The reasons can vary.....how much work there is to do, and how seríously the company takes designs role. I think the reason it is hard to answer your questions is that it is hard to define the "average company". In a big car studio they may be working on more than one vehicle at a time. Interior and exterior. Whilst it may only take a small handfull of designers to come up with "the" chosen sketch, it takes a much larger team to bring it to life. People designing wheel trims, headlamps, door handles, steering wheels, instrument binnacles, mirrors, seats, sterios, fabrics, colours, grills etc etc. All of these things have be designed and surfaced to the smallest of details. Thats where the numbers come from. Personally I have worked in studios with over 25 designers right down to 2 or 3. One of the nice things when there are few of you is that the work you get to do varies. You dont get stuck being a door handle designer for instance.
When it comes to pay, this is all down to experience and how well you bargained your position.
For a little bit more help on your journey to becoming a car designer, check out www.designertechniques.com
College grad means 4yr accredited, undergraduate design program like Coventry, Pforzheim, College for Creative Studies, Cinncinati Institute of the Arts, Art Center College of Design, etc. Further post grad degrees like the Royal College of Art pay more.
Ive been accepted onto Loughborough Uni ID course with none other than Sam Porter as head tutor! Id love to work in the US! No job and nothing lined up!
