MAMFA

Students in the Graduate Transportation Design program focus on the complete design process that includes extensive research, sketching and 3D rendering, animation, core competencies analysis, and more.

Special projects explore innovation through forms and materials, functionality, and engineering. Students apply to this understanding a real-world strategy that includes business practices, research, brand identity, vehicle architecture, and mobility as a system.

(Daniel) Dong Ug Kim
92%

Placement Rate
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STEM-Designated
Program

Students are invited to assume the role of “designer as inventor,” as they are led through a complete design process that includes extensive research, sketching and 3D rendering, animation, core competencies analysis, and more.

Our curriculum is led by faculty who understand what it takes to succeed in the design industry because they have been or currently are successful industry practitioners and leaders. Students learn not only to become critical thinkers and strategic designers but to be professionals because creative talent and execution skills alone do not guarantee career advancement or entrepreneurial success.

Students are taught to work effectively in teams both as leaders and as team peers. They cope with the real stresses of deadlines and uncertainties, both within and outside of their control. They learn to champion their ideas through formal presentations and rigorous critiques led by industry professionals who are in positions to recruit and hire promising talent.

Degrees Offered

The Graduate Transportation Design Program offers 2 types of Degrees

60 Credits

MFA

Upon graduation, students in the MFA Transportation Design program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate the ability to frame their work through research, analysis, and concept generation within the
    history of Design, and the broader social, political, economic and cultural contexts.

  • Synthesize knowledge and skills toward the creation of visionary, attractive, and socially responsible
    Transportation for the future.

  • Articulate and argue concepts and proposals through writing and presentation in a professional and
    persuasive manner.

  • Design advanced vehicle and systems concepts with significant technological and conceptual reach while
    pushing the aesthetic horizon of market desirability

  • Collaborate knowledgeably and ethically with leaders across disciplines in the creation of industry leading
    innovation.

  • Apply understanding of business, technology, culture, and social responsibility to elevate and lead the practice of transportation design.

30 Credits

MA

Upon graduation, students in the MA Transportation Design program will be able to:

  • Synthesize knowledge and skills toward the creation of visionary, attractive, and socially responsible Transportation solutions that meet professional expectations.
  • Articulate and argue concepts and proposals through writing and presentation in a professional and persuasive manner.
  • Design advanced vehicle and vehicle system concepts with significant technological and conceptual reach while pushing the aesthetic horizon of market desirability
  • Apply understanding of business, technology, culture, and social responsibility both individually and collaboratively to elevate the practice of transportation design.

Through collaborative projects, industry partnerships, and citywide exhibitions, student work takes center stage—pushing boundaries, forging connections, and drawing on Detroit’s energy to shape bold ideas and future creative leaders.

Our Department

Hands-on experiences that help bring your imagination to life.

Students walking and talking around boards during industry day

Your Future, In Motion

With our extensive industry connections spanning over a century, we ensure that the active learning our students engage in aligns with industry needs, preparing them for careers.

Developed for the Extended Reality (XR) course, Prescription for Profit is an interactive installation that exposes the stark disparity between the manufacturing costs of essential medications and their retail market prices. By scanning barcodes on prescription bottles, users trigger animated content alongside a printed receipt that breaks down the actual costs and corporate profits. This immersive experience highlights the steep price barriers that routinely place life-saving treatments out of reach for thousands of people.

Cutting-Edge Spaces for Creative Minds

Enjoy unlimited access to industry-standard facilities that prepare you for real-world production.


Internationally, nationally and right here in Detroit, Transportation Design graduates pursue multiple avenues upon graduation

*Note: This information was gathered using Lightcast Labor Market Analytics and includes the median salary for the lifetime of a career in these specific professions. CCS alumni outcomes may vary.

Ford logo
Tesla logo
General Motors logo
Stellantis logo
Karma logo
Vizcom logo
Polaris logo
Kia log
Studio Syn logo
Mazda Logo

Possible Career Choices

Airplane Designer

Alias Modeler

Automotive Color & Trim Designer

Automotive Exterior Designer

Automotive Interior Designer

Autonomous Vehicle Designer

Bicycle Designer

Clay Modeler/Sculptor

Concept Hardware Artist

Creative Designer

Design Engineer

Digital Modeler/Sculptor

Industrial Designer

Market Researcher

Mass Transit Designer

Mobility Systems Designer

Motorcycle Designer

Recreational Vehicle Designer

Surface Designer

Transportation Systems Designer

UX Designer

Vehicle Exterior Designer

Vehicle Interior Designer

Virtual Reality Designer

Watercraft Designer

  • A vehicle in front of a large cascading water fall and lush greenery

    Dan Shapiro ’22

    Creative Designer, General Motors

  • A vehicle on a road with an open side; the vehicle has a bunch of products inside

    Dong Wu ’18

    HMI Architect, FAW-Volkswagen

  • A bi-pedal vehicle next to silhouetted people

    Veda Huang ’22

    Junior Industrial Designer, Pride Mobility Products Corporation

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