Custom Car Design

Custom car design has become a central case study for my PhD. Modifying and customising cars has not previously been examined or even considered a creative industry. I found this surprising.

Given car cultures are so visually obvious, i assumed that research would have documented the creative work that goes into these vehicles. I was aware that many car enthusiasts- both young and old- had a passion for 'doing-up' their cars, as a hobby or project based activity. Many spend thousands of dollars on their transformations.

While some cars are created as projects, worked on over weekends in the home garage, others seek input and help from professional automotive shops. Some of these shops are not considered sites of creative production in the classic sense, yet in the case of custom car cultures, are crucial for the construction of an eye catching ride. Working in Wollongong, i am finding that customising cars is a major hobby for many young people in particular.

I would argue that custom car design, whether performed in the garage or professional workshop, is an overlooked vernacular form of creativity. Young participants that i am working with have explained that modifying and customising their cars provides an important creative outlet, embedded within their everyday lives.

I am hoping to update this blog as my work with custom car cultures in Wollongong continues, so stay tuned. In the meantime there's a few pics of some of my participants cars below, so check em out.