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HOW TO DESIGN
CARS LIKE A PRO - TONY LEWIN
Although featuring some tutorials (including some written by the editor of
this site), this books value comes from its wide ranging look at the car
design world. Read the thoughts of top design chiefs as well as study the
typical working day of a senior Jaguar designer. Subjects also include a
look at world changing concept cars as well as a look at the 50 greatest
designs and designers. If you want a book that will give a complete flavour
of the car design world then this is probably the book for you.
DESIGN
SKETCHING - ERIK OLOFSSON and KLARA SJÖLEN
Written by students of one of the worlds leading design schools this book is
filled cover to cover with tutorials. The tutorials have been contributed by
students of both automotive and product design and as such many different
styles and techniques are showcased. If you are looking for a book that
simply gets straight down to showing how to sketch then this is definitely
the book for you.
HOW TO DRAW
CARS LIKE A PRO - THOM TAYLOR with LISA HALLETT
This book covers most topics including proportion, perspective and colour
theory. Whilst not as slick as some of the titles above, the book is easy to
grasp, and explains things in a very simple manner. The section on
perspective and lighting theory standing out for particular praise. Also
separating this book is its large section on drawing cartoon style cars.
Altogether this book is an easy entertaining read and worth a look.
HOW TO DRAW
CARS THE HOTWHEELS WAY - SCOTT ROBERTSON and the Hotwheels designers
Sharing the same publisher as How to Draw Cars like a Pro, this book also
benefits from a simple easy to read style. As the title suggests the book
takes a look at the very specific subject of Hotwheels style sketching and
rendering. The information and skills taught are still relevant however, and
this book would make an interesting addition to any collection.
The ART STAR
WARS - MARK COTTA VAZ
If you are looking for a book to inspire and motivate you then any of the
Star Wars art books will oblige. Although obviously the book contains no
tutorials, and has little in the way of transport design (unless you count
space ships) the work inside will definitely have you reaching for a pen and
some paper. Once you have become fully frustrated trying to emulate the art
inside the book it is also an excellent coffee table piece.
CONCEPT DESIGN
- H.BELKER, S.BURG, J.CLYNE, M.GOERNER, N.PAGE, N.PUGH, S.ROBERTSON
This book is one of my personal favourites and has proved to be a huge
inspiration. Inside you will find no tutorials, but you will find a diverse
collection of artwork from the seven authors. This includes a fair amount of
transport orientated design and sketching, ensuring you will find something
of interest. As with the Star Wars books, Concept Design will also make a
fine addition to any coffee table.






PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES
-
DICK POWELL
Most aspiring designers are probably
familiar with this book, and for good reason. Although old (it was
first published in 1985) and for obvious reasons devoid of
information on modern rendering software, the book gives one of the most in
depth looks at almost every other aspect of design illustration and
rendering available. Primarily aimed at product designers, us car
designers will still find a wealth of information on perspective, colouring,
presentations and materials. Most of this information still being
relevant even if most of your work is done on screen.

One of the many
questions I am frequently asked by e-mail is what car design tutorial books I
recommend. Although by no means a definitive list, the books that follow
are some of the ones that have made it to my own personal collection.
Featuring old and new books alike, and now even one that contains tutorials that
I have written, they have proved a useful resource over the years. The
reviews that follow, although brief, should give you a short summary of how I
have felt the books have proved useful to me. All the books here can be
sourced from many of the online book retailers with the exception of Design
Sketching which can be sourced from
www.designsketching.com
WEBSITE CREATOR AND EDITOR, Allan Macdonald
page last updated;
2014-06-15
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