Design is a key part of the automotive industry, so understanding automotive design trends and how they evolve is vital. Extrapolating these trends and understanding the influences behind them can help car designers deliver vehicles that are on-trend, relevant and a unique selling point for consumers.
New Vehicles
The development of a new vehicle involves numerous design tasks, including the creation of the exterior and interior design. In addition, the vehicle designer has to choose the materials used for various parts of the car, including the engine and the drivetrain.
Automotive Design Skills
To become an automotive design, you need creative talent and artistic ability. You also need to have mechanical knowledge of cars and be able to translate your ideas into sketches and computer-generated graphics.
During your career, you may work for an auto manufacturer or in an independent consulting firm. In either case, you need to build a portfolio that shows off your work and demonstrates your ability to design and style cars.
Your portfolio should include a variety of creative and traditional designs, both hand-drawn and CAD. This portfolio should include paper and digital copies of your work to present to potential employers.
Professional Organizations
You can network with other automotive designers by joining a trade association such as the Automotive Design Organization or Industrial Designers Society of America. Joining these organizations can help you gain contacts and find job opportunities in the future.
Automotive design engineers often collaborate with engineers to ensure the engineering features of a vehicle are developed properly and meet specific client needs. They also create the aesthetic and artistic parts of a vehicle, such as the grilles and headlights.