I've been wondering how one could learn to become a kite designer & if anyone has any practical suggestions to go about it.
I can't think of many things that would top being able to work as a kite designer, the enjoyment & level of satisfaction would be off the chart & bloody awesome. 
Two ways I can see how to become a kite designer are -
1. By getting a job for a kite company as a design assistant to the lead kite designer.
2. Buying the Surfplan program & making kites by trial & error.
Option 1 would be the ideal method, as option 2 could become quite expensive in materials.
So, who'd be kind enough to share any ideas on how to break into the industry?
Failing getting a job in the industry straight away; does anyone out there want to get together to make a kite/s for a bit of fun/experience/satisfation of achievement?
I'm a trimmer with sail making experience, so the sewing is taken care of, cost of materials & design input is what would be good to round out the team.
Any takers?
Mechanical/Material Engineering Degree will equip you with a whole range of skills to really lead the industry, I see the kite design itself as being a small component of the job. Its really the material development and manufacturing process thats going to change over the coming 5-10 years and the actual design will follow.
What the course will also give you is the skills to be able to test and evaluate your designs.
Hi mate, I was lucky enough to have a brother in law who was into kite design back when it first started, he founded a few start ups and hired some of the best kite designers available and also ran the first online open source kite design forum. Below is a startup he put together...http://www.makanipower.com/company/team/
I was lucky enough to hang out and get wisdom from the masters of kite designing over a few years
re your questions:
download free surf plan and have a play + there are others
I know some designers that would go through 50 prototypes every 2 months
I think no chance getting a job, most kite companies use one or two rent a designers I believe, + its so easy for a competitor to start a kite brand, why would they teach you to become the competition?
There were a number of great online kite design forums but they have all been taken down. zeropresteige google that and time machine
Kite designing sucks!!!!!!!!!!!
When ever its windy, your always thinking about what to make better and coming in to try different lengths settings etc etc when everyone else gets to kite all day, But any kite trip is a tax deduction...
I like working with people who can contribute and people who like to mess around with stuff. Good luck...
Thanks for the reply Taurus. 
I'm an associate engineer, which some elitists won't give much credit for against a full degree.
So I'm not lacking for intellectual tools to go through a trial & error process in learning kite design, and I understand a fair amount of it already due to my research.
But the reinventing of the wheel would be the less preferred option as opposed to being able to break into the industry work with & learn from the masters, so to speak.
Come on, some of you kite companies out there must be looking for enthusiastic new blood! 
Re kite design, I love it, I start work at 9am, and finish office work at 15knots. I get to make and fly alto of different designs and I get to listen to tire kickers tell me all kinds of different stuff.
I am going to start an open source kite designer forum shortly, join up as I have a number of other wanna be designers talking to me about stuff. this way you can get feedback if something wont work before you make it.
