How to be prepared as a transport design graduate during the coronavirus pandemic.
Challenging Times
So you've just handed in your final major project and were looking forward to kicking off your illustrious career in the car design field. Maybe you were lined up for an internship at one of the top companies
or you were about to embark on your dream job from the outset. Whatever the case, it may be that these plans have been put on hold or have been eliminated entirely for the time being. Its impacted you, us and the global automotive industry. Though its no news that the automotive sector as a whole is usually one of the first to be affected by economic changes; be it good or bad, keep this in mind.
So what now?
You're probably feeling like you have lost some momentum due to the general climate and conversations, while wondering what to do next, right? During these times where do you turn? Recruiters are all out off the office, design studios shut down and no one to provide any guidance.
Moreover, social media is packed full of daily car design posts only adding to the already mounting pressure of what to do next.
Firstly what you have to understand is that the automotive sector is ever changing and is able to adapt to challenging times. From the fuel crisis in the 70s to the Japanese ecomonic bubble bursting in the late 80s right the way through to the 2008 financial crash. Car companies have adapted their product line-up, staffing solutions and workforce to suit what is required in order to overcome the challenges. Its no different this time, even though this is a black swan situation the industry will recover.
With that in mind, its vital for you as a design graduate to be prepared for when employers begin hiring again. So you might ask; what do I do next? What are my next moves?
5 things to prepare yourself as a design graduate
What do I have control over right now? You have to think about what you can do with the resources that you currently possess and more importantly you have to think about specialising in an area of car design. Exterior design? Interiors? Components, Alias, poly modelling, visualisation or HMI design? You won't be doing yourself any favours by being casual about this, its important that you set a direction for yourself, one which you're truly passionate about. You should be asking yourself; Who do I need to contact, who is in my network that can assist me with some direction and guidance to carry this out? We live in a fantastic time where networking is incredibly easy, you have it right there on your mobile device, linkedIn IG Facebook etc etc. Use it to your advantage.
Momentum & Consistency So you've decided on your design speciality, great! Its time to speak with some people that have been doing this for a number of years in order for you to gain some insight into what that job involves. Not just in terms of a portfolio but also your personal skills for example; on how to best work with modellers, fellow designers and managers. Will you need a deeper understanding of 3D in order for you to better communicate your ideas across to a modeller? Maybe a rendering takes you 3 hours to complete but the company that you wish to work at has a high pressure environment that requires high quality yet quicker looser work to get the job done. Whatever it may be, continue to be consistent in practicing and developing the required skills, surround yourself with the right people and good sources of info.
Social Presence Its nothing new that the popularity of car design has really taken off across social media platforms and if you aren't already, then it's probably a great time to make full use of sites like Behance and platforms such as Instagram to make the world aware of your work. Just be mindful that reposts and plagiarism is highly likely once its online. So as long as you are comfortable with posting with that in mind, just work on building a stronger presence and be open to collaborations.
Going the extra mile In times like these it may be required for you to look further afield in order to gain a place on the career ladder. Domestic companies in your home country may not be in a position to hire any time soon, though all is not lost because International studio experience is an invaluable asset, it shows your ability to sustain yourself in a foreign land while adapting to possible cultural and social differences such as language barriers. This could also ignite the start of a career like you had never imagined and could lead to an exponential growth in your abilities, cultural experience and overall personal development. Consider also design jobs which aren't transport related as it will provide a broader understanding of the design world outside of transportation. Having a working proficiency in certain languages can also boost your chances of being hired by automotive companies as many brands have international studio locations, so learning the local language may be the edge that you require in order to get ahead of the pack.
The Portfolio We weren't going to exclude this vital point, yes it is the key to unlocking many many doors and the one thing which carries a lot of weight throughout your career. There are a lot of great resources online about how to go about compiling your portfolio, but be mindful that there is no 'golden bullet' that will guarantee a job. Its what works for you, what you want to show and what the potential employer is looking for. Just remember, quality over quantity is a mantra spoken by many hiring managers time and again so avoid over complicating it and get someone to critique your work before sending it out.
Final words for this post, be safe and take care of yourself. Your career will kick off if you work smart and work hard. Don't be discouraged by rejection and don't compare yourself to those already established on social media. Have your own views and be bold in expressing yourself in your work. After all, being a creative person does not mean following the herd - finding your way of doing things is what its all about. Best of luck!