LEARN TO BE A CAR DESIGNER! -ESSENTIAL READINGS:
- Car Styling Bimonthly. THE magazine to subscribe to don't let the subscription price scare you, it really is the best and each issue isn't a flimsy magazine, but a book with very little advertising padding.
- Here's a pretty good (though getting dated) article about being a car designer.
- How to draw cars, from an Art Center alumnus, Scott Robertson.
- Art Center, pretty much the best transportation design school. Not so informative site, but has current information on courses and tuition as well as contact numbers.
- The best source for car design news is the aptly titled Car Design News.
GREAT DESIGNERS/ARTISTS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
- Art Center legend, Syd Mead.
- My old roommate, now an entertainment designer, James Clyne
- When I was young I never dreamed that there would have been another set of Star Wars movies being developed about the time I finished Art Center, otherwise, I might have ended up in the film industry. I'm very happy to know Ryan Church, who is doing the Star Wars dream, as a friend and even more pleased to recommend his website.
- AF VK, automotive advertising illustration greats. Online gallery and sales.
- Craig Mullins, digital painting old master.
- Dave Marek, once my teacher, now my boss. Hot rod illustrations.
- GFX Artist is a web community for digital art. Lots of art, some is excellent, though you'll have to wade through a lot of dragons/elves/fairies trash to find the good stuff.
- "The best known graphic designer in the world" and an influence on my own amateur graphic design, Peter Saville. He has his own site started, but as is his typical of his work, it is unfinished and probably will remain so for a long time, so in the meantime, here is an interview.
OTHER ITEMS OF INSPIRATION FOR ME:
- Formula One racing, what other sport would make me get up at five in the morning on Sunday?
- Watch design is fascinating and I have a small collection of some brilliant watch design. Watchismo has some of the best examples of vintage contemporary modern design for sale and for show. Of course one of the best current designers is Bell and Ross.
MUSIC:
Good art pushes the envelope on creates new space. Anything that approaches innovation is ignored by commercial radio and media until it becomes a big enough cult success to merit market exploitation.
The British punk movement of the late seventies helped create new opportunities and outlets for exploration. The US punk movement also helped create a fairly solid independent label and distribution market
so that good music can continue to be produced outside of the corporate music crap industry*. Support your local independent radio stations (college or listener supported, usually) independent record shop and all indie bands.
