BFA

Transportation Design

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Detroit drives the auto industry. Our graduates drive the design.

The CCS Transportation Design program has spent 60+ years becoming the best. This century’s wave of ingenuity, including autonomous vehicles and mobility-forward design, is powered by the designers that teach and learn here.

Owen Shaw

84%

Placement Rate
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STEM-Designated
Program

Located in the heart of the auto industry, our curriculum explores mobility, cultural and technical trends and translates 2D design concepts to 3D models using ~~traditional skills~~ and industry-grade technology.

Toyota Allure Minivan Interior — Jason Song

Toyota Minivan Exterior(off-road version) — Joosuk Kang

Toyota Veranda 2031 Minivan Interior — Zi Yun Hsu

Exterior Lifestyle Experience — Loannis Loutridis

Through collaborative projects, industry partnerships, and citywide exhibitions, our students have unparalleled access to industry experts. Student work pushes boundaries, forging connections and drawing on Detroit’s energy to shape bold ideas and future creative leaders.

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A student presents his gold car model to a designer during the Stellantis Sponsored Project final presentation

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.

Learn More about Experiential Learning at CCS

A student works on a clay model of a car with orange wheels in the CCS Transportation Design studio with artwork hanging on the wall in the background.

Cutting-Edge Spaces for Creative Minds

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

Take a Virtual Tour of Transportation Design Schedule a Campus Tour

Students have the opportunity to secure competitive internships at top firms around the world, work with industry insiders on sponsored design projects, and go on to swell the ranks of every major car design studio and nearly all the Tier 1 auto suppliers.

*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.

Logan Phillips ’18

Senior Industrial Designer, SpaceX
Alex Alequin ’07

Principal Owner, One Horizon Designs
Dong Tran ’09

Founder/CEO, Ryvid Inc.

News & Events

Hear more about CCS’s community of artists, designers, and creative thinkers.

Through collaborative projects, industry partnerships, and citywide exhibitions, students push boundaries, forge connections, and draw on Detroit’s energy to shape bold ideas and future creative leaders.

Explore CCS News Events

General Motors sponsored project with Transportation Design students.

AlumniColor & Materials Design

Winter 2025 Sponsored Projects at the College for Creative Studies

July 17, 2026

During the Winter semester, the College for Creative Studies hosted 14 sponsored projects, including a diverse range of sponsored projects…

Community OutreachKAID

Kresge Arts in Detroit Announces 2026 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award Recipients

July 13, 2026 Read More

blurry brown and green plant image with the word season over top in white.

Alumni EventsAlumni News CalendarDetroitIn-PersonWoodward Lecture

Woodward Lecture Series: Season Talks

September 10, 2026 11:30 AM College for Creative Studies, Wendell W. Anderson Jr. Auditorium, Walter B. Ford II Building

Two students working at a table. Behind them is a large mood board fill of images, writing and inspiration.

Complete your Application

Submitting your application for admission is the first step to becoming part of one of the best art and design schools in the world.

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We accept unofficial or official transcripts for application. Official GED results may be accepted in place of a high school transcript.

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Show us your Work

If the department you are applying to requires a portfolio, please take a look at our portfolio guidelines.

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MAMFA

Transportation Design

Minor in Design for Sustainability Support CCS

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
Learn More

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.

Final renderings. Automotive design sketches and interior 3D renderings where the synthesized "Nature +" materials are applied directly onto vehicular surfaces—such as the dashboard, side door panels, and center console—to demonstrate a cohesive premium vehicle interior.

Caden Wyatt, Nicholas Pyle

Another interior video of the interior of the Lucid Orbit — Wilde Wang

A side view of the Jaguar Monaco in a city setting with water behind — Siddharth Ghaisas

A detailed rendering of 4 people inside of the Lincoln Chariot — Jensen Moock

Detailed rendering of the seats in the 2100 Afro-Futurism — Jack Liu

John Carioti

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.

Explore more Student Work

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