The transportation sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, presenting exciting opportunities for innovative designers. At ArtCenter’s pioneering transportation design program, students delve into the rich history and cutting-edge technologies driving today’s mobility revolution. Through hands-on experience, aspiring designers learn to conceptualize, model, and ultimately realize groundbreaking designs for the vehicles of tomorrow. Located in Southern California, a global hub for transportation innovation, ArtCenter offers unparalleled access to leading automotive design studios and alternative energy pioneers. Students build impressive portfolios and launch their careers while earning their degree in this dynamic and forward-thinking environment.
Program Vision: Beyond Traditional Vehicle Design
As a transportation design major, you will learn to see vehicles as more than just machines. You’ll explore them as vessels imbued with personality, significant societal influence, and demanding performance requirements. Building upon foundational principles of comfort, safety, and usability, the program encourages fresh perspectives encompassing sustainable mobility, comprehensive product lifecycle considerations, and robust brand identity. Students develop deep expertise in essential skills, including sketching, physical and digital modeling, vehicle architecture, material science, and aerodynamics. To tailor your skillset, you can specialize in one of three key concentrations: Vehicle Exteriors, Vehicle Interiors (including UI/UX design), or Alternative Transportation, which encompasses diverse fields like aircraft, marine, motorcycles, personal mobility devices, and public transit systems.
Legacy of Automotive Design Excellence
ArtCenter boasts a distinguished legacy of shaping beauty, innovation, and meaningful advancements in transportation design. Our alumni network includes leaders at the helm of design studios for nearly every major automotive manufacturer worldwide. From iconic muscle cars and high-performance supercars to practical family vehicles and visionary concept cars showcased annually at premier auto shows, ArtCenter’s impact on automotive design is undeniable. This expertise, blending form and function, extends into new and emerging sectors, with graduates designing everything from Tesla’s revolutionary Cybertruck and Ducati’s Monster motorcycles to luxurious mega yachts and advanced spacecraft. By joining ArtCenter, you step into this prestigious lineage and connect with a global network of problem-solvers and innovators who are actively shaping the next generation of vehicles and mobility solutions.
Launch Your Transportation Design Career
The future of mobility is being designed right now, and ArtCenter’s program provides the essential tools to become a leader and decision-maker across the broad spectrum of automotive and alternative transportation design. While pursuing your Bachelor of Science Degree in Transportation Design, you will construct a compelling portfolio through hands-on projects, often sponsored directly by leading automotive manufacturers. You will cultivate a valuable network of top designers from virtually every major studio globally, individuals who recognize and value the dedication to excellence that defines an ArtCenter education. Graduates are well-prepared to pursue diverse and rewarding 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
