MAMFA

The Color and Materials Design program is the only accredited graduate-level CMF program worldwide, attracting designers globally from the fields of product, transportation, fashion, interior, user experience, textile, and animation design, as well as fine art, crafts, architecture, engineering, and the natural and social sciences.

Exploration of materials through form, color, and finish. Darpan Hans
80%

Placement Rate
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The program curriculum encourages a mindset where forward-thinking color, material, and finish strategies are framed to connect functional and emotional meaning to products, environments, and experiences.

Degrees Offered

Color & Materials Design Program offers 2 types of Degrees

60 Credits

2-year Full-time MFA

Upon graduation, students in the MFA Color & Materials Design program will be able to:

  • Apply advanced knowledge of the properties, taxonomies, and applications of color, materials, and finishes with the intent to solve design problems with a broad range of industries.
  • Undertake independent research and demonstrate competency in its analysis and interpretation appropriate to the line of inquiry.
  • Utilize advanced research, ideation, prototyping, and testing of materials, leading to the idea generation of relevant material concepts regarding function, human connection, technological advancement, and sustainability.
  • Interpret, translate, and anticipate trends and their potential to impact the behaviors of diverse consumers, communities, and cultures.
  • Develop a contextual understanding of relevant factors that inform innovation and evidence of original thought, that results in creativity and the generation of unique ideas.
  • Understand material attributes in the context of attributes, manufacturing process, and their aesthetic and functional potential.
30 Credits

2-year Part-time MA

Upon graduation, students in the MA Color & Materials Design program will be able to:

  • Undertake independent research and demonstrate competency in its analysis and interpretation appropriate to the line of inquiry.
  • Utilize advanced research, ideation, prototyping, and testing of materials, leading to the idea generation of relevant material concepts regarding function, human connection, technological advancement, and sustainability.
  • Interpret, translate, and anticipate trends and their potential to impact the behaviors of diverse consumers, communities, and cultures.
  • Develop a contextual understanding of relevant factors that inform innovation and evidence of original thought, that results in creativity and the generation of unique ideas.

Often working in cross-collaborations through experiential learning with industry partners, students strive to achieve expertise in deciphering patterns within markets, cultures and geographic regions to develop narratives that offer innovative perspectives, mindful of the impact of their design decisions in terms of societal effects, product life-cycle, and sustainability.


Biodesign project of temporary bio-based spray paint system.

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.

Cutting-Edge Spaces for Creative Minds

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

Alumni Success

Graduates of the program operate in both tangible and virtual environments, pushing forward color, material, and finish concepts through in-depth research and trend forecasting, practical experimentation and prototyping, advanced digital technologies, and visual and verbal storytelling.

*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.

Shark Ninja logo
Mahindra logo
Logitech logo
International logo
Harley Davidson Motorcycles logo
Garmin logo
BASF logo
PUMA logo
Carhartt logo
Nike swoosh logo

Possible Career Choices

CMF Designer

Color & Trim Designer

Color Designer

Materials Designer

Trend Specialist

Color and Materials Mastering Designer

Materials Development Specialist

  • An hp mouse that is has green, blue and gray swirls on a similar background.

    Hee Won Jeon ’18

    Design Lead, Evolve Transporters

  • The interior of a Rivian car that is sleek and modern, light gray with wooden paneling

    Sophia Park ’16

    Director of CMF Design, Rivian

  • A collection of ceramic vessels decorated with colorful floral prints displayed on layered, organic-shaped, off-white stone or concrete tiers against a light neutral background.

    Fan Huang ’17

    Lead CMF Designer, Transsion

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MAMFA

Design for Sustainability

CCS’s Graduate program in Design for Sustainability provides students with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to be a change-maker in the field of sustainability.

This innovative and transformative program invites designers and non-designers of all kinds to gain a deep understanding of the complex relationships between design, the environment, and society. Students will explore sustainable design principles, systems thinking, visual advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration, all while gaining practical experience in creating climate solutions for a sustainable future.

Design for Sustainability students collaborating on a community focused project.
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STEM-Designated Program
What is this?

Design and design thinking have a crucial role to play in the advancement of sustainable futures and net-zero strategies.

The Design for Sustainability program emphasizes ethical decision-making, social responsibility, and the importance of sustainable practices across various industries and the public sector. Graduates of this program are prepared for dynamic careers in sustainability consulting, sustainable design, environmental management, and much more.

Join us in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future through design. Together, we can make a lasting impact on our planet and society. Apply for the Design for Sustainability master’s program and become a leader in sustainable design and innovation.


