Here is a list of questions Daniel is receiving frequently via email, facebook or at events and talks. Daniel is trying to answer each single question he receives, but maybe you find here just want you were looking for.

California, March 2012

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How to become a designer.

The safe way is to draw and create every day, and to sharpen three dimensional understanding by studying objects and nature. I started drawing at the age of three with parents who supported my never ending need for paper and pens. To go professional, there is no single way. I got lucky and passed the test at an internationally renowned German college of design, which was very affordable at the same time. All I did was being prepared for that chance by drawing every day. But even if you live far away from a good college, opportunities are everywhere in our online world. Study tutorials, create your own blog or submit your work to forums and contests. Feedback will help you to improve and it may lead to the education and contacts you seek. Then, a good internship is the next crucial step, your first hands-on industry experience. Even if you want to live the dream of being a free spirit, I recommend a few years in corporate design first, like my own five years at Volkswagen Design Germany. You learn priceless industry insight that will help you later when you work on your own.

How long do you work on a project.

It depends. Vehicles I design for Hollywood film pitches may have to be done within one day. Others, like the vehicle that will appear in Tom Cruise’s 2013 film Oblivion took over 300 days to design, including ergonomic studies of the actor, mechanical solutions for construction and transport, material and paint research and animation. As for Cosmic Motors, I work on many vehicles at the same time over years, to make sure they reach the standard and long lasting look I pursue.

Can I work at your studio.

I currently work by myself due to restricted L.A. space. This may change in the future. Open positions will be announced.

Can I hire your design service.

Please follow above contact link. Include budget, schedule, short project description and your full professional contact information. Only serious inquiries will be replied.

Do you have posters and prints available.

In 2013. I want to offer the best quality possible and need time to set up an appropriate system. I am looking forward to it.

Cosmic Motors II.

I am working hard all 2012 on new exciting things.

What advise do you give a young designer.

Be obsessed with what you do. Meet people who do what you want to do. Travel and understand other cultures. Work every day on something. Read – I learned more about design through reading then through looking at pictures. Don’t feel bad copying at first, you will find your own style over time. If you don’t, design may not be your thing. Share your ideas constantly, which is good training for later pitches. You will pitch the rest of your life to get your designs made. Look around – you want to know what has been done. Don’t look around – you may loose track of what you really want to do. And don’t give up – it takes a very long time to get paid for what you like to do.

What hardware do you use.

BOXX Xtreme Workstation, Windows 7 64-bit, Intel Xeon X5690 12 core 4.29 GHz, 24 core hyper-threaded, 24 GB RAM, nVidia GPU Maximus setup with Tesla 2075 GPU’s and 1 x Quadro 6000 output. Apple Cinema 30″ screen. Wacom Intuos 3 tablet standard. Desk. Chair. Chai Tea Latte.

What software do you use.

3D nurbs modeling: Autodesk Alias Automotive 2013 ++++ 3D complex render scenes & pipeline: Autodesk Maya 2013, Mental Ray ++++ 3D rendering and turntables: Bunkspeed Pro ++++ 2D image manipulation & mapping: Adobe Photoshop CS4 ++++ 2D photography: Adobe Lightroom ++++ 2D film editing: Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects

With best regards, Daniel Simon. California, September 2012.