Automotive Designers

An excellent way to uncover an aptitude for design and to gain practical experience in using computers is to take a digital design course through an art school, high school continuing education program, technical school, or community college. Some community colleges allow high school students to enroll in classes. If no formal training is available, teach yourself how to use a popular graphics design software program.

Summer or part-time employment in an industrial design office, or even at an automotive design firm, is a good way to learn more about the profession and what automotive designers do. Another option is to work in an advertising agency or for a market research firm. Although these companies most likely won't have an automotive designer on staff, they will provide exposure to how to study consumer trends and plan marketing promotions.

Pursue hobbies such as 3D printing, sculpting, ceramics, jewelry making, woodworking, and sketching to develop creative and artistic abilities. Reading about industrial and automotive design can also be very beneficial. Publications such as Car Design News (https://www.cardesignnews.com), Automotive Design & Production (https://www.adandp.media), and Design News (https://www.designnews.com) contain many interesting and informative articles that describe different design products, offer profiles of automotive designers, and detail current trends. Read books on the history of automotive design to learn about interesting case studies on the development of automobiles.