How to do to Become a Car Designer
Introduction
Dear friends,
several times I receive questions like "How did you become a car designer? Who told you about the school? What type of difficulties did you encounter?..." and many others that I do not list here.
For this reason I decided to write about my experience.
What did it take to become a car designer? When I was a young boy very passionate about cars I did not have much information about the "how to become a professional in Design field", it was difficult to find the way to know what to do, for example I had no idea about any school or university teaching automobile Design.
At that time some of my school teachers were suggesting to go to Architecture or Engineering university. However; after few visits with a friend I understood that it was not the right way to take. I was resignated to obey to my parents and give it up!
One day I just came across the right car magazine with an incredible article "how students imagine the future of automobiles in California at Art Center College of Design"!
From that day my life changed for the better thanks to my parents' support, too.
When my Life Changed.
I was 19 when I confessed to my father that I wanted to become a car designer. One week earlier I found on a car magazine a great reportage about Car Design and how to study it. All the information I was desperately searching since a year concentrated into a fanthastic article full of photos and useful advices. So I showed it to my parents.
At the beginning my father did not want to listen to me asking me to continue my Economics studies at university. However; after few weeks, several talks, and my mother's action in convincing my dad, my life started seriously to change!
My father told me that I could go study a year the English language in San Francisco, follow a design college to prepare my admission portfolio and try to apply at the Art Center College in Pasadena. He also added that If nothing would have been accomplished I had to return to Italy to get back to my studies.
In September (four months later) I left Italy and I took a plane for my first time full of hopes. It was the 5th of September 1983.
I spent a total of 6 years in USA, when I arrived to ACCD for my entry portfolio admission interview, the committee told me that my works were fine, but I did not have the right school requirements (coming from a foreign country), so the only solution was to go to an American college for 2 extra years!
I did earn my requirements and I was accepted as a full time student at Art Center, I was really happy, I studied hard and being a foreigner it was a little more complicated for me. I worked a lot unless I was out, I did many sleepless nights to finish my projects, I went through real frustration and I also lived amazing moments during my final presentations. I graduated on the 18th of August 1989.
In November of the same year I started to work as designer at Fiat Centro Stile in Turin Italy.
My Design School
Today I am a Designer Manager
Today I am a Design manager in automotive industry with already 29 years experience and satisfied with the fact that all the hard work served to accomplish the goal. I worked, for about 10 years, with some European design schools teaching, too.
I wanted to give back what I have learned in US, I had the chance to meet a lot of beautiful young people with hopes and talent. I tried to help those that did not have the right information giving tips and advices to find their own way to become designers.
The message here is tha you have to fight for it, to be a car designer is not an easy thing. You need talent, strong will to overcome all sort of problems and negative times, you never give up, you must be disciplined. You need a good design school to improve your skills and talent, its cost is an investement on yourself for your future.
The Right Steps to Make
When I am invited for a lecture I often tell about the right steps to make to plan your design student career. It is important to plan it to avoid waste of time and energy.
The design field is very competitive, we cannot find a school just around the corner, and job openings are rare every year. You understand that if you do not make a plan about the right university to choose you risk to fail even before starting.
Let's make the right steps!
Step 1 prepare yourself. Do you draw? Do you paint? Do you feel you have an artistic talent? Do you love designing cars? If so, start putting together your drawing and all materials you made showing your talent and passion. It will be your entry portfolio.
It is important to prepare an entry portfolio it is for your admission aplication. To be accepted by a Design school, you need to prove that you do have the basic requirements to get in. Talent, skills, motivation and passion.
Step 2 select the right school. Today we have more schools than 30 years ago, some are really good and some are just right, some others are really bad (few). Before you decide where to go for a visit make sure you took all necessary information to select at least 3 good ones and try your chance.
Remember that in this case school reputation is the key because it is irelated to automotive companies and a higher rate of employement after diploma.
I wrote several articles about this topic you can easily find here on Hubpages.
Step 3 discipline & sacrifice
The competition among students is very high, every year there are about 1000 students getting their diploma and ready to attack the few job interviews available.
This is the reason I am writing about discipline & sacrifice, because you have to sweat working hard during all school time. Your objective is to improve your skills to exercise your creativity in a professional way. The harder you work the better you get.
The school gives you the tools to exercise and learn, you have to put your daily effort in it.