Degrees Offered

The Design for Sustainability Program offers 2 types of Degrees

60 Credits

2-year Full-time MFA

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

  • Utilize advanced design skills and knowledge that integrates the key elements, terminology, and current practices to resolve sustainability challenges.
  • Critically engage with design research methods and analysis in informing practical and/or critical design outcomes and/or interventions
  • Independently initiate imaginative and innovative sustainable design outcomes and hypotheses that critically challenge established practices.
  • Work with interdisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholder groups in leadership, co-creation, and collaboration to advance research and idea generation.
  • Strategically use communication and negotiation skills in proposing and implementing design outcomes.
  • Develop in-depth critical and contextual understanding of interrelated sustainable design and climate action factors informing innovation and evidence original thought and creativity in the generation of ideas.
30 Credits

1-year Full-time MA

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

  • Utilize advanced design skills and knowledge that integrates the key elements, terminology, and current practices to resolve sustainability challenges.
  • Independently initiate imaginative and innovative sustainable design outcomes and hypotheses that critically challenge established practices.
  • Strategically use communication and negotiation skills in proposing and implementing design outcomes.
  • Develop in-depth critical and contextual understanding of interrelated sustainable design and climate action factors informing innovation and evidence original thought and creativity in the generation of ideas.

Using hands-on projects, the program challenges students to apply their creativity and problem-solving skills to real-world sustainability issues.


Students studying glaciers in Iceland.

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.

A student showing their process work to someone at the table

Cutting-Edge Spaces for Creative Minds

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


Detroit is a hotbed of innovation in sustainability, climate action, climate justice and design. With the city hosting events and conferences like the Sustainable Detroit Forum, the Sustainable Urban Design Summit, Detroit Month of Design, Cumulus 2022: Design for Adaptation, the TED Countdown Summit, and many more, Detroit is fast becoming a focal point for meetings of minds.

*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.

Possible Career Choices

Sustainability Professional

Sustainable Design Consultant

Climate Consultant

Sustainable Systems Designer

Environmental Designer

Zero-Waste Design and Materials Specialist

Chief Sustainability Officer

Sustainable Service Designer

Climate Strategist

Project Management

Green Entrepreneur

Environmental Planner

Climate Communications

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BFA

Interdisciplinary Art + Design

The Interdisciplinary Art + Design program provides a dynamic, studio-based interdisciplinary art and design education that combines the strengths of our renowned studio disciplines with strategic mentoring and a flexible curriculum. Here, you can experience a course of study tailored to your unique skills and goals.

India Smith
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Thinkers, makers and doers forge their own paths as they investigate and ultimately redefine the boundaries of contemporary art and design.

Flexibility & Transfer Support

The uniquely flexible nature of Interdisciplinary Art + Design makes it a great choice for transfer students, allowing for degree completion in as little as two years for students who have completed an eligible studio-based associate’s degree or equivalent. If you are looking to transfer to CCS an admissions representative can discuss the ways the Interdisciplinary Art + Design program can help you reach your goals.

 


Our program offers maximum flexibility for students whose interests do not fit into the categories of a traditional visual arts education and who aim to explore theory in conjunction with studio practice.


The Interdisciplinary Art + Design major will equip students with foundational skills, historical perspectives, and critical thinking abilities. 

Through a combination of strategic mentoring focused on individual students’ goals, skills, and needs, major studios designed to foster innovation through both conceptual and applied practice, and the opportunity to select key courses from our diverse art and design offerings, you will gain a broad knowledge base for pursuing your creative interests.

A hallway of students sitting at tables meeting with industry representatives, showcasing their portfolios.

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.

Students working in a studio with wide open windows, large desks and a variety of materials, boxes in the foreground and easels in the background.

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, Interdisciplinary Art + 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.

Possible Career Choices

Artist/Designer

Arts Administrator

Art/Design Consultant

Arts Critic

Art Dealer/Curator/Gallerist

Color & Materials Designer

Costume Designer

Curator

Creative Director

Exhibition Designer

Experiential Designer

Fabricator

Interaction Designer

Mixed Media Artist

Motion Designer

Multimedia Studio Artist

Muralist

Performer

Performance Artist

Physical/Digital Special Effects Artist

Prop Master

Set or Stage Designer/Dresser

Special Effects Artist

Sustainability Director

Toy Designer

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MAMFA

CCS’s Graduate program in Interdisciplinary Design & Media empowers you to build a versatile one-of-a-kind skill set. Working with faculty, students have the opportunity to customize their curriculum across other graduate programs and upper-level undergraduate classes at CCS.

Student looking into kiln to discover how their project turned out.
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As students advance their creative practices through this interdisciplinary approach, they will develop a sharp multi-dimensional perspective and the leadership skills needed to guide multidisciplinary teams in today’s creative industries.

Rigorous Curriculum

Students enrolled in Interdisciplinary Design & Media explore and engage with interdisciplinary research methods and analysis that strengthen their design and media arts practices in the program and beyond.

