Automotive Design

The most gratifying feeling is to see your imagination get a shape

Some of them own swanky cars or flashy bikes but all of us gawk at them. You may not possess every model out there but how about trying to designing them? Sounds exciting? Automotive design is the aesthetics of car designing. If you are an automotive designer you get to decide how a vehicle looks on the inside and the outside. 

But this is a field that requires creative genius as only exceptionally unique designs get approved by management. In a highly competitive auto sector a lot of thought goes into launching every single product. To add to the pressure, the designs should also be ahead of the times. Advanced, Pioneering and Visionary – are the three magic words in this business.

What you learn?
Designing here not only involves sketching but assumes an understanding of aerodynamics, engineering and ergonomics. Working knowledge of Maths and Physics is also required. Usually training in automotive design will instruct students in three dimensional representations using cutting edge tools. Automobile engineering includes courses on mechanics of vehicle chassis, internal combustion engine, electrical systems, motor transport affairs, workshop technology, research and design. It also deals with the design, development and maintenance of automobile and retail space parts. A career in automobile designing therefore requires an integrated and holistic understanding of the core sciences and art.

Where you learn?
To become an automotive designer, you would need a degree in Bachelor of Science in Automotive Designing. In India, you can study automobile engineering at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. BTech courses are available to those who have qualified school leaving exams in physics, chemistry and mathematics. In India there are a number of institutes offering BTech, BE and BSc degrees in automotive engineering and designing.  Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal (Karnataka); Noorul Islam University (Tamil Nadu); School of Engineering and Technology (Tamil Nadu); Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Thandalam, Chennai; Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science, (Chennai); Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet; SRM University (Kattamkulathur); Bharath University, Selaiyur Tambaram (Chennai) are some good institutes that require an entrance exam.

India’s only automotive design institute, DC College (Delhi), offers courses of international standard. The institute has a tie up with Italian design houses like Europeo di Design for assistance in styling courses and Polytechnic di Turino for engineering courses. DC College offers diplomas in Digital Modeling CAS (computer aided styling)-ICEM. You have to be a graduate in any discipline to enroll in this one year which has batches commencing every six months.

Where you land?
As a committed automotive designer you could straightway join the research and development wing of a motor company. Dilip Chabbria is India’s leading car designer. Even if you dream of authoring an equally exemplary career as Chabbria, beginnings are often humble. DC College itself guarantees campus recruitment with a minimum salary of Rs. 20,000. Besides, it has already tied up with various national and international companies like Renault, Fiat, Bajaj, Tata, General Motors, Toyota and Ford.

Engineers are also required for supervision, tests of performance and efficiency of engine chassis and transmission systems and other components.

If you have a management degree along with a B.E., then you could also be positioned at the frontline of the marketing department. Furthermore, a doctorate in automotive engineering opens the door for teaching.