The final mission is to produce, at the end of your studies, a very good portfolio to seduce those that will watch it (design studios), you can do it following these steps with a strong sense of responsability.
Remember, you are doing it for your future so don't waste the opportunity.
Good luck!
Starting from a simple Car Sketch in Side View
Comments
Hi luciano
Is it possible to work as an automotive designer without a master's degree? Only with an University Degree in Industrial Design?
- AUTHOR
To join design school as soon as possible...no engineering!
What is the right way to become a car designer??
To join design school after completing 12th or complete a mechanical engineering??
- AUTHOR
I guess I already answered to your question in the previous comment ;)
- AUTHOR
Hi SPD is a good school however it offers only a Master program and not a full Bachelor course which means that you can do well only if you already have a base of car drawings with good skills.
Dear Mr. Luciano.
Thank you for sharing with us your inspiring story
However I would like to ask about the spd scuola politecnica di design university in Milan
is it good enough to start my studies and career from there or you suggest a better design school?
And what are the chances to find a job in the same field after graduating from SPD as a master degree holder in Auto design?
Thank you.
Hello, Thank you for sharing us your experience.
I have two questions:
1- Does the university SPD ' scuola politecnica di design' in Milan good? please give me your feedback
2-What are the chances to get hired and find a job in this field after I Graduate for the uni
Thanks in advance
- AUTHOR
Taha to be a designer you need a design school not an engineering school...so or you stop and change or you go to design school after your engineering degree....
Hello sir, I am doing Engineering of Mechatronics. Is it possible to admission in designing colleage after I done my Engineering? I am living in India. My age is 22
hello I am from India,currently I am 18 years old and waiting for my class 12 results.I am very passionate about cars,I want a career in automobile designing but as i belong to a middle class family,my father can't afford me to study abroad so can u pls suggest some scholarship to study in ART CENTRE COLLEGE OF DESIGN ,CALIFORNIA....I also want to send u some of my designs if possible....plsss suggest me
- AUTHOR
Aditya Saraf yes it is possible.
hello,
i study transportation design at IED torino.
is it possible to migrate from one school to other without having to start from 1st year again in different country?
- AUTHOR
You can apply for a car design school at 18yrs old...so for now work hard on your own and follow my blog.
- AUTHOR
ask him! I'll call him and ask for you :)
- AUTHOR
to become a cardesigner is a question of passion and mission...not a question for money!
- AUTHOR
Amit you can enter a car design school starting at the age of 18yrs old. so before then just work hard on your own.
- AUTHOR
I am sorry but car design is an expensive field to learn.
hi...... im 16 years old i have just cleared 10 th bord exams i want designing cars to be my profession ......... what to do ????????
Chris Bangle has said in his book that 'Unless things change, the inevitable future will come for designers'. what does he mean by that?
I have been sketching hard as you suggested. (and its getting better, linework and all)Its gonna take a little more convincing to my parents amd their main question is that am i gonna earn back as fast as i invested in the school? How much do you pay freshmen designers? I am very passionate about working in this field not for the sake of money but for myself. But sooner or later money does come into the equation. Will I earn back what i invested?
hello sir , I am from India. And I am sketching cars since I was in 7th std. Now it has become my dream .Now I have given examination of 10th. but I don,t know. What should i do to become car designer after 10th . sir please ,tell me about it.
hello ! Sir I'm 18 years and car designing is my passion when i m in 6th class but I'm little bit confussed about car designing school because in here all the school are very costly I can't afford that money so will u suggest me is there any school where I can make my dreams true
- AUTHOR
check for indian design school program DSK ISD
#Heads off to you sir your story inspire me hii sir i am17 year and i have a Biig passion about car designing i love cars since i was 4month old but i am little confused about my career reqirementssss and the right design school in india
""@please suggest me Sir
Thank you
waiting for your reply sir#*******
"Thankew sir "
- AUTHOR
in India to become a car designer you have mainly 3 schools: NID, ISD Pune, DSKA
Hello sir i am from india and i want to be a car designer and i m in 11th standard but i m little confused about my designing school Sir please tell me which school i should choose to become a car designe in country like india
Thank you sir for your valuable suggestions.
- AUTHOR
car design is about sketching drawing modeling digital virtual modeling illustrating.....so I would try to apply and see if I am eligible!
