Landing Your Dream Ride: A Guide to Automotive Design Internships

For aspiring automotive designers, the path from classroom to car studio can seem daunting. Textbooks and lectures are essential, but nothing quite compares to the hands-on experience gained through an internship. An automotive design internship provides invaluable exposure to the industry, allowing students to hone their skills, build their professional network, and ultimately, steer their careers in the right direction. This article explores the world of automotive design internships, outlining the requirements, benefits, and strategies for securing that coveted spot.

Why Pursue an Automotive Design Internship?

An internship is more than just a line on a resume; it's a crucial stepping stone for any aspiring designer. It's a chance to dive into the real-world challenges and rewards of the profession. You don't just want to sit in university lectures, but want to dive directly into the water?

Real-World Experience

Key to enhancing your time when studying design is undertaking an internship, giving you valuable work experience in a real-life design studio. The experience that you will gain from undertaking internships can be huge. Internships offer a stark contrast to the theoretical learning in academic settings. You'll be immersed in the day-to-day operations of a design studio, working alongside experienced professionals on real projects.

Skill Development

Good interns will be pushed to act just like professional designers, taking early sketches and developing them into final models, working with members of the virtual modelling, 3D milling and painting teams, then being trained to make a full, formal presentation of the idea to the design management, exactly as you would if you were part of the team. Internships provide a platform to apply and refine your design skills, from sketching and 3D modeling to prototyping and presentation.

Networking Opportunities

Networking opportunities are key to a successful experience. Internships provide a unique opportunity to connect with industry professionals, build relationships, and learn from their experiences. These connections can prove invaluable when seeking full-time employment after graduation.

Career Advancement

Ford provides students with hands-on, career-specific experience through full-time work. This is a great platform to connect with leadership, collaborate with professionals in many areas of the business and learn more about our Ford College Graduate opportunities. A successful internship can significantly boost your career prospects, demonstrating your skills, work ethic, and passion to potential employers.

What Companies Offer Automotive Design Internships?

Many major automotive companies and design studios offer internship programs, each with its own unique focus and requirements.

Mercedes-Benz Group

The Mercedes-Benz Group offers many exciting internships and supports you in taking initial steps toward your career: In alternative drives of tomorrow or efficient production, negotiations in purchasing or financing options in fleet management. We offer you the opportunity to get some exciting insights into a global group. The vacancies are generally advertised on our job portal two to six months before the start of the internship. Remuneration depends on the type of internship and on the regulations in the respective country. Mercedes-Benz offers internships at various sites in Germany and abroad. Their internships are typically 10-12 weeks during the summer. During the first week, you’ll attend a new hire orientation program either onsite or virtually, depending on your work location.

Ford

Ford provides students with hands-on, career-specific experience through full-time work. This is a great platform to connect with leadership, collaborate with professionals in many areas of the business and learn more about our Ford College Graduate opportunities. Networking opportunities are key to a successful experience.

Tesla

The Tesla Car Design Internship is available to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in Transportation Design, Vehicle Design, Automotive Design, or Industrial Design. As an intern, you will utilize your design experience and innovative thinking, you will help the team to create designs for future cars. You may also be called upon for other design tasks such as graphic design, product design, etc. based on your skillset. This internship is located in Hawthorne, CA, and runs for 12 weeks.

Other Opportunities

CDN provides global news, insights, intelligence, and connections for the worlds car design community. Their internship and co-op programs provide hands-on experience, meaningful projects, and mentorship from industry experts. Spend 12 weeks with them from May to August, working on meaningful, project-based assignments that align with your field of study. Their year-round internships immerse students in the day-to-day operations of their chosen function. Work up to 24 hours per week during the academic year, with the flexibility to increase to 40 hours in the summer. Their co-op opportunities offer a unique blend of academic learning and professional experience. This program gives college students a unique opportunity to step into supervisory roles within our manufacturing facilities during the summer months.

What are the Key Requirements for Automotive Design Internships?

