Automotive and Transport Design BA (Hons)

Course overview

High-tech cars, yachts or flying machines, unleash your vision and learn to create innovative design solutions in a range of styles and media. Explore purpose, usability, materials, ecology, desirability, technological feasibility, and professional constraints with input from experienced staff and industry collaborations.

• Design realisation is supported by generous making spaces and technology so that you can create physical, or digital models of your designs.
• The transport design industry is evolving rapidly, and therefore employability assumes a pivotal role in defining our course content and practices.
• Our mission is to connect your passions and skillsets with your career aspirations, empowering you with the essential attributes to exceed your own expectations. The collaborative nature of our teaching and learning is deeply influenced by both industry practices and the latest research.

Why you should study this course

• This course aims to develop your understanding of the latest developments, drivers, and practices of the automotive, transport and mobility designer beyond merely illustration and styling.
• Shaped by students, staff and industry collaborators - this course is closely aligned with the automotive and transport industry. Constant updates keep the course at the forefront of industry developments, preparing graduates to be future-focused and equipped with the skills needed to make meaningful contributions in their chosen field.
• The learning environment is international with students typically coming from many parts of the world working together on global design solutions. We offer exciting international opportunities and project work collaborations².
• You may choose to take the opportunity to extend your degree with our study abroad scheme². Previous students have had the opportunity to experience and learn in China, India, the USA, and Colombia.
• We have a very large alumni network who take a great interest in active students and who may offer opportunities in the form of teaching, collaborative industry projects, internships, and graduate employment².

Careers and opportunities

Employability is a major strength of the course. The curriculum aims to embed industry interactions (such as short work experience, client projects, industry-aligned/inspired briefs) to offer the best preparation possible to help students to obtain graduate employment and achieve their career aspirations².

Students graduating from this course have traditionally enjoyed good employment in a range of design specific roles and this course allows students to change direction during their studies. This is important to a rapidly changing automotive and transport design environment, and the roles and transferable skills inherent in the professions and associated enterprises (e.g., start-up businesses, consultancy, and research). This further improves student chances of focused graduate employment.

The course has been designed to respond in an agile way to feedback and interaction with our contacts and industrial collaborators.

Career opportunities in automotive and transport design are vast and varied. You could start your own business, become a design consultant, modeller, illustrator, CAD professional, design manager or marketing professional. Graduates have found opportunities in automotive exterior and interior design, lighting systems design, clay and ‘hard’ modelling, digital modelling and surfacing, 3D visualisation and animation, colour and materials design, user interface design, lifestyle products and design research.

Career-focused activities are embedded in the curriculum and delivered in close partnership with the Talent Team. The Talent Team work closely with the course to offer CV and portfolio guidance, professional practice internship support, employability support and graduate support, and a comprehensive range of workshops².