Om Suthar is an alumni of Coventry University. After finishing a semester at Rockhurst University in Kansas, Om decided to pursue his (dream) career in automotive designs as he always had an affinity with automotive forms, hence he switched off to CCS College for Creative Studies in Detroit. From there he moved to Coventry University. Recently, he happened to hit the headlines with his new concept the Alfa Romeo Fascino that coalesced some of the characteristics of a limousine with those of a formula racer.
Rest this email interview will unveil the hidden intricacies behind the design,
1. What made you plunge into the automotive designing? How did the journey into the genre actually materialize?
Om: I had completed my first semester of Premed at Rockhurst University in Kansas City and was unsatisfied with where it was going. It was a secure, high esteemed career; however I knew I was not being true to myself. I spoke with my best friend Mitesh about dream careers, if I didn’t have to worry about money, what I would do with my life. It came down to game design, and automotive design, since I have always had an affinity for automotive forms; I then decided to pursue a career in automotive design. The next year I joined CCS College for Creative Studies in Detroit and learnt a strong foundation for sacrificing everything in my life to sketch constantly. All nighters sketching, exploring form while perfecting form, perspective, and design consumed my life from that point on. I then decided to move to Coventry University to broaden my perspective on life as well as personal growth. The isolation really helped me focus on my design skills. I recently graduated with a degree in Automotive Design BA Honors from Coventry University this summer. A lot of people were timid near the end, got product or transport design degrees, I however chose to take a chance and follow my dream. Now I am looking to get my first car design job, and quite avid to sink my teeth into a new design project.
2. I’m curious to know, how have you been able to integrate the characteristics of a limousine and formula racer in your concept the Alfa Romeo Fascino?
Om: The Alfa Romeo concept for me is the most extreme project I could possibly do while grounding it to some logical reasoning. Integrating characteristics of a formula racer and a limousine was very tough in clay form, it took nearly 3 months to form the final model, a lot of changes and sacrifices had to be made to make the design feasible. I had integrated a central mount exhaust, fashionable rear diffuser, carbon fiber trim on a long limousine form to bring the two forms together. I also incorporated two large gull wing doors to reflect the fashionable and extreme lifestyle of the geared user type.
3. How is Alfa Romeo Fascino different from Bugatti Veyron, for me, both have similar contour.
Om: This car is different from the likes of Bugatti because it is a completely different size vehicle. This vehicle in full scale would be as long as a Mercedes s class. Imagine the extreme proportions, what emotion, style, and image it would flaunt! It is also different because it is two cars in one, a getaway car for the celebrity to drive on the weekends as well as a vehicle to be chauffeured around in.
4. What would you prefer 3D CAD or sketching? And why?
Om: I prefer sketching any day. 3d cad is a technical skill, an important one, however could be taught to anyone. Sketching, there is passion, a lot of emotional information conveyed by the designer that cannot be captured in a 3d model. It is ultimately the human hand that forms the design intention, surface, theme, and final form, 3d modeling is just a tool to extenuate that. All too often I see fellow designers using it as a crutch for lack of sketching skills.
5. Concepts of auto designers are ahead of its time, in the sense that the designs have futuristic undertone, how far would you agree with me?
Om: One of the many purposes of a designer is to push the envelope. In most capitalist economies, we are almost told what to like not to like, a designer must have the ability to see beyond that and become the trendsetter! At the same time it is very important for the designer to not look inwards all the time and realize he works to understand, translate, and deliver the user’s desires. We do not design for ourselves.
6. You feel that the production of Jaguar XF is a complete disaster with respect to its concept?
Om: The Jaguar XF production version is an unfortunate reality of the industry. There are a lot of departments turning the design wheel, (i.e. manufacturing, accounting) that influences the final design and it all comes together, the initial intention is often lost.
7. May we have the honor of knowing your future plans with respect to your designs? And presently, what are the interesting things that have hooked your attention?
Om: Regarding my future plans, as I stated before, avidly seeking a creative automotive design position. I would love to see Tata purchase jag/ land rover and perhaps seek employment to help those brands. No disrespect to its current designers, however every design must evolve with time to keep a competitive edge, sometimes a fresh look, a fresh design team is just the thing needed to bring in new ideas.
It is interesting to see a lot of new 3 seater (new seating variant concepts) coming out. For example Nissan’s new mixim. These concepts can often serve as design cues & glimpses of the company’s design evolution. Nissan is a company to keep an eye on, in my opinion.
8. Where do you see yourself, after, let’s say, five years from now?
Om: 5 years down the road, I hope I’m a lead designer and moving slowly up the ladder to more design leadership roles, I feel I would have a lot to offer the industry.
9. Any maxim you’d like to leave for our readers?
Om: My maxim to the readers: Globalization is a movement that will bring a lot of new problems as well as solutions. To embrace it, will catalyze the process, helping us learn a lot more about each other. This will be very important in the automotive design industry. Car design is a medium for us to represent our culture.
10. Finally, we’d like to have your views on Auto Motto?
Om: I love seeing new fresh blog sites popping up; it is great to see that anyone from any part of the earth can share comments together. I personally look forward to the readers’ comments on my views. We can all learn so much more this way!
Thank you Om for sparing out time in doing an interview with us, it is greatly appreciated; finally I’d like to wish you success for all your future endeavors.
