Automotive News

Posts Tagged ‘computer’

Envisioning the Open Road: Automotive Designers Creating the Cars of Today & Tomorrow

By Damian McKnight
Designschools.com Contributing Writer

It can be argued that no design career is sexier than that of the Automotive Designer. Today’s designers embody the styles and culture of today while contouring the style of tomorrow. They utilize product design principles and emerging technology to create commercial, yet innovative, designs for new automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, buses, coaches, and vans. Often working in tandom with a large team of engineers, designers work to ensure that their concepts are appealing to consumers, can actually lead to functioning automobiles, and are environmentally friendly and affordable. Not to mention…..sexy.

History

In the United States, automotive design reached a critical juncture in 1924 when the American national automobile market began reaching saturation. To maintain sales, General Motors pioneer Alfred P. Sloan Jr. suggested annual model-year design changes in the hope that car owners would want to buy a new replacement each year. His strategy succeeded and was later adapted by rest of the industry.

The most celebrated American auto designer is probably Harley Earl,who brought the tailfin and other aeronautical design references to auto design in the 1950s. Earl is joined among legendary auto designers by Gordon Buehrig, responsible for the Auburn 851 and iconic Cord 810 and 812. Another notable designer who had a markedly different style was Chrysler group’s designer Virgil Exner, an early pioneer of Cab forward (a.k.a.Forward look) design in mid-1950s. Exner is also credited with introducing the pointed tail fins in the 1956 Plymouth Belvedere later adapted by all other Detroit studios.

The Work

The tasks of a car design team are usually split into three main aspects: exterior design, interior design, and color and trim design. Graphic design is also an important aspect of automotive design; this is generally shared amongst the design team as the lead designer sees fit. Design focuses not only on the isolated outer shape of automobile parts, but concentrates on the combination of form and function, starting from the vehicle package. Here is a breakdown of the design elements:

Exterior Design: The stylist responsible for the design of the exterior of the vehicle is the one who develops the proportions, shape, and surfaces of the vehicle. Exterior design is first done by a series of digital or manual drawings, and clay (industrial plasticine) models are developed from those drawings. 3 and 5 CNC Milling Machines are utilized in creating the clay model of the final design.Even in modern times with 3d software and virtual models on powerwalls, the clay model is still the most important tool in evaluating the design of a car and therefore used throughout the industry. The data from these models are then used to create a further mockups of the final design.
Interior Design: The stylist responsible for the interior design of the vehicle develops the proportions, shape, placement, and surfaces for the instrument panel, seats, door trim panels, headliner, pillar trims, etc. With the interior, the emphasis is on ergonomics and the ultimate comfort of the passengers. The design process with the interior design of the car is the same as with exterior design (sketch, digital model and clay model).The aesthetic value of the interior will need to correspond to ergonomic functionality and utility features as well. In particular, vehicular electronic components and parts will give more challenges to automotive designers who are required to update designs based on the latest information and knowledge associated with emerging vehicular gadgetry, particularly dashtop mobile devices, like GPS navigation, satellite radio, HD radio, mobile TV, MP3 players, video playback and smartphone interfaces.
Color and Trim Design: The color and trim (or color and materials) designer is responsible for the research, design, and development of all interior and exterior colors and materials used on a vehicle. These include paints, plastics, fabric designs, leather, grains, carpet, headliner, wood trim, and so on. Designers work closely with the exterior and interior designers and draw inspiration from other design disciplines such as: industrial design, fashion, home furnishing, architecture and sometimes product design.
Graphic Design: The design team also develop graphics for items such as: badges, decals, dials, switches, kick or tread strips, liveries. Concept sketching
Clay modeling
Class A surfaces
Scale model creation
Prototype development
Computer-aided design
Computer modeling
Powertrain engineering
Manufacturing process design

The Development Process

Includes the following steps:

Education

Automotive design is practiced by designers who have art backgrounds and degrees in industrial design or transportation design. Careers related to Auto Design include product design, automotive engineering, and electrical engineering. Successful designers need to be creative and should have strong math, drawing, and science skills. They must also have strong skills in computer-aided draftingand communication.

