Automobile Designer

1. Definition

An automobile designer is a "stylist." They design the shapes of our future cars, taking into account the technical constraints related to their manufacture and operation.

2. Description of tasks / working conditions

The automobile designer is a creative person. Gifted with imagination, they remain attentive to the technical aspects related to automobile construction. In addition to a marked aesthetic sense and mastery of drawing, they possess a good knowledge of the materials used in the manufacture of cars and a good overall vision of industrial processes. The automobile designer must keep abreast of trends and new techniques. They must create visually attractive models, with studied aerodynamics and in accordance with the "company spirit" (a BMW does not look like a Renault!).

The designer is perfectly proficient in various industrial design software programs. For sketches, they still often use traditional instruments, but increasingly use CAS (Computer Aided Styling), a less complex type of CAD (Computer Aided Design), because between the first sketches and the final project, many changes will be made. The drawings are refined and specified progressively with the engineers responsible for the projects.
The designer in the company has an advisory role, but they may also have to work on proposed ideas. If they have to intervene on an already developed project, they imagine and propose anything that could be improved in terms of finishing, from both a technical and marketing point of view.

3. Professional Development

Automobile designers form a "separate caste." If a large manufacturer may employ a hundred or so people (designers, model makers, etc.) in its style offices, only a limited number of them are truly designers and project managers.

4. Studies / Training

There are many schools that provide training in design, but fewer that specifically prepare for the profession of automobile designer.

CIDJ