How to Become a Car Designer in India? A Complete Guide

Since the beginning of the 20th century, cars have steadily taken over the world. In the past 125 years, they have gone from being a luxury to a necessity. One of the main features behind a Car’s appeal is its design. So, what makes ‘Car Design’ so appealing and attractive to someone?

Cars serve as the perfect example of a blend of engineering and design. To become a Car Designer, one must be acquainted with the functioning and the mechanics of a car inside-out. It isn’t like any other product design, where just the design principles apply.

In India, Car/Automobile Design is a relatively newer course as compared to the Western part of the world. Many colleges also teach courses like ‘Transportation Design’, which goes above and beyond just Car Design. The Strate School of Design, Bangalore is a prime example of that.

The basics required to become a Car Designer are pretty much the same. A student needs to enroll in a Bachelor’s / Integrated Design course specifically in Automobile or Transportation Design. He then needs to learn about car design principles and gain as much knowledge and experience as possible. To become a good designer, a master’s in Automobile / Transportation Design is a must.

What Does a Car Designer Do?

A Car Designer is responsible for the appearance and functionality of a car. Aspects such as how it looks, feels externally / internally, its aesthetics, how spacious it is, and how the design impacts the customer experience.

A Car Designer can either work from scratch to create a new design or develop something new on top of an existing design. In either case, it requires a perfect blend of creativity and consumer needs. Car Design isn’t just about the aesthetics of the car, like color and trim, but whether the aesthetics suit the functionality of the car.

The Car Design process starts with a brainstorming session with the whole team of designers, engineers, and other members. Brainstorming is mainly about determining the ‘pain point’ of a customer. It could either be a desire for a design upgrade or resolving an operational issue via design.

After figuring out the issue that needs fixing or the feature that needs a makeover, designers then make hundreds of sketches to express their ideas. Out of these hundred, only a handful are picked by senior professionals, which are then worked upon. They prepare a ‘3-D clay model’ in a 1:4 ratio. A team of designers and sculptors then work on it until they are satisfied. The design must be effective as well as innovative.

Once satisfied, the model is digitally scanned and sent to the software. After that, designers look for any inconsistency or error that may have remained, to remove them. Then, they make another 3-D clay model, but this time with a 1:1 ratio i.e. Designers are aided by technologically advanced robots in this process.

Once the entire designing and sculpting team is completely satisfied with the final design, they send over the prototype to the engineering team. From then onwards, it is the engineers who bring the design to fruition.

Why Choose Car Designing as a Career?

Car Design, or Transportation Design at large, is a viable and fruitful career option in the future. It is a high-paying job with an added esteem associated with it due to the nature of the work. Its high-end customer base also makes Car Design a desirable occupation.

There are multiple reasons to become a Car Designer. From the market size to the growth in the industry to the actualization of one’s passion-filled dream, here are some of the reasons listed below:

1.    Expanding Market

It is a large and dynamic field, one that improves upon existing features such as retractable roofs, windshields, scissor doors, etc. as well as work extensively with new emerging trends such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Trucks, Last Mile Delivery, etc.

2.    Industry Growth

The enormous market size of cars/automobiles is estimated to grow even further at a 7.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). By 2030, the valuation of the automobile market is expected to be $3969.84 billion. This would ensure that jobs keep expanding in this field of work.

3.    Cool Technology

Car Designers get to work with some of the cutting-edge technology as part of their occupation. They also get to work with some of the latest trends in the world of technology. They utilize it to come up with design solutions such as sustainability, aerodynamic design, simulation tools, etc.

4.    Future Opportunities

Car Designers are some of the highly paid and highly sought after professionals.

Essential Skills Needed to Become a Car Designer

To become a Car Designer, an individual requires a wide array of skills. An interest in the mechanics of cars or the working of automobiles is a must.  The other skills a Car Designer should possess:

1.    Problem Solving

A Car Designer needs to be solution-oriented and find the right problem; since that is the epicentre of where their work will begin.

2.    Communication and Teamwork

A Car Designer works as a part of a team. Therefore, one needs to be proactive during brainstorming sessions, present innovative ideas, and put their creative insights on the table.

3.    Creativity

This is the bedrock of being a Car Designer. Most ideas and innovations of a Car Designer will come from their place of creativity.

4.    Attention to Detail

Since car design is a repetitive, multi-step process, it requires thorough attention to extreme detail in a car. The slightest bit of error during the 3-D Modelling might lead to irreparable repercussions.

Educational Path to Becoming a Car Designer

The educational path to becoming a Car Designer starts with passing Class 12 with a minimum of 50% or above scores across academics.

