How to Become a Car Accessory Designer

About Car Accessory Designer

One of the very creative and innovative careers in the field of design is that of a Car Accessory Designer. It is a part of the job of an Automobile Designer but caters solely to cars and its accessories. Car Accessory Designers are individuals who create new designs for car accessories and parts. They not only improve the structure of the care but also enhance its functionality. While doing so, a Car Accessory Designer must keep in mind the safety of the vehicle and operate under given parameters. Simply put, Car Accessory Designers are responsible for building good looking and comfortable vehicle parts that appeal to the customers.

Responsibilities of a Car Accessory Designer

Certain responsibilities and duties are to be undertaken by every individual who becomes a Car Accessory Designer. Check the list given below to know the responsibilities of a Car Accessory Designer.

• Drafting designs of car accessory parts, assemblies, and systems using drawings, models and prototypes.
• Primarily working towards improving the visual appearance of the vehicle.
• Preparing designs with details of shape and colours using Computer-Aided Design software.
• Car Accessory Designers work in one of three regions - interior designing, exterior designing or colour, and trim design.
• They must have detailed knowledge about hydraulic, electric and mechanical systems that are going to be used in the vehicle.
• The candidate should understand the complete requirement of the client and research extensively about uses of design and its production.

Eligibility to become Car Accessory Designer

In order to become a Car Accessory Designer, a candidate has to fulfil certain prerequisites. The eligibility criteria for becoming a Car Accessory Designer have been listed below.

• The candidate must have completed his/ her education at least up to the undergraduate level.
• It is mandatory for the candidate to have at least a bachelor's degree in the relevant specialisation of design.
• The university or college from which the candidate secures his/ her degree must be recognised and approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• The candidate should have scored no less than 45-50% aggregate marks in every qualifying degree.
• If the candidate has some prior work experience in the form of internships, he/ she will get an upper hand in the hiring process.

Courses to Become a Car Accessory Designer

Pursuing the correct course for becoming a Car Accessory Designer equips candidates with the required skills and knowledge for the career. The table given below provides a list of some popular design courses for becoming a Car Accessory Designer.

Types of Job Roles Car Accessory Designer

Many job roles are offered to candidates who aspire to become Car Accessory Designers. Some of the most popular career opportunities for Car Accessory Designers have been listed below.

• Associate Car Accessory Designer
• Chief Designer
• Manager
• Prototype Engineer
• Quality Assurance Expert

Pay Scale/Salary of Car Accessory Designer

Car Accessory Designers are paid salaries on the basis of many factors. Their prior work experience, qualification, area of specialisation, etc. are considered while evaluating the pay scale. The employment sector and company in which the Car Accessory Designer is hired is also responsible for their salary amount.

Books & Study Material to Become Car Accessory Designer

Some of the famous books on Car Accessory Designing have been listed below. Every candidate who aspires to become a Car Accessory Designer must go through these books to get an understanding of the career's requirements.

• 'A Century of Automotive Style' by Michael Lamm and Dave Holls
• 'How to Illustrate and Design Concept Cars' by Adrian Dewey
• 'How to Draw and Paint Cars' by Veloce Publishing Limited
• 'How to Draw Cars Like a Pro, 1st and 2nd Edition' by Thom Taylor and Lisa Hallett
• 'How to Draw Cars the Hot Wheels Way' by Scott Robertson

Pros of becoming a Car Accessory Designer

• A Car Accessory Designer is required to have immense creativity and aesthetic skills. He/ she can experiment and utilise the innovations to design masterpieces.
• If the candidate has the right skills, experience, and knowledge, he/ she will definitely bag an appealing salary package.
• As the industry of automotive designing is growing rapidly, Car Accessory Designers get multiple opportunities to experiment with their ideas.

Cons of becoming a Car Accessory Designer

• A Car Accessory Designer is required to be creative continuously which can lead to frequent exhaustion of his/ her mind.
• Car Accessory Designers have a stressful life as they need to meet deadlines and be creative at the same time. At times, it might take a toll on their personal life.
• Unless exceptionally talented, a Car Accessory Designer has to witness slow growth in the automotive industry.