arly auto manufacturers focused on func-
tionality over aesthetics, but it wasn’t long
before marques and their customers val-
ued the automobile as much for its emo-
tional allure as for its practicality. Before
and after World War II, formal courses
of study on the subject began to emerge,
drawing from the disciplines of fine art, architecture and industrial
design, each reflecting the culture and character of its environs.
Today, transportation design is more global than ever, and with
many aspiring artists in the field vying for so few coveted spots,
top students flock to the handful of institutions that have produced
some of the biggest names in the business. There is no denying the
influence these programs have on the automotive world.LEFT: Inside a 3-D
fundamentals
course paint
demonstration.
BELOW: Michelle
Christensen. RIGHT:
A Jeep concept by
student Edmund He.ArtCenter College of Design
Pasadena, Calif.
146 OCTOBER 2019
E
Learning Curvesarly auto manufacturers focused on func-
tionality over aesthetics, but it wasn’t long
before marques and their customers val-
ued the automobile as much for its emo-
tional allure as for its practicality. Before
and after World War II, formal courses
of study on the subject began to emerge,
drawingfromthedisciplines of fine art, architecture and industrial
design,eachreflecting the culture and character of its environs.
Today,transportation design is more global than ever, and with
manyaspiringartists in the field vying for so few coveted spots,
topstudentsflockto the handful of institutions that have produced
someofthebiggestnames in the business. There is no denying the
influencetheseprograms have on the automotive world.LEFT: Inside a 3-D
fundamentals
course paint
demonstration.
BELOW: Michelle
Christensen. RIGHT:
A Jeep concept by
student Edmund He.ArtCenter College of Design
Pasadena, Calif.
146 OCTOBER 2019
E
Learning Curves