So, you wanna be a car designer…
Is there a school or academic course for just that in the Philippines? The good news: There is, albeit under a broader name called industrial design, sometimes known as product design. It’s offered in several universities in the Philippines. Here’s the downside, though: You may have to seek further studies in the United States, Europe or even Japan and Korea, if you really want to make a name in this field.
This was what Wini Camacho, styling manager of Mercedes Benz Advanced Design Center of China, advises. He estimated that the annual cost to pursue further studies in the United States—which would include living expenses and school fees—may run to $100,000. The cost would be less in Europe since, as Wini said, “in a lot of European countries, education is almost free if you gain entries, but of course, cost of living is very expensive.”
And if you’re truly persistent, and somehow find a way to finance your studies, the career is financially rewarding. In Mercedes Benz, for instance, the typical starting salary is around 4,000 euros per month (gross). Gain experience, and that could go up to as much as 8,000 euros. Become a design manager, your salary is much higher.
Wini also noted that the industry demand for manpower schooled in the finer points of product design has grown over the years. “Compared to my days as a student when it was really hard to find a job as an industrial designer, there are more jobs available for industrial designers now.”
If you’re really serious in pursuing such a course, and you have the financial means to go for it, Wini recommends the BS Transportation Design course at Art Center California, where he himself studied. “It’s one of the best schools in the world.”
“We have an intense competition between design schools, but the Art Center is the first design school to offer the Transportation Design degree. And they’re best known for it. For so many years they’ve been supplying car designers for all the car industries around the world.”
He concurs that Filipinos have a knack for design. “There’s no shortage of Filipino talent not only in the car design industry but also in other fields, such as entertainment design industry. I’ve met a lot of talented Filipinos.”
Talent alone, though, won’t get you that far. Exposure, Wini explained, is “very important.” And sometimes, you have to take the initiative to “advertise yourself”.
During his student days, Wini drew up design concepts for the Volkswagen Roadster, Callaway GTI, and the Cadillac Lasalle. These designs certainly impressed his would-be employers.
Wini stressed this advice, for any designer to measure up to world standards: “I’m a purist by heart. I relate very well to the Tibetan Buddhist saying ‘Think only of the absolute.’”
