Keen to know more about automotive design? Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions
Are all cars designed by computers these days?
The computer has been a tremendous aid in the acceleration of the design process, but it is nothing more than a tool. The creative process (and creative use of tools) is still firmly in the hands of the designer.
What qualifications are required to become a car designer?
A Master of Arts degree from one of the specialist Automotive/Transport Design courses in Britain, Europe or the USA is generally the minimum educational qualification required.
How long does it take to design a car?
Different companies measure the time taken in different ways. As computer-aided design develops and improves, the time span for design and development is continually reducing. Currently, a major manufacturer would consider 24 months a good achievement.
How many people are on the team that designs a car?
The design team responsible for the appearance of the car alone (exterior and interior) comprises about 10 designers, 16 clay modellers, 10 CAD modellers, 10 fabricators and two administrators – between 40 and 50 individuals depending on the size of the programme. The entire team required to design and engineer all of the systems and sub-systems to get to a multi-derivative vehicle ready for production could come close to 1000.
Is all of the design work done in-house?
For security and continuity reasons, all major manufacturers employ a core design team of full-time employees. In times of extreme workload, contract designers, clay modellers and CAD modellers may be brought in.