Automotive and Transport Design

Design the future of transport. Create user-friendly designs for cars and mobility. Tackle real challenges, think creatively, and develop solutions that make travel smarter and life better.

Study at a university known worldwide for transport design innovation

Join a hands-on course that gives you the creative and technical skills to design vehicles, transport systems, and future mobility solutions.

You’ll work on real projects using industry-standard tools and build a portfolio that helps you stand out to employers in the automotive and transport sectors.

Shape the future of mobility

Explore the latest trends and challenges in transport design. Create work that pushes boundaries and responds to real-world issues. This course is for ambitious, forward-thinking designers who want to make an impact through bold ideas and practical solutions.

What you’ll experience

• learn core design principles for automotive and transport sectors

• use professional software and tools trusted by designers worldwide

• work on projects focused on sustainability, user experience, and future mobility

• build a portfolio with conceptual and real-world projects to impress employers

Whether you’re passionate about cars, public transport, or future mobility, this course prepares you for an exciting, fast-moving industry.

Why you should study this course

• Curriculum shaped by current industry trends, helping you understand current industry trends and best practices in automotive and transport design.

• Gain hands-on experience through a variety of conceptual and real-world design projects, giving you the chance to develop your creative and technical skills.

• Learn from experienced staff professionals who bring valuable professional insights and expertise and practical knowledge to support your development as a designer.

• Portfolio development built into the course, enabling you to create polished, innovative design work that demonstrates your skills to potential employers.

• Career guidance and skills support throughout your studies, with targeted guidance and support aimed at helping you to succeed in the automotive and transport industries.

Learn by doing, guided by industry experts

• Your learning is practical and project-based, giving you the chance to work on real challenges and collaborate across disciplines.

• You’ll often team up with students from other courses, bringing different skills together on projects that reflect how creative studios and agencies work in the real world.

• Our teaching is shaped by the needs of the creative industries, helping you build the skills and confidence to become a specialist, leader, and innovator.

• We create a studio culture that values social responsibility and critical thinking – both in research and in the making process.

• Through global projects, you’ll learn to work collaboratively and develop cultural awareness, essential for today’s creative professionals.

• You’ll also benefit from our strong industry links, with guest speakers sharing insights on design, careers, and innovation.

• Past students have worked on everything from electric scooters to ocean-going superyachts.

Where our graduates work
Previous graduates have gone on to work for a number of prestigious companies. These include:

• Gerry McGovern – Creative Officer at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)

• Matthew Weaver – Vice President Design at Nissan Motor Corporation

• Lisa Reeves – Head of Interior Design at Volvo Cars

• Robin Page – Design Director for Bentley Motors

• Klaus Busse – Head of Design at Maserati and Stellantis in Turin.

• Miles Nurnberger – Director of Design for Aston Martin

• David Imai – Director of Design at Tesla in California.

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information.

This course includes a sandwich (placement year) option.

Course Modules

This course has a common first year. The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses:
Automotive and Transport Design BA (Hons)
Graphic Design (BA Hons)
Product Design (BA Hons)

Year One Modules:
Designer
User
Co-Creator
Maker

Year Two Modules:
Design Expertise
Experiment and Innovate
Design Communication
Transport and Development

Sandwich Year:
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

Final Year Modules:
Design Specialisation
Concept Creation
Design Transformation
Prototype and Visualise

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.