation to build from creatively,” Fauteux added.
His broader idea was to bring art into daily life through movement. “I love seeing bold and artistic ideas brought into everyday life,” he said. “Putting art in motion through something as everyday as a car makes the experience feel more expressive, creative and human.”
The prototype has been shown at Nissan Automotive Europe’s offices in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France. For Nissan Design Europe, the project is also a way to open automotive design to outside creative voices.
“Marc-André‘s winning concept captures the expressive design character of the all-new Nissan MICRA in a bold and innovative way,” said Giovanny Arroba, vice president of Nissan Design Europe. “This competition highlights how creative talent can contribute fresh perspectives to automotive design and graphic expression.”
The winner was announced on June 4, 2026. For Nissan, the project gives the new Micra a more experimental public face: not a body kit, not a concept car, but a compact hatchback treated as a moving piece of graphic design.