How to Become a Car Designer

A car designer, or automotive designer, is responsible creating innovative, yet practical, designs of new cars. This means, as a car designer, you hand sketch car designs and work with engineers to produce prototypes of the cars before the designs become reality. However, a car design career is extremely competitive. Thus, if you're interested in working in the car design industry, you need to know how to become a car designer.

1. 
   1
   Fulfill post secondary education requirements to enter design school.Typically, schools won't allow you to enter a car design major directly from high school.

   • Complete a minimum year of art and design courses at a college or university. You can either obtain an associate's degree or transfer to a design school after one year.
2. 
   2
   Work on building a portfolio. Design schools often require you to show a portfolio of different car designs to be considered for admission.
3. 
   3
   Obtain a car design degree. A bachelor's degree takes approximately 4 years to finish.

   • Your first year consists of taking general courses like design theory and drawing.
   • You participate in an internship in your third year.
   • You also take advanced car design courses to learn about model making, or creating prototypes, presentation techniques and CAD skills.
4. 
   4
   Secure a car design job.

   • Look online, network with other car designers or enlist help from an adviser to find a car design job.