Real-world Experiential Learning

Design and strategic partnerships play a vital role in Detroit’s global resilience. As an Interdisciplinary Design & Media student, you will live, learn, and work among a vibrant, international community studying in the only U.S. city designated as a UNESCO City of Design.

Multidisciplinary

Here, your design and visual arts practices are sharpened through interdisciplinary research methods and collaborative projects. You’ll tackle complex briefs and test your strategic communication and leadership skills directly with real-world stakeholders.


Degrees Offered

Interdisciplinary Design & Media Program offers 2 types of Degrees

60 Credits

2-year Full-time MFA

Upon graduation, students in the MFA Interdisciplinary Design & Media program will be able to:

  • Utilize advanced creative skills and knowledge that integrate inter- and multi-disciplinary practices to resolve complex challenges in, or at the intersection of, technology and the sciences.
  • Critically engage with inter- and cross-disciplinary research methods and analysis in informing practical and/or critical creative outcomes.
  • Initiate imaginative and innovative creative outcomes and hypotheses that critically challenge, transcend and redefine established boundaries of practice in the arts and sciences.
  • Exploit inter- and cross-disciplinary perspectives in the generation of ideas for coherent cross-disciplinary narratives and outcomes.
  • Utilize communication and negotiation skills in proposing and implementing advanced ideas and thinking for creative leadership in inter- and cross-disciplinary practice.
  • Develop in-depth critical and contextual understanding of interrelated cross-disciplinary factors informing innovation and evidence original thought and creativity in the generation of ideas.
30 Credits

1-year Full-time MA

Upon graduation, students in the MA Interdisciplinary Design & Media program will be able to:

  • Utilize advanced creative skills and knowledge that integrate inter- and multi-disciplinary practices to resolve complex challenges in, or at the intersection of, technology and the sciences.
  • Initiate imaginative and innovative creative outcomes and hypotheses that critically challenge, transcend and redefine established boundaries of practice in the arts and sciences.
  •  Exploit inter- and cross-disciplinary perspectives in the generation of ideas for coherent cross-disciplinary narratives and outcomes.
  • Develop in-depth critical and contextual understanding of interrelated cross-disciplinary factors informing innovation and evidence original thought and creativity in the generation of ideas.

We welcome students with undergraduate degrees and backgrounds in the visual arts, design, architecture and other creative disciplines.

Applicants may transfer up to 30 graduate-level credits from previous study. Those who have earned an MA in a related discipline may be eligible for the second-year MFA coursework.  


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.

Students using laser printers and other innovative tools to creative their works of art.

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, Interdisciplinary Design & Media 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.

Possible Career Choices

Creative Design Agencies and Consultancies

Visual Narrative and Curation

Creative Leadership and Policy Making

Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship

Academic Research (PhD)

Higher Education

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BFA

Product designers shape the physical and digital world around us.

From performance footwear and smart tech to life-saving medical devices. Our Bachelor’s in Product Design (Industrial Design) program empowers creative problem-solvers to turn bold ideas into meaningful, beautiful and functional human experiences.

Side view of desk with tools and paint bottles. Lucy Fata
93%

Placement Rate
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Product designers create consumer products and experiences that enrich and impact every aspect of life – from the shoes you wear to life-saving medical devices and everything in between.


Located in the heart of Detroit’s world-renowned design scene, our students learn by doing. Through real-world industry partnerships and collaborative studio projects, you will gain hands-on experience, forge professional networks, and draw inspiration from a city built on innovation.

A student is presenting a concept in a board room to Trek designers for a sponsored studio project.

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.

Two students working in the Product Design space, one working with 3D printers and the other looking at a red 3D printed shoe.

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, Product 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.

Adidas logo
Matel logo
Carhartt logo
Converse logo
Disney logo
General Motors logo
Hasbro logo
Nike swoosh logo
Reebok logo
Apple logo
Allbirds logo
Black + Decker logo
Fisher Price logo
Bose logo
Target logo
HOKA logo
Hot Wheels logo
LEGO logo
Milwaukee logo
NERF logo
PING logo
Pininfarina logo
PUMA logo
Stanley logo
The North Face logo
TREK logo
Under Armor logo
VANS logo
Whirlpool logo

Possible Career Choices

Consumer Electronics Designer

Footwear & Athletic Equipment Designer

Furniture Designer

Tools & Equipment Designer

UX/UI Designer

Accessories Designer

Color & Materials Designer

Exhibit Designer

Independent Design Consultant

Market & Trend Forecaster

Medical Equipment Designer

Visualization Designer

3D Modeler

Product Designer

Industrial Designer

Appliance Designer

Automotive Designer

Market Researcher

Recreation Equipment Designer

Toy Designer

Trend Forecaster

Virtual Reality Designer

Watercraft Designer

  • A person holding out a PING G425 driver on a golf course

    Ryan Davis ’21

    Industrial Designer, PING

  • A racer holding up a white, cylindrical trophy, kissing it in front of a colorful background

    Alexis Dimaguila ’22

    Industrial Designer, Pininfarina

  • A stand mixer on a counter top, next to some decorations, and a sack of onions hanging down. The image is dramatically lit

    Brandon Mock ’11

    Design Manager, Kitchen Aid

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BFA

Robotics & Human-Centered Design

The CCS BFA in Robotics & Human-Centered Design is a groundbreaking degree program at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and user experience. As intelligent machines enter our everyday lives, we train creative problem-solvers to design robotic systems built specifically for human environments and real-world needs.

