If you’ve got the drive, a career in automotive design is a fast-paced choice that is part engineering, part art and part business. An automotive designer is responsible for designing, testing and developing vehicles and/or components from concept to production. The main activities of the job are design (new products and existing); research and development; and production (planning and designing new processes). A solid technical background including a degree is preferable.
Education Requirements:
Strong math, science, English and technical skills are a good starting point. A Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Design (a branch of industrial design) would be a good step up for this position. About 20 design schools worldwide offer this degree. Many other colleges and universities offer an industrial design degree with the option to stream it toward automotive design. Graduate degrees in automotive design are also available. Internships are important for gaining practical experience.
Job Prospects:
The car industry is international in scope so knowledge of a foreign language or two can be very useful in moving up the career ladder. Automotive designers will typically work in several countries during the course of their career. Employment of industrial designers is expected to grow at an average pace through 2014.
Earning Power:
Average annual earnings for a Canadian auto designer are $42,102.