Thank u sir....but I too wanted to know will mah designin carrer be affected by my weak studies....??im very good at designing n sketchin but not so good at studies......
Waiting for your replies
- AUTHOR
for car design you have to check IED in Torino!! Or IAAD in Torino.
Dear sir....currently am reading in class XI ...ive inquired in EID milan.italy..is it a good scholl to go with..actually im not so good at studies but I can design cars marvellously....so I wanted to know if someones study is a weakpoint of his carrer rather than his talent in car designing...
Thank you sir
- AUTHOR
Dear Kartik for that you should contact any type of engineering departement of an automobile company.
hey Sir ,
How are you ?
I am a third year mechanical student. Studying in Chennai , India.
For this summer I want to do my internship in any foreign based automobile company in R&D or in design department. I am pretty much good at 3D software like CATIA and ANSYS . Wanted to pursue my carrier in that field.
so, how I can get any paid internship for a month (as the cost for living in foreign is high, its better if i get some finance help). I am eagerly waiting for your reply .
Thank you,
kartik agrawal
kartikagrawal010@gmail.com
- AUTHOR
they are both good..Strate preatty good..
Tell me more about british schools or univesities ? what about Coventry??
or strate school of design paris???
thank you so much for help !!!
- AUTHOR
both are good! you get a job if you are good!
between IAAD and SPD ? what do u recommend ? when leaving the studios of IAAD and SPD, it is easy to get work? Obviously if you are skilled!
thank you a loooot for help me !! =)
- AUTHOR
Dear Martin thank you for your encouragement ;)
About your Master you can check also IAAD design school in Torino it is a bit cheaper and the level quality is the same as the other school.
First, congratulations on work, his blog. I think you give a lot of information that can not be found anywhere.
I am from Ecuador, my family belongs to a middle socioeconomic class.
I have a 3 year degree in industrial design, a superior design institute.
I want to know what school I can go if I do not possess a bachelor's degree. want to directly study the master.
also what is affordable country to live? I actually prefer europe.
I have a good level of design and sketching.
until now my best option is torino ied. however, I'll have to take out a $ 80,000 loan. that's a lot of money. couple pay tuition and living there.
Which do you suguieres me in italy and europe?
thanks for everything!
best wishes
- AUTHOR
yes no problem.
Sorry sir
I am not on facebook. I am following you on google plus,so can I send you through mail?
- AUTHOR
yes to contact me you can find me on facebook it is easy...
Sir,
Will you please see my sketches, if I show it to you?
- AUTHOR
first of all you need to draw a lot to make sure you have excellent skills..you will learn this n school but you need to show your drawing to someone to know if you have talent ...
Thank you sir, I don't have any design degree, am a computer engineer. Will it be enough for me to start a career with just a diploma course and Master? I am a girl, what you think, do girls have chance to build a good career in Car design field?
- AUTHOR
the SPD school is a good one in Italy go and do your best!
Sir,
How is SPD? I just got admitted in SPD milan for one year car design course, as I don't have any relevant design degree I have to first do the one year course and then I will be able to do Master's in car & Transportation design.
- AUTHOR
Sorry I have no idea I know that in those countries you have car design schools: India, USA, Germany, Italy, Sweden, England, Slovakia, Russia, Korea, Japan, China
Sir there is courses in Malaysia about cars . But its not about designing but its about repairing , automotive . I wants to be a car designing where I want to design car . Is any college organising designing car near Malaysia ?
- AUTHOR
Arvin here on hubpages you will find all my hubs that explain how to do.
I'm Arvin and I'm from Malaysia sir . I'm interested in designing car since I was small but I don't know where should I go to study such course. And what are the qualification needed to study car designing . Thank you sir.
- AUTHOR
Yes IAAD in Turin and IED in Turin SPD in Milan italy offer scolarships....check IED because they just launched one online....check their website www.ied.edu
Sir, i belongs to a medium class family. My parents does not afford cars desings school fee. Please tell me some another way to take admission in cars dsn. School. Pls tell me scholarship are available in these schools or not.if yes how can i do apply.?
thanks sir
- AUTHOR
you can google the names....Pune is one city!
for that we have to do engneering or we can apply directly... and also tell me where are these schools in INDIA.... becoz don't know much about them.