Robot design student work. Ethan Norenbrock
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STEM-Designated
Program

As robots migrate from factories into hospitals, schools, and homes, global tech industries need more than engineers, they need designers. In this program, you will define how they look, behave, communicate, and build trust with the humans around them.

Human-Robot Interaction

Robotics & Human-Centered Design is a STEM designated industrial design program that is grounded in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). It focuses on behavioral communication and research on strategies to advance the social acceptance of autonomous systems.

Industrial Design Roots

The program prepares students with the creative and technical skills needed for a successful career as an industrial/product designer, while focusing specifically on the future of robotics and human-centered design.

A Growing Industry

Students in this program will be trailblazers, embarking on one of the newest segments of the industrial design industry, projected to grow 22.2%, quadrupling from a $2 billion industry in 2024 to a $6.4 billion industry by 2030.


Using design thinking, movement, light, sound, interaction and materials, paired with ethics and best practices, students will rethink what a traditional robotics machine “feels and looks like. “ You will graduate with a professional design portfolio, real-world prototyping experience, and the skills needed to launch careers in healthcare tech, consumer products, interactive environments, and smart mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Students presenting design projects to industry professionals.

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.

Students working at a computer in a lab setting

Cutting-Edge Spaces for Creative Minds

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


Even though this is a new major at CCS, our alumni are already working in this industry, designing robots and focusing on human-centered interaction.

*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.

Possible Career Choices

Industrial Designer

Human-Robot Interaction Designer

UX Researcher (for Robotics)

AI Design Lead

Director of Robot Design

AI Systems Designer

User Experience Designer

Chief Experience Officer (CXO) for Automation

Humanoid Aesthetic Specialist

Computational/Generative Design Artist

AI-Human Collaboration Strategist

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BFA

Transportation Design

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.

Interior with Hologram Owen Shaw
84%

Placement Rate
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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.

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.


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.

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.


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.

Audi logo
Autodesk logo
BMW logo
Ford logo
General Motors logo
Harley Davidson Motorcycles logo
Infiniti logo
John Deere logo
Lear Corporation logo
Maserati logo
Mercedes logo
Michelin logo
Polaris logo
Renault logo
Rivian logo
Scout logo
SpaceX logo
Stellantis logo
Tesla logo
Toyota logo
Vizcom logo
Volkswagon logo
Volvo logo
  • A dramatically lit image of a lunar rover on the surface of the moon with a space background

    Logan Phillips ’18

    Senior Industrial Designer, SpaceX

  • A plane flying over land and sea. It's tagged with N867CA on the side

    Alex Alequin ’07

    Principal Owner, One Horizon Designs

  • A motorcycle on a wet road with a river and cityscape in the background

    Dong Tran ’09

    Founder/CEO, Ryvid Inc.

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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
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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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MAMFA

User Experience Design

CCS’s Graduate program in User Experience Design is situated at the intersection of creativity and emerging technology, grounded in speculative thinking and experimental practices in response to societal, technological and cultural themes.

Juyoung Lee, Wenqi Yan, Mihir Sharma, Ragunath Rajasekar
100%

Placement Rate
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STEM-Designated
Program

Here, students learn to design technologically-mediated systems, experiences and human interactions with objects, spaces and interfaces.

Degrees Offered

The in-person User Experience Design Program offers 2 types of Degrees

60 Credits

2-year Full-time MFA

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

  • Utilize advanced Design and technology skills and knowledge to resolve User Experience and Interaction Design challenges.

  • Critically engage with Design Research Methods and analysis in informing practical and/or critical User Experience and Interaction Design outcomes.

  • Independently initiate imaginative and innovative User Experience and Interaction Design outcomes and hypotheses that critically challenge established practices.

  • Utilize advanced Research and idea generation to generate contextually rich technologically mediated experiences and interactions.

  • Utilize professional intellect and communication skills in proposing and implementing advanced ideas and thinking for creative Leadership in User Experience and Interaction Design.

  • Develop in-depth critical and contextual understanding of interrelated User Experience and Interaction Design factors informing innovation and evidencing original thought and creