| Probably every neighborhood from New York to | | | | just be able to draw a car. They also need to |
| California and Maine to Florida has a kid who likes | | | | understand aerodynamics, engineering concepts |
| to draw cars. And maybe those kids will proudly | | | | and ergonomics. They will be working with figures |
| announce that when they grow up they are going | | | | so knowledge of math and physics is required. |
| to be car designers. For many, that dream will fall | | | | And throughout high school they need to work on |
| by the wayside but for a select few it will | | | | building a drawing portfolio. All colleges require a |
| become reality. In the early mid-forties, Giorgietto | | | | portfolio. And it goes without saying that the |
| Giugiaro and Marcello Gandini were a couple of | | | | better the portfolio, the better the graduate's |
| Italian kids who like to draw cars. Today, they are | | | | chances of being accepted by a prestigious |
| Italy's top designers. | | | | institution. |
| The vehicle designer is responsible for creating the | | | | While many schools offer majors in industrial |
| exterior and interior appearance of over the road | | | | design only a few specialize in transportation |
| vehicles. Generally, these are automobiles but | | | | design, which is the recommended career path |
| trucks, vans, coaches, and motorcycles are also | | | | for future vehicle designers. |
| included. | | | | It is important to make a wise choice of colleges. |
| The designers usually work in teams. One person | | | | One needs to examine the credentials of the |
| does the exterior, another the interior and a third | | | | faculty and the reputation of the courses. Most |
| works with colors, materials and trim. The | | | | important, the institution should have a strong |
| working environment and working conditions are | | | | industry connection. Part-time faculty members |
| pleasant. It is a risk-free career that does not | | | | who work in the industry are of immeasurable |
| usually require overtime or weekend work. | | | | help, in guiding students' work to meet industry's |
| A design begins with a set of digital or manual | | | | demands and assisting them in finding |
| sketches. Once these are approved by | | | | employment upon graduation. |
| management, more detailed drawings follow. Then | | | | Once in college, the students will pursue a |
| clay models or digital models are developed. The | | | | four-year design major. During the first years |
| same procedure is followed for exterior, interior, | | | | they will study drawing and design theory. In later |
| and color and trim design. | | | | years they will concentrate on computing and |
| However the road from car sketches to the | | | | model making. Some schools provide an internship |
| design studio is paved with hard work beginning in | | | | in a design studio during the third or fourth year. |
| high school. Auto design is one of the most | | | | These are valuable since internships are often a |
| competitive careers in the design industry. | | | | direct path to an entry-level job upon graduation. |
| Consequently the competition to gain admission to | | | | However, the job market is much better for |
| the colleges that offer transportation design | | | | engineers than designers. For every vacant design |
| classes is fierce. | | | | position, there are twenty engineering jobs. In |
| Prospective designers need to begin in high school | | | | spite of this, the student with outstanding talent |
| with all the two-dimensional drawing classes they | | | | and creativity will always be recognized and find a |
| can fit into their schedule. But it isn't enough to | | | | niche in the industry. |