Since Automotive Design is a very competitive field, a high level of academic achievement is beneficial when looking for an entry-level job. Courses such as industrial design, electrical engineering, mathematics, environmental science and computer-aided drafting are often required for designers looking to break into the industry. An automotive engineering degree program can provide simulation training and hands-on experience in the field. An internship or work study program is often a necessary component of many automotive engineering colleges, and this can provide immediate job placement after graduation.

The following schools of higher education are recommended:

Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA
Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA
The Art Institutes
College for Creative Studies Detroit, MI
Humber College Toronto, Canada
Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI
Pratt Institute New York, NY
Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta, GA
University of Cincinnati – School of Design Cincinnati, OH

Outlook

Despite the stagnant growth of the automotive manufacturing industry, careers in automotive design is still projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. There is still a high demand for skilled engineers who specialize in technology and computer-aided processes and a focus on an increasing fuel-efficient economy offer valuable opportunities for a successful automotive engineering career.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that starting offers averaged $48,585 for those with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. However, salaries for car designers varies greatly depending on experience, employer and location.

Article also available at http://www.designschools.com/careers-jobs/automotive-designer.html

TV’s “Tool Man” had the word, and the word was “power.” That’s what owners of vintage muscle cars want in their classic machines, and that’s what they can get with crate engines and automotive engines from Auto Parts Fair.

For the uninitiated, a crate engine has been constructed by a performance shop or company using mix-and-match parts. These parts are tooled to a vehicle’s original manufacturer tolerances or better, especially when it’s a muscle car. The mission behind this method is the Holy Grail of automotive engines: Performance.

Auto Parts Fair welcomes customers seeking crate engines, both for their performance capabilities and for their competitive value in comparison to the cost of a new automotive engine direct from automobile makers. Crate engines are put together by experts from all the best parts with extreme attention to detail. Engines arrive assembled or ready to assemble. Such automotive engines won’t be as cheap as if the customer went searching through the junkyard himself for the parts, but it won’t be as messy, either.

Still, it can be as frustrating as a trip through the automobile boneyard to find reliable crate engines, or even good automotive engines. Here’s where Auto Parts Fair can help.

Auto Parts Fair operates in cooperation with a national network of auto parts suppliers. That means that its online store has access to some 4 million auto parts. In this way Auto Parts Fair takes the hassle out of finding automotive engines for Hyundai or Honda, Saab or Subaru, Nissan or Toyota through its comprehensive online catalogs. Customers can save both money and time by using Auto Parts Fair’s online store, which is built with the customers’ priorities in mind.

Buyers go quickly through a simple step-by-step process as they search for the right engine, whether it’s Audi automotive engines or Corvette crate engines. Auto Parts Fair’s home page features some of the recent most popular purchases in a picture directory, so if the right automotive engine shows up there a purchase can be practically point and click.

There’s still no problem if a more detailed search is needed. With the superior organization of Auto Parts Fair’s online store, customers can click through the online store’s menus in seconds to find what they’re seeking. If what the customer wants happens to be quality used automotive engines, Auto Parts Fair has an entire section devoted to good used parts.

Auto Parts Fair’s warehouse pricing on automotive engines and crate engines – sometimes as much as 70 percent off recommended list prices – is backed by a 100 percent customer satisfaction guarantee. Warranties on auto parts range from 12 months to a lifetime depending on the part. Buyers won’t ever lose money on quality crate engines and automotive engines when purchasing from Auto Parts Fair.

Furthermore, every transaction is safe and secure at Auto Parts Fair, which uses McAfee computer security software to guard against cyber thieves. Privacy and security in online purchases are assured at Auto Parts Fair’s online store. Friendly and reliable customer service representatives who can answer questions are available also by telephone or email daily.

Yes, the word is power, backed by price and performance. Auto Parts Fair gives its customers all three advantages when it comes to shopping online for the best in automotive engines and crate engines.