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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

Its Monday again and the weekend is over. How was this weekend for you and did you drive a lot? Was it a smooth drive or you faced some problems with the brakes of your car. You must have felt the change if you have followed the DIY tips to change your car’s brake pads.

Brake system form an essential part of an automotive engine. Regular maintenance and check of car brakes is very important in order to ensure your safety on road. There are a number of problems that you might have faced with car brakes. Lets discuss some of the common ones.

Wear of the Brakes – One of the most common problem is the wear of car brakes. This is obvious and natural coz auto brakes are frequently used and do a lot of work. The brake pads of your car are consequently working hard as well. This leads to the wear of the brakes.

Squeaking or Grinding – Excessive usage of brake pads leads to their wearing down. You might notice brake problems like squealing or increased stopping distance. Most of the cars have brake pads with a thin metal tab. When you brake pads wears down, this tab vibrates against the rotor which might damage it.

Sounds of Wear Indicators – At times, the dust of brakes can be the reason behind some kind of sound or squeaking. This is a minor problem with the brake system and you can easy do without it by cleaning the dust. Using a brake cleaner spray is an easy way to do so.

Rotors Might Warp – Often, you yourself must have felt the problem of facing warped rotor or heard you neighbour facing this problem with his new car. Warping of rotor is a common problem which might happen because of overheating. The other reason for warped rotors can be incorrect tightening of the wheel.

Thin Rotor Wrap Easily – I have heard a number of car users facing warped rotors problem with their new cars. This is so because the he new cars have thin rotors that get warped easily. This problem can be rectified by repairing the rotors or by replacing them. Please ensure that you consult an experienced car mechanic before doing so. It is also important that you should understand how brake system work.

Loose Lug Nuts After Repair – This is crucial and can be dangerous also. If you have got your car brakes repaired and the lug nuts are not tightened, it can damage your car brakes. Ensure that the nuts are tightened evenly so that the rotor doesn’t warp. It is important that the care repair mechanic uses a torque wrench.

These were some of the common problems that you often face with your car brakes. A little care and few preventive measures will help you avoid these problems easily. We’ll find out few preventive measures and DIY tips to keep the car brakes and the entire automotive brake system of our car functioning at its best.