The Interior Design Department and AUDesign_LAB at the American University in Dubai launched the Lamborghini Student Design Challenge 2026, delivered in collaboration with Lamborghini Abu Dhabi & Dubai. Now in its fourth edition, the initiative continues to provide students with a unique platform to engage directly with a globally renowned luxury brand.

Open to students from AUD’s Interior Design Department and the School of Architecture, Art and Design (SAAD), the challenge is embedded within the IDES 392 Smart Design course. It has been co-developed by Dr. Annamaria Lambri in collaboration with the Lamborghini Abu Dhabi & Dubai team, and is mentored by Professor Lambri and Dr. Poupak Parvaresh alongside industry experts.

This year’s brief invites students to conceptualize and design an exclusive Lamborghini Lounge that integrates a car personalization experience and the display of a Lamborghini vehicle. Participants are encouraged to interpret and translate Lamborghini’s distinctive brand values—innovation, performance, and luxury—into a cohesive spatial design concept.

By bridging academic learning with real-world industry collaboration, the challenge offers students hands-on experience in designing for high-end clientele, while deepening their understanding of brand-driven environments.