Car design is harder than I had thought... help please

originally the fins were taller than the roof................they "dialed" them back once reason seemingly prevailed
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nice "reprint/redo" of an older interview with Bill regarding the design of the '68 GTO & the '70.5 Firebird/TA.


http://deansgarage.com/2012/an-interview-in-2000-with-bill-porter-about-pontiac-design-in-the-60s/

 

not picking on GM, but an interesting perspective in this article

http://jalopnik.com/5933111/how-gm-kills-innovation

 

This weekend will be interesting.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120809/AUTO0103/208090440/1527/AUTO0103/Akerson-blasts-media-leaks-asks-integrity-meeting-GM-employees

 

yikes ...sounds like many unhappy people over there

 

Any stories on what really happened to force Lyons out?

Jeff

 

a couple of vids ...they sure like to talk up thier products a bit much, but there's lots of good images within

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTgoj6SNfVc&list=PL01DAB8841968B830&index=41&feature=plpp_video


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsI1ebOvfVM&feature=bf_prev&list=PL01DAB8841968B830

 

been enjoying the sketch fighter 2012 series (on 4th now) ...maybe making it 48hrs vs. 24hrs would get more submissions, but fun none the less!

http://cardesigncommunity.com/forum/Sketch-Fighters/Sketch-Fighter-2012

 

yes,they've been getting some great entries on that site

 

A while ago, someone recommended H*Point, the Fundamentals of Car Design & Packaging, a book that introduces readers to the relevant fundamentals in an accessible, thorough manner.

Has anyone leafed through other DesignStudio Press offerings?

What about books and DVDs by Scott Robertson?

My thanks in advance.

 

I believe it was earlier in this very thread,but yes I highly recommend the H Point book.
I require it for my Senior Class.Well written by an Art Center Prof.

I've got the Scott Robertson books & I would say they are good for rendering techniques,but are less "technical" than the H Point book.The other books from the Design Studio Press are also rendering oriented and are great for the guys/gals that work in the movie biz to use as rendering examples and Syd Mead type futurism concepts.
Like a lot of things......depends on what you're looking for and what you intend to do with them.They are beautiful to look at if nothing else.

 

^^ great info John, thanks ...can i ask, is there a required reading list for say 1st year students, and for your seniors? i'd be keen to read through what's recommended

...personally this is a great help, since i can't/don't want to buy a huge library, but do want to acquire some most essential books

here's one i'm curious about, have you guys read through this?
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the title on this one always makes me laugh.How to Illustrate & Design Concept Cars? Seriously?
How would they be any different than designing a production car??

Anyway,I would give that particular book a B-. It's just OK IMHO.
In my opinion,a much better book is the "How to Design Cars Like a Pro" book.Much more comprehensive analysis of the process.



HOWEVER,I need to add,there is no book on the planet that will "teach" you the basic fundamentals. That will only come from practice,practice,practice!!!!
You have to draw all the time.Take a sketchpad to a local car show or airplane show,or even a parking lot.Sit in a comfortable chair and draw the cars as you see them.Over & over.From different angles and different eye levels. After doing this for months you will start to get the "feel" for proportion,size,stance,volume,etc.

I'll ask the lower level Profs what books are a part of their curriculum.
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jeremy,

you had previously expressed an interest in the clay modeling process

the attached video is of the summer interns at GM Design.Look beyond the design part,but the sculpting part may show you some techniques:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsuEN57LBS4&feature=g-hist[/ame]

 

thanks John, i was just curious about the book, i try to look through any in advance before any purchase be considered, failing that ask about it's worth

speaking of which, on my buy list is the tony lewin book, there is a new edition version (i believe you pictured both earlier) ....is there much content difference betwee the two?? is one better than the other??


i'm always amazed how fast so many design students can generate good looking drawings!? there must be other tricks & tips to learn about how they do that, like maybe some tracing is used (there single sketch couldn't have come out perfect first try??) and maybe templates for wheel placement at many different perspective angles??

my own ideation illustrating has so much trial/error in it, doing just ink line drawings lately, with the whole packing/moving/unpacking thing going on (everything packed up)
...and i know needs to improve, speed in particular, and so just absorbing all the reference material i can, and practise,practise,practise as you say ...that and learning the computer illustrating will resume after get things unpacked & set up more

i do yes very much so, thank you ....and now will have more space, a room for just artwork, including some beginning of sculpting ....i have on my goals list to practise and better develop my own illustrating skills before tackling a clay model
....trying to find local where correct clay can be purchased, but i think will have to get online? jerry might be good to ask where to get from?

my own process right now is to essentially go through the training steps in sequence, and learn better skills, like a design student would, then when ready to sculpt, have 1-2 of my own more developed designs to use
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You should probably invest in a set of ellipse guides for drawing wheels/tires.You can find them online.

You're correct,what some people do is draw then trace to make corrections.But many designers get the basic car right on the first shot,then do the design iterations.Whatever works for you.

 

i do, bought a few more actually (also packed still), just a pic of freehand sketching, more involved renderings is my next step, with office set up and materials out to do so

what can you say about the two editions of tony lewin books? thanks

 

I think I only have the black cover edition.
I'll check

 

How old are you Jeremy?

I ask so I can know how to recommend learning.

At first blush I'd recommend you follow the above advice and draw, draw, draw! The reason those guys can draw excellent looking sketches is they've put in the hours so that its second nature. You have to each that level so you can then focus on design instead of drawing.

I use to fill every minute I had drawing. Anytime I picked up a pencil or pen I'd do hundred of ellipses focusing on major/minor axis so that it became second nature. I never used an ellipse template unless I was doing a finished rendering.

A quick crit of the above sketches is to focus on drawing FORM not lines. I can tell by those sketches that you are trying to define your forms linearly by using hard edges. You need to really study cars and see the subtly forms. Try loosely sketching with the side of your pencil to softly define form. Then go back and use the tip traditionally to define hard surface edges meeting or to emphasize body lines/graphic breakups.

Something I'd highly recommend is to practice figure drawing every chance you can. The best car designers are excellent figure sketchers because the soft definitions of the human body and muscle is very similar to a car.

I'm rambling so I'll stop. Give me more info and I'll try to offer some more specific info.

 

oh, not young enough to enter design school now LOL

those are poor examples, just 2 minute doodles (no one seems to jus doodle anymore?) ...very different from when i sit down to do something proper ....i just finished moving so once i have my drawing/art room setup, will be able to get into that again properly!

was just pointing out how the "sketchs" you see online by design students/pros, just seem so polsihed, that i don't quite believe they are thier "doodles" if you know what i mean

for my own self, after having a 12+ year gap in doing artwork, i'm gathering info & making myself practice from basics, my notion is to train myself in a more formal anner than in past being just self taught
i'll shoot you a PM

 

oh, i didn't realize, okay thanks John ...i was just curious between the two
going to buy a couple of books, one being the h*point book that you & scuderiawithstickplease pointed out

 

OK I guess I lied.....I do have both editions
the black cover is from 2003 the white is from 2010
just a quick glance through,I'd opt for the later version......7 years is a long time in the biz
later when I get some more time,I'll look more closely at each one
sorry for the confusion.................have way too many books in too many different places

 

that's cool, thank you for checking, the later edition it is!

 

e-mail me your new address and I'll send you the 1st edition..............I realized I have 2 !!

then you can decide if you need the latest edition

 

sorry John, i didn't see this right away ....i got something to send to you once it's finished, i'll send my new addy with it! hope you guys are enjoying ths summer!