DESIGN CZAR
POOL|POOL 99

In the world of automotive design, Dilip Chhabria’s name is synonymous with luxury and the ability to blend eye catching esthetics with superb engineering. From his early days designing automotive accessories for the mass market to his evolution as a truly avantgarde designer, he has always been ahead of the pack!

Dilip Chhabria
DESIGN CZAR

When were you first drawn to automotive design?

DC: Ever since I can remember I was drawn towards cars; in fact, in my teen years I would draw on walls, tablecloths and any flat surface I could get. The interest was so obsessive that I would also mimic and pantomime car movements.

What role has formal design education played in your career?

DC: Minimal! While I studied Transportation Design at the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena (California), whatever I learnt was on the job. I believe that to accomplish something in any field you need at least double the education hours than are currently established across the globe.

How did DC Design come about?

DC: I returned to India in 1983 and till 1993 I ran an automotive accessories business that brought me financial freedom – that, and my knowledge of materials and processes, made me restless. I was itching to design full cars. I reckoned that in such a large country as ours, with my education, talent and entrepreneurial experience, I would surely succeed. Although my parents and my wife Cherry were highly skeptical, I argued that I had not seen anyone die of hunger and the worst scenario for me would be to take up a job just to earn a livelihood!

So, in 1993 I set up DC Design Pvt. Ltd. to create one-of-a-kind automotive beauties for connoisseurs by redesigning and modifying mass market cars, as well as to offer design and prototyping services to the OEM automotive sector. We work out of Mumbai, Pune and Gurgaon and I am CMD and Chief Creative Officer.

Which have been your most memorable projects?

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