johnnymk

I have almost completed Autocad 2002 at the local tech school. After seeing the prototype futuristic cars in the magazines and many of the newer car styles, I am beginning to believe that programs like AutoCad have something to do with the choppy, unrefined look of many of them.
People who rely on programs have limited creative abilities. They can only copy and paste things together and hope that the end result is appealing. I am certain that today's stylists also are able to draw freehand on paper, but I am really beginning to wonder.
And finished designs on paper only go so far.
I don't think that styling studios at the manufacturers build half scale models like they used to. Hopefully, with a large model, you can get a good feel for how a certain design will appear at different angles. Of course, even with that practice, there have been some hideous designs in the past.
Look at the newer Ferraris. Enzo would turn over in his grave if he saw them. I will bet you that they were designed on a computer, but I could be wrong.
Another thing: If the stylist or group of stylists don't have the touch or the feel for a beautiful design, then, obviously the end result will show. This has always been true in every form of art.

SnowSurfer

the new ford mustang isnt coming out till 2004/2005 and they have a built prototype of it...the concept pictures do nothing for me...i want to see an actual car before i draw a conclusion

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johnnymk

And what is amazing is the design is nothing more than a '69 or '70 with a few minor changes....it just proves my point.

ArkiStan

There is much more to the endless cosmos of computer graphics than the tiny spec of dust that is AutoCAD. You'd be surprised at what computer applications can do these days. I think graphics applications have developed to a level where they no longer hinder the artist's ability to express his/her artistic intentions to full effect.

How can you even say "people who rely on programs have limited creative abilities" and that "they can only copy and paste things together and hope that the end result is appealing?" I think the boxy unrefined looks of cars these days is just a result of a repeating trend. They look like that cause the designers want them to. Spend a couple bucks at your local blockbuster, rent toy story or final fantasy and we'll talk again.

attgig

werd...

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Tommy Boomfiger

the enzo was probably designed on a computer, but it was designed for performance and aerodynamics more than looks. i happened to see on day before yesterday and it looks soooooooooo much better IRL than in pictures. i was amazed, i couldnt even recognize it.

Tommy Boomfiger

i saw the concept of the mustang and the gt40 at the chicago auto show as well. the mustang is much bigger than the old mustang its based off of, but the interior still looks very cramped. i did like it though, better than the pics but the rear end still looks bad.

Jihforce

I agree with the fact that people who rely one programs tend to limit their cretivity in the sense that they only do what they know about the software. Not what you can come up with. However, I disagree with the fact that people just simply copy and paste. People who copy and paste aren't designers, they are people who think they are.
All industrial designers are required to know how to hand draw different perspectives of the product they are designing. They are also required to color it properly and taking in consideration lighting and shadows. Not only that, they are supposed to be able to do this in a matter of minutes, not hours.
Designs in paper do only go so far because they are concept sketches. Design is a development on an idea. The first proof is never the final proof. Its an ever evolving process until it becomes a final product. Technology is just a tool, nothing else.

I believe that they still do. At the Art Center in Pasadena, students are still learning how to design cars that way. You really cannot get away without creating a scaled down model. Even the movie industry does this when they create creatures in 3D. There's no way to visualize what you're building in 3D space if you don't sculpt it.
I believe Pininfarina (http://www.pininfarina.com/) are the folks responsible for most Ferrari designs, am I right? Anyway, you can't compare them with guys at Ford or GM. They don't design cars for the general public so there are less factors to consider when finalizing the design.

Anyway, just my 2 cents. I took 2 years of Industrial Design using Alias|Wavefront Studio Tools. Mainly used to design 3D concept models for CAD output. I think its by far one of the most gratifying profession in the Design field.

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johnnymk

I didn't imply that AutoCad was the only program that exists.
I know that there are other more exotic programs out there that would probably blow me away.The copy and paste analogy was a tongue-in-cheek comment. I know that the potential is there to design really stunning cars and trucks, but when I look at the prototype show cars that are in various car magazines, there is always that cheap, amateur, toy-like appearance. It seems like the ones that appeal to most people today, and I could be wrong about this, are the retro-look vehicles.
Regardless, I am totally unimpressed with both the traditional and the futuristic designs which are coming out of the automotive field. I believe that they can and should do a lot better than what they have been doing, considering all of the tools at their disposal.

bachviet

I don't think car companies use AutoCAD to design cars since it is not a very good 3D solid modeling software. Most companies use ProE to design!

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Jeffbx

Autocad is more on the architectural & 2D side of things... there are much more advanced 3D packages for car design - SDRC/PLM, Catia and Parametric ProE, to name a few. Autocad is a good place to learn the basics before you move on to a more advanced CAD program.

I think it just boils down to crappy choices on the part of the auto execs. There are a ton of great designs that are proposed every year, but only a very small percentage make it into production, and most of those are minor updates of old designs. However, I agree that some of the stuff hitting the roads today is horrible. The new Cadillacs are especially hideous.

Fortunately, there are still companies that place a great deal of thought into the design of the cars, rather into the marketing. The German manufacturers seem to be much better at this than the Americans or Japanese.

Tommy Boomfiger

i agree but with the exception of designer chris bangle

SnowSurfer

who is chris bangle again?

Cantacuzene

The american tool who is the head designer for BMW now. With credits such as the 745li and Z4 under his belt. He is a disaster.

johnnymk

True.. BMW took a mildly poor design and made it mildly grotesque.

SnowSurfer

oh that a-hole...i thought his name was something else...silly me