Informative artice. I would
Informative artice. I would tend to modify that first step, though. Fact is, a marketing survey along with a business case is what really starts the design process. Think about it; without knowing the market and the vehicle size, the sketch might miss the mark. Is it a four door, two door, SUV, sport coupe, family sedan? In addition, that information sets up the next big question: Do you design a new architectue? Or do you modify an existing one to save tooling cost?
Regardless, a group called vehical architecture establishes the platform layout so as to give dimension to the plan, like wheelbase, steering column angle, sight lines, etc. Then and only then do the sketches come to fruition with any meaning.
One area that has definitely changed, though, are the CNC machines in the studios that literally mill the clay from the works derived from digiital sculptors. Any work on the clay after that is merely cosmetic scraping and filling in the low spots..
And speaking of cosmetics and details, stereo-lithography (SLA) parts are designed by those same digital sculptors, later formed/molded, painted and placed onto the clay, such as centerstacks, radios, controls, knobs, etc. This technology provides a greater 3D look and feel to the studio product so management can better make decisions. Even then they can argue over changing a silly millimeter.
In addition, the use of laser scanning technology which allows the clay to be digitized back into the CAD system, allows the engineers to work with 3D data as opposed to drafting sections that are limited in scope.
Another important entry is the greater use of studio engineers who now create zones and limit models as criteria so as to guide the digital sculptors, thus eliminating wasteful time redoing models. This makes engineering part of the design process. That pretty much described my world and job.
I miss the work at times but not the constant pressure, deadlines and incessant whining over criteria that the designers always feel limits their creativity, forgetting that new designs have a cost associated with them.