Securing an automotive design internship requires a combination of talent, hard work, and a well-prepared portfolio.

Portfolio Preparation

By the time you’re ready for an internship - usually at around the halfway point in your course - your portfolio should be in pretty good shape, as we’ve covered in previous features. Obviously, the harder you work, the better and more comprehensive your portfolio is likely to be, so don’t waste your time and keep focused on your target! It’s an essential part of the process, but you will only be eligible for one if you are dedicated to studying a lot and work hard to improve your skills. A strong portfolio is arguably the most important requirement for landing an automotive design internship. It should showcase your best work, demonstrating your design skills, creativity, and technical abilities.

Essential Skills

To be considered for this internship, you should have a strong ability to work on both exterior and interior design, a high level of skill taking 2D sketches to 3D modeling in poly modeling (Alias and clay), possess excellent communication skills, and be self-motivated. Preference will be given to applicants who have technical knowledge of prototyping, manufacturing, and assembly processes as it relates to automobiles.

Sketching: Proficiency in sketching is fundamental for visualizing and communicating design ideas.
3D Modeling: Expertise in 3D modeling software (e.g., Alias, Maya, Blender) is essential for creating virtual prototypes.
Rendering: The ability to create realistic renderings is crucial for showcasing design concepts.
Prototyping: Familiarity with prototyping techniques, such as clay modeling or 3D printing, is highly valued.
Communication: Strong communication skills are necessary for collaborating with team members and presenting design ideas.

Educational Background

The Tesla Car Design Internship is available to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in Transportation Design, Vehicle Design, Automotive Design, or Industrial Design. Most automotive design internships require enrollment in a relevant degree program, such as transportation design, industrial design, or automotive engineering.

How to Maximize Your Internship Experience

You have bagged an internship in a car design studio. The internship is a two-way process too. At Renault’s LCI Design studio, the objective of the internship programme is to enhance the design team’s experience by introducing them to talented students. So how do you go about making sure your internship is a success? The internship should give you the opportunity to show your talent, your design skills, your ability to work as part of a team, and your positive attitude, within a professional design environment. In return, the company will also receive your creativity and ideas, your help, your respect, and your availability to work for the team. An internship has the potential to be a hugely beneficial part of your design studies. As ever, the key to getting one is working hard, getting your portfolio into shape, and being prepared for the challenge ahead. Making the most of the opportunity is up to you.

Attitude and Work Ethic

As you undertake your internship, don’t forget that it’s not just your design skills that are being observed - it’s everything, from your attitude when you walk in the door for the first time, to how you think through problems and how well you work with everyone you encounter, from reception staff to design director and everyone in between. Do not forget that you are still pretty inexperienced at this point, and no-one will be expecting you to get everything right. However, showing that you can learn and adapt from your mistakes straight away is a good way to prove that you are mature enough to be part of the team and capable of taking on tough challenges. A positive attitude, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn are crucial for making a good impression and maximizing your internship experience.

Taking Initiative

Don't be afraid to ask questions, volunteer for tasks, and take initiative on projects. Showing enthusiasm and a proactive approach will demonstrate your commitment and eagerness to learn.

Seeking Feedback

Actively seek feedback from your supervisors and colleagues on your work. Use this feedback to identify areas for improvement and refine your skills.

Building Relationships

Take the time to build relationships with your fellow interns, mentors, and other professionals in the company. These connections can provide valuable support and guidance throughout your career.

The Career of Luciano Bove

Luciano Bove provides an excellent example of a successful career in automotive design.

Early Career

Born in Nocera Inferiore, Italy in 1963, Bove start his car design adventure at Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, aged 19, graduating in 1989.His career started at Fiat in Turin, Italy, where he stayed for 12 years. Here he designed and managed the Fiat Seicento programme from 1995-98.

Renault

In January 2000 he moved to Renault as senior design manager. He still works there today as R&D design manager responsible for new technology design projects.

tags: #automotive #design #internships #requirements