- AUTHOR
As you can see from my Hub and other Hubs I write here on Hubpages the best way is to draw start drawing on paper with your hands and pencils...prepare a small portfolio for an evaluation. Visit in India the 3 design schools you have NID, DSK-ISD and DYPDC school.
Get info about how to do visiting their websites and follow instructions. Goiod luck!
sir plzz tell me to what to do for becoming a car designer interior and exterior both i am in class 10th now and don't have any idea for it and living in india and can't go foreign for my studies.. soo the plzz suggest a way the prblem.....
Sir, i want to like contect with you. How can i do this?. And i had send my designs to your facebook .
- AUTHOR
Harsh thank you, on the websites I indicated you will find the list country by country of all car design studios contacts...
Dear sir,I would like to thanks you,You are doing a grateful work, for giving a way to the peoples to show there talent.You are my idol.
Dear sir, i have ask a question from you, how i can show my car designs to car companies. You said to me go to car studio and cardesignnews.com. ,but i can't find my satisfaction answer. Please give me another help.
- AUTHOR
Hi, thanks for reading! You need to plan your school career...I wrote an article about it: https://hubpages.com/art/How-to-plan-your-Design-E...
Hey i really liked uour article !!
I just wanted to know what i should be good at to become a sucessful automobile designer . Im not that good in mathematics !! I have a really creative thinking but its kinda hard to apply that on paper !! Im 14 and i live in india !! Im anxiously waiting for your reaply :)
- AUTHOR
Dear Nivaas, here on hubpages I wrote another article about how to plan your car designer school career..you will find it here on my profile hubs list..
hi bove,my name is nivaas i am studying 12th i am from india i am intrested in car designing i dont no what to do after it sir plz help me ..from my small age i am intrested in car designing plz help me
- AUTHOR
hey just contact design studios...on cardesignnews.com you will find all infos.
Lucian,i am from india,i am doing mechanical engineering. I have great passion about car designs and sketches..i am making car desings when i was 10 years old.i make my own desings..i want to show my car designs to car companies.please help me how can i show my car designs...
Hiii luciano again....
I've messaged some more sketches on fb...plz check it......
- AUTHOR
ok I'll check!
Hey luciano ..I've messaged my designs on fb page ie luciano bove car designer...plz tell me whether I've the potential to be a car designer..
- AUTHOR
generally you send it to me few sketches and I tell you what I think...or you can post it on several car design fans FB pages...
hey luciano again...how can I know that there's talent in me to design cars...can u sugest some site where I can post my designes and say abou it....
- AUTHOR
Yes no problem with this plan.
- AUTHOR
Hi read my articles you discover how..
- AUTHOR
Hi I am sorry but the only way to become a car designer or a designer is to get a design diploma or BS in a design school.
Hey luciano....I'm studying in class 11th now...I've a doubt of how to guide my career to be a professional car designer...I ve also recently participated in the dypdc contest 2014....I think I may go to dypdc institute after 12th and then to abroad...would it be correct....
hi friends this is mujju & i am from india. Am in class 10th now. my aim is also to be a car designer but i dont have any idea. so can you give me some tips......
lucian , I m from India i have a great passion in designing and sketch. I can design any car ,bike,truck by seeing it just once and my own thinking of design is the best. U can seen at my Facebook account@ Krüñäl Präjäpäţ and also my page Krunal Prajapat. I want to go in DYPDC but its fees are very high for me n my parents. Please guid me what shal i do . I have also done AutoCAD. Please suggest me ....plezz
- AUTHOR
Hi, if we talk about best car design schools for me...I would say Art Center college of Design in Pasadena (my school) and CCS in Detroit. However in Europe you have UMEA in Sweden, Coventry in England, IED and IAAD in Italy, Strate College in France....
hello sir i want ask that which institute is best for car designing
and how much is the possibility of getting a job
- AUTHOR
Hi, digital modeling is not car design ! It is a professional activity related to car design.
High ,
Sir This year I've completed my Automobile Engg. diploma . Now i want to enroll in DYPDC For ' PG diploma in Digital modeling ' .
Sir i'm passionate about sketching cars from childhood . All i wanted to do it as a professional . Is PG diploma enogh ? Suggest me.
I would had but its too costly for me..
- AUTHOR
I would start at DSK and at the end of your course I will go for a master in Europe! Do not wait!
