Automotive Designer: Duties & Job Market

by Barbara Bellesi

Automotive designers are those individuals who work to develop the appearance and ergonomics of motor vehicles.

Duties of automotive designer

Automotive designers work to develop the design of a motor vehicle in three different areas: the interior, the exterior, and the color and trim. They also work to design any graphics that appear on or in the car, such as vehicle brand logos or symbols on dials and instrument panels. An automotive designer works to not only make a car comfortable and attractive but to make the car as useful and functional as possible.

Where to find automotive designer jobs

Automotive designers can find jobs in the engineering and design departments of automobile manufacturers. Because cars are driven all throughout the world, designers can find work all around the globe.

Programs for automotive designers

Because the majority of work is done on a computer, those looking for careers in automotive design would do well to enroll in an auto CAD (computer-aided design) or drafting programs. Just as an architect builds a house, an auto designer or CAD drafter must understand how a car is put together in order to design it for aesthetic and utility purposes.

Demand for automotive designers

It is difficult at this time to predict the demand for automotive designers in America because of the current economic crisis that has particularly affected the automotive industry. A common sense approach to this dilemma would be to conclude that the need for designers will increase since car manufacturers are in great need of fresh ideas and talent in the hopes that new and innovative vehicles will boost sales.