An interest in cars and vehicles would make the journey easy and enjoyable. There are different colleges which offer Automobile or Transportation Design as undergraduate design courses. The 4-year course equips the student with design thinking, and design knowledge required to develop or design an automotive. After that, the individual can pursue a Masters in Automobile or Transportation Design. This will equip them with advanced knowledge about how to be a Car Designer.

For a college like Strate School of Design, Bangalore, where Transportation Design is highly rated, it is industry experts who create the courses and teach the students. This prepares students for the industry demands and what comes next.

What are the Steps to Start Your Career as a Car Designer?

To become a Car Designer, one must start with

1.    Gaining a degree

By pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Automotive or Transportation Design. After that, follow it up with a Masters in Transportation or Automobile Design.

2.    Build a strong portfolio

Besides the certificate of the relevant degrees, building a strong portfolio with projects, workshops, and other experiences that show your design acumen, and experimentations showcases your passion for automobile designing

3.    Internships

Doing internships, working in relevant companies, and taking valuable insights will help develop your career and gain industry insights require to develop your skills

4.    Networking

Building a strong network can open up opportunity windows from many different corners of the professional sphere.

5.    Professional Competition

Participating in as many design competitions would help in building the network. It also helps to improve one’s skill set as you are competing with some of the best designers in the country at these events.

What are the Top Courses for Car Design?

While there are many colleges and Universities that provide an outstanding course in Transportation or Automobile Design, Strate School of Design, Bangalore stands out from the rest for its thoroughly detailed and well-planned course in Transportation Design.

Strate School of Design is renowned for teaching its courses with a few unique touchpoints. For one, it has a French Pedagogy. Its courses are crafted by industry experts, keeping in mind the modern-day demands of the Automobile Design industry. Their faculty strength is also comprised of the same industry experts and not University professors. This prepares students in a much more industry-focused manner.

Here are a few other reasons why pursuing a BDes and MDes in Transportation Design from Strate School of Design should be encouraged:

• Global Exchange Program – Strate provides an opportunity to study in Paris for a whole year in the second year of the course.
• Dual Credential Degree – Students will receive a B. Des degree from Alliance University (NAAC A+) and a Certificate from Strate School of Design.
• Hands On Learning – Strate encourages learning by doing. Its unique teaching methodology involves students conceptualizing, curating, and executing projects in partnership with industry.
• Industry Collaboration – Industry experts visit campus as guest speakers or hold workshops for the students. The students also work on live industry projects with industry experts as their mentors to learn on the job
• Internships – A 4-to-6-month long internship is mandatory for a student to complete the degree. This allows students to put their learning in practical settings and learn from professionals during the project.

Career Paths & Opportunities

Pursuing a course in Car Design or Transportation Design can open up many doors for an individual. Here are a few of them:

• Transportation Engineer
• Automobile Designer
• Civil Transportation Designer
• Automotive Design Strategist
• Interior Transportation Designer
• Roadway Design
• CAD Specialist
• Conceptual Designer
• CMf Designer
• Design Manager
• Ergonomics Lead
• UX Designer

In conclusion, to become a Car Designer, one must start by developing immense passion and fervor toward cars and automobiles, and follow it up with relevant degrees, work experience, and knowledge and insights about the automobile world. Pursuing a Car Design course in India today is far more prevalent than it used to be. Since it’s still a niche course, the fees for pursuing a Car Design course range somewhere between 5 – 10 Lakhs per year on average. Strate School of Design charges INR 6.5 lakhs per year.

However, due to its widespread popularity, it will soon fall out of its niche and become more of a mainstream course. People are far more likely to pursue it given its lucrative career path.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.    What is the Best Degree for Car Design?

To pursue a career in Car Design, you should opt for Bachelor of Design (B. Des) degree in Transportation Design. This is a 4-year course. One can also choose to do a master’s to gain more in-depth knowledge.

2.    Who is a Car Designer?

Anybody responsible for the appeal of a car or automobile, be it external or internal appearance, its aesthetic value, or its functionality, is a Car Designer. A Car Designer not only impacts the beauty of a car but also its efficiency. They work with both Engineering, Sculpting, and Design elements.

3.    What are the Typical Salaries for Car Designers?

The average salary of a Car Designer is INR 570,000 for an entry-level employee. It may vary between 5-10 Lakhs. However, senior designers can earn somewhere between 15-30 LPA.

4.    How Can I Get My Foot in the Door at a Car Company?

After pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Automotive / Transportation Design , one can either join a car company via campus placements; or they can start applying for jobs off campus. In either case, relevant experience, internships, workshops, and a proper portfolio is very important.

5.    Is Car Designer a Good Career?

Yes. Becoming a Car Designer is a good career option. With its dynamic and expanding market size, the demand for Car Design post-graduates, lucrative salaries like 15-30 LPA, and working with both design and engineering principles to create something cool and effective, always makes Car Design a good career option.