Online Gifts Store in India - Infibeam.com

An alumni of Art Centre Pasadena in Transportation Design,  he heads a company under his own name D.C. Design offering Styling and

Prototyping services to the automotive industry.

His is a case of a designer who chucked a secure job at the Design Centre in Warren, Detroit at General Motors with plans to work

for his own brand. On his return to India he first started his own entrepreneurial venture in Automotive accessories, which ran

successfully for 10 years.

This exposure gave him insights into consumer buying behavior and decision making for products ranging from a couple of Rupees to

high value items. It also gave him a hands on understanding of various materials and processes, a key learning for an enterprise

offering Styling and Prototyping services based on the capabilities of a single resource.

In 1993 with enough capital to invest in his dream of designing complete cars, Dilip Chhabria started the company in its present

form, shutting down the successfully running accessory business, to focus exclusively on the new initiative. 13 years down the line

that one mans dream and vision has translated into a 300-man organization with over 550 exclusive designs on the road, a dream of

every designer. As a result the company enjoys a brand in India that has a huge following and is associated with churning out eye

catching and exciting products.

The company’s client list spans a wide spectrum of automotive OEM’s in India to high net worth individuals to corporate with

specific needs. The company started marketing its services in Europe and within the 1st year achieved a prestigious breakthrough in

the form of an order for prototyping the new Aston Martin, Renault, Ford and GM successfully competing against the Established

European service providers. The project was successfully completed delivering on all aspects of quality, cost and time.

All DC concepts come with highly developed automotive Interior surfaces including IPs, glazings, seats, door trims etc.and infact

among the first accessory in his young days was an IP as an aftermarket. DC Design has evolved into showcasing a customer interface

IP commissioned by Renault, displayed at Paris Auto Show in Sept. 06, and have developed a Touch Screen for all automotive

functions and viz: Aircon, lights, Audio & Video through proprietary software manifested hardware used in most of our customizing

exercises.

His has been a case of Design being used as a differentiator and driver to build an entrepreneurial business model in a country

where words like design, aesthetics and styling were unheard of especially in the automotive sector.

His hobbies, pastime, relaxation, are all rolled into a single-minded passion for designing cars.

Infibeam.com presents India’s Automobile Design Guru - Mr Dilip Chhabria.
      Infibeam: How did the concept of design enter the automobile sector?

Mr Dilip Chhabria: Design has always been an integral part of the automotive industry. In the last few decades, styling is clearly

an emerging concept and the number one priority for car buyers worldwide. Aesthetics play far more on an important role today as

car buyers are more image conscious. Different segments in the worldwide car industry are formed on the sole basis of styling and

looks. For instance, an Audi TT and a VW Golf share the same platform, but are separated at birth largely due to the different

design directions both follow. Design is what gives a car its own identity.

Infibeam: You are a pioneer car designer of India. How did you become one?

Mr Dilip Chhabria: I became a designer in India purely pursuing my passion for transportation design. I was formally trained at the

art centre at Pasadena, California. But my success I feel was largely due to the fact that my designs translate from drawing board

to reality. We at DC Design have the ability to manufacture our customer’s dreams…

Infibeam: What are the different aspects that a designer observes while conceptualizing a car design?

Mr Dilip Chhabria: While conceptualizing a car, a designer has to keep in mind a myriad of limitations. The most important ones

being: (a) style, (b) packaging, (c) performance, (d) costs, (e) ergonomic, (f) longevity, and (g) ownership experience.

Infibeam: Which are your favorite designer cars and of course designers from whom you may have drawn inspiration?

Mr Dilip Chhabria: There is just the one designer that I am truly inspired by- Guigaro.

Infibeam: What goes in the concept of Special Purpose Vehicle?

Mr Dilip Chhabria: The concept of a special purpose vehicle is in itself pretty self explanatory, i.e. the vehicles are purpose

built for the specific requirements client has in mind. We endeavor to deliver a product that will satisfy all the requirements on

our client’s wish list.

Infibeam: Have you any special design for presentation at AUTO EXPO2008?

Mr Dilip Chhabria: “DC’s Ambierod” and the “S.”

Infibeam: Can you tell our website members and visitors about your popular and personally acclaimed creations?

Mr Dilip Chhabria: All my creations are equally important and acclaimed. I would suggest all to visit DC Design website.

Infibeam: What advise do you have for new car owners who wish get their car designed by you?

Mr Dilip Chhabria: My advice to car owners is to first brainstorm about a concept they have in mind, decide if it suits their

day-to-day needs, pencil down a budget and get in touch with us!!!

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