The automotive world is undergoing a revolution, presenting unprecedented opportunities for innovative designers. Enrolling in ArtCenter’s distinguished transportation design program means immersing yourself in the rich history and cutting-edge technologies shaping modern mobility. You’ll gain practical, hands-on experience in designing, modeling, and bringing to life groundbreaking concepts for the vehicles of tomorrow. Located in Southern California, the epicenter of transportation design, our program provides unparalleled access to leading automotive design studios and alternative energy pioneers. At ArtCenter, you will cultivate a compelling portfolio and build invaluable industry connections while earning your degree.
Program Overview: Crafting the Future of Mobility
As a transportation design major within our Car Design Program, you will learn to view vehicles as more than just machines. You’ll explore them as vessels imbued with unique personalities, significant societal impacts, and high-performance capabilities. Building upon the foundational elements of comfort, safety, and usability, our curriculum emphasizes forward-thinking perspectives on sustainable mobility, product lifecycle considerations, and unwavering brand integrity. You will develop deep expertise in essential skills including sketching, physical and digital modeling, vehicle architecture, material science, and aerodynamics. To tailor your expertise, you can choose to specialize in one of three concentrations: Vehicle Exteriors, Vehicle Interiors (encompassing UI and UX design), or Alternative Transportation, which includes diverse fields such as aircraft, marine vessels, motorcycles, personal mobility solutions, and public transit systems.
Join Our Legacy of Automotive Design Innovation
ArtCenter stands as a cornerstone in the history of transportation design, renowned for fostering beauty, innovation, and meaningful advancements. Our alumni network comprises leaders in design studios across virtually every major automotive manufacturer globally. ArtCenter’s indelible legacy in car design includes shaping iconic vehicles throughout history, from powerful muscle cars and high-performance supercars to essential family vehicles and countless groundbreaking concept cars unveiled annually at premier auto shows. Our commitment to merging form and function continues to expand into exciting new domains. Our graduates are at the forefront of design innovation, with alumni contributing to projects ranging from Tesla’s revolutionary Cybertruck and Ducati’s iconic Monster motorcycles to luxurious mega yachts and advanced spacecraft. Here, you will not only follow in their celebrated footsteps but also become an integral part of their influential networks, joining a global community of problem-solvers who are actively designing the next generation of vehicles and transportation solutions.
Chart Your Course: Transportation Design Careers
The future of mobility is being actively shaped at ArtCenter. Our comprehensive car design program provides you with the knowledge, skills, and industry connections to become a driving force in the automotive and alternative transportation design sectors. While pursuing your Bachelor of Science Degree in Transportation Design, you will construct a robust portfolio through practical, hands-on projects, often in collaboration with leading automotive manufacturers who sponsor our coursework. You will cultivate a strong professional network with top designers from nearly every major studio worldwide, individuals who recognize and value the dedication to excellence that defines an ArtCenter education. Graduates of our car design program are prepared to pursue diverse and impactful careers, including:
- Automotive Concept Design
- Interior and Exterior Automotive Design
- Automobile Accessories Design
- Motorcycle Design
- Recreational Vehicle Design
- Watercraft Design
- Public Transit Design
- Alternative Personal Transportation Design
- Transit and Urban Planning
- Specialist Vehicle Design
- Aircraft Interior Design
- Automotive Design Strategist
- Transportation Product Strategy
- Vehicle Customization
