H-Point: The Fundamentals of Car Design & Packaging

H-Point Fundamentals introduces the principles of vehicle architecture, car design, and automotive packaging. This digital PDF edition contains 224 pages and is available as an instant download.

Written by Stuart Macey with Geoff Wardle, the book explains how design concepts and package logic work together during vehicle development. It presents generic processes that can be applied in a design studio environment.

Created from material developed through the Transportation Design Department at Art Center College of Design, this guide is aimed especially at students working through the fundamentals of transportation design.

Book Overview

H-Point: The Fundamentals of Car Design & Packaging examines the systems, dimensions, proportions, and functional decisions that influence a vehicle’s exterior and interior design. Its central subject is packaging, or the arrangement of vehicle architecture and key components.

The book moves from design process fundamentals to functional objectives, package ideation, size and proportion, occupant packaging, interiors, cargo, powertrains, wheels, tires, suspension, chassis, and body structures. It concludes with sections on mobility, design exercises, a glossary, and an index.

The guide belongs to the design and transportation design field. It is particularly relevant to students and readers seeking a structured introduction to automotive design packaging.

What You’ll Discover Inside H-Point Fundamentals

• Design process overviews, systems, market segments, package logic drawings, and main package hard points.
• Methods for setting functional objectives and understanding vehicle market segments.
• Package ideation, size and proportion, key dimensions, and product benchmarking.
• Occupant manikins, occupant environments, interior systems, seat design, and cargo storage.
• Powertrain anatomy, layouts and configurations, fuel storage, wheels, tires, brakes, steering, suspension, and chassis.
• Body structures, load paths, crash regulations, materials, closures, vision studies, aerodynamics, lighting, bumpers, glazing, and license plates.
• Ten design exercises, along with a glossary and index.

Why This Book Matters

Vehicle packaging connects design intent with the practical requirements of a functioning automobile. The book shows how dimensions, systems, occupants, and components influence the proportions and possibilities of vehicle design.

Its material was assembled from an educational program created to prepare undergraduate transportation design students for advanced concept development. The chapters focus on key elements that influence exterior and interior advanced design without describing every component in detail.

By bringing design and package development together, the book provides a focused reference for readers learning how vehicle architecture supports automotive form and function.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download, not a physical book. There is no physical shipping, and access is available after purchase.

The PDF works with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and compatible reading apps. Device features may vary by application.

FAQ

When can I access the book?
Access is available after purchase as an instant digital download.

Will I receive a physical copy?
No. This listing provides a digital PDF, with no physical shipping.

Which devices support the file?
The PDF can be opened with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop, mobile, and compatible reading apps.

Download H-Point: The Fundamentals of Car Design & Packaging for focused study of vehicle architecture and automotive packaging.