Bonjour Sir, first of all you have been an inspiration and your articles been so helpful.I want to your for an advice , I applied for National institute of Design two times but could'nt make it to final list..they take only 15 people..i had got admission to DSK pune earlier and now in MIT pune..but still i wanna go for NID next year..my parents think im crazy ..i wanna go for higher studies at Pforzhiem ,germany for automobile design..so what you suggest?take admission at MIT or prepare harder for NID next year..im 24 years old..will it be too late to wait a year...
Regards
Ashish
- AUTHOR
Dear Pankaj, in car design you have several different working figures that can be exercised after design school they are:
digital modeler
3D manual modeler
Graphic interior and exterior design
Color & Trim
design manager assistant (planning, budget, project organization follow up)
I am curious to know that if one can get job in car companies other than the car designer if yes what courses are required nd are they available in india?
Thank you very much for the your reply...
Sir I am learning those software by own by refering some books and also working in fuel efficient car project in my college. I need some sort of guidence, which is the best thing to refer so that can get that much perfect , that I can get a job. As I can't afford the study cost for post graduation.
- AUTHOR
Dear Kartik yes there is a future in that definitely. We always are looking for people that love to work with virtual 3D software to make our cars interiors détails and accessories...design schools (also in India) offer a sort of digital design course. Go for it!
Sir,
I am doing mechanical engineering from srm university chennai ,India and I am interested over learning machine designing softwares(modeling software like CATIA, Solidworks , ansys...) and making different designs.
sir i wants to ask that is there any future in that. I am not very much interested in car designing. what I should do to get more professional in that so that I can easily find a job in designing in any company. sir need to work after my b.tech so that I can pay my debts.
- AUTHOR
OK no problem I check my FB page
Mr Luciano...
i cant thank you enough for this opportunity & info that you made available via your hubpage. i've been searching for way; means & info on automotive designing for years already.
over the years, i've compiled so many designs of my own. a range of different types of vehicles for a range of different marques, as well as my own 'brand'. in earlier research, i was able to get in contact with one of the senior managers at a toyota plant in my hometown. it was just an assembly play & i knew it was a long shot, but i really wanted to get into designing & took any opportunity that came my way. but it wasn' to be that one. i was told that my designs would be sent in for "perusal" & that i should get in touch with them again, once i've completed my schooling. i did so & was then told that i have to complete a cad course at tertiary level. unfortunately, it wasn't in my budget.
so life went on & i continued to sketch & design. i can say i've grown & developed a bit over time, but it is all raw & unprofessional (obviously). all the while i have been reading up & researching car designing. trying to find ways to get into the industry, even if it's at the bottom - i don't mind working my way up.
i have, as per your advise, sent you an invite on facebook. i look forward to connecting & communicating with you on this topic. i also hope you can advise me & direct me on the path to car designing. perhaps, in future, you can 'peruse' my deigns & give me some expert advise.
once again, thanks for all the help & info...i look forward to your response & acceptance on facebook.
Thanks Mr.Luciano thanks very much, not only this I will need your advise and help in future so you can send your mail ID to chikuinfun@gmail.com and thanks again.................
- AUTHOR
Dear Chiku, thanks for writing here and reading my articles...in your case you have all the time to plan your school career. In germany there is one of best eruopean school for car design it is : http://www.hs-pforzheim.de/en-us/School-of-Design/...
check it out and plan your mission..check also my blog with tutorials and lots more.. http://www.lucianobove.com/
take care
luciano
hello again Mr.Luciano as you know about me i would like to imform more about me that i am studying ina normal CBSE school in INDIA and i am doing a great research on how to become a car designer and what should we do but i am confused a lot. In India it is a very little scope for designing and i must do my 12th in INDIA but after that my parent are ready happily to send me abroad { GERMANY }. I don't go to any designing school but simply draw my own cars and i will be able to take any class only after class 12th............. please help me, i need your help sir....
Hello Mr.Luciano i read about you nd felt great and relaxed i want to tell you that i am 13 years old and want to become a car designer. I have been designing cars sinces i was 8 years old. What should i do ?
- AUTHOR
No you do not have to do Engineering! You need a design college in order to become a designer. So go straight to IED for your application.
Hello Mr.Luciano.I'm doing my 12 grade;nd ihav a great passion for designing.How do i start my college?Can I directly apply for a designing course(i'm trying fo IED) or shud I do any college like engineering before this?Kindly explain d steps..
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