QUESTIONS

After a bit of a delay, we are now pleased to kick of our questions feature. The first question to be answered comes from Matt in London UK.

I am thirteen and am wondering......

A..    What should I do now to become a car designer?
B..    Can I become a car designer now (if not now, then when)?
C..    What products should I buy to improve my designs?
D..    Are software products worth it?
E..    How do I get my drawings published?
F..    Have you published any books about industrial design?
G..    At what age did you realize you wanted to design automobiles?

And is answered by Allan Macdonald, a designer from Volvo Truck corporation.

A.. Your ability to draw is the most important skill you can have as a designer. This skill goes hand in hand with the ability to visualize three dimensional objects in two dimensions. Because of this it is very important that you continually try to improve your drawing. Whilst it goes without saying that you should practice your car sketching ability, many trainee designers also join drawing classes. During my studies for example I joined an abstract art drawing class. This helped teach me the importance of visual balance and proportion. Many designers also join still life drawing classes. By training your drawing ability early you will find it easier later in your development as a designer to express your thoughts and ideas to others.

B.. Generally it is required that a designer has a degree in his chosen design field. The time you spend studying will put you in direct contact with other potential designers, many of whom may be more talented than yourself. Within this environment your design and drawing skills will improve a great amount. You will also learn the basics of many other design related subjects such as engineering, manufacturing, production, aerodynamics and marketing. Using these skills you will be able to put together a strong portfolio of work. This will demonstrate your drawing skills, your ability to think in three dimensions, your creative thinking ability and your knowledge of production reality. Once you have a folio demonstrating these skills you will be ready to start applying to potential employers. You may however, if your skills are of a high enough standard, find a design studio willing to give you a short term placement. Before sending your work to a studio however, it is advisable to speak to your Art teacher, or a Transport design Lecturer for guidance on your folio.

C.. As said in the answer to question A, it is your drawing and design skills which are desired most. Theoretically these could be displayed using nothing more than paper, pencil, pens and coloured markers. With these basic tools you will be able to design, draw and present your ideas and thoughts. Only once you are fully proficient with these tools will it be of real benefit to you to learn how to use other (usually more expensive) tools of the trade. Investing a little money in some good quality artist equipment and practicing your drawing ability will set you in the right direction, giving you a good base to your subsequent skills. You may want to purchase some marker paper (which does not allow markers to bleed), and a selection of marker pens (copic or AD Chartpak are popular). When buying markers I would recommend a selection of greys (light, medium and dark) and a few colours (light colours). You will be able to use the grey markers to extend the tonal range of your coloured markers.

D.. The answer to this question obviously depends on what you can afford. It may be useful to try the software of friends and colleagues before making any purchase decision. You should also check to see if the software you desire is available in a limited function version. These cut down versions are designed to appeal to students and amateurs who may not need the full functionality of the Pro versions, and cost a fraction of the price. Photoshop elements is a good example of such a program.

E.. I am not sure what exactly you mean with this question. I will assume however your desire is to see your designs and drawings in print, or some kind of public display. To get your designs into print they will have to be very good, or perhaps newsworthy in some kind of a way. It may be worth writing to your local newspaper who could be interested in writing a feature on a young and upcoming car designer from the local community. If your rendering skills are very high you may also be able to have some work featured in the auto press. It is not uncommon for design students to work for the auto press, providing artists impressions of as yet unveiled cars and products. An easier option however is to submit your work to websites such as this one, or the very popular www.cardesignnews.com On the home page of this site for instance we intend to feature work from amateur students around the world.

F.. Currently I have three tutorials featured in the STUDIO section of www.cardesignnews.com Two of these tutorials have also featured in How to Design cars like a Pro, by Tony Lewin. After the success of these articles I decided to set up this website as a place for student designers to find helpful information and tutorials. Currently I have no plans to publish any further work, and intend to concentrate my time on ensuring DesignerTechniques becomes the leading car design tutorial site on the web.

G.. My decision to become a car designer came very late in my school studies compared to many of my colleagues. I was in my final year of high school before it even occurred to me that car design was a viable career. Because of this I had take a year out of education after finishing school in order to work on my folio. To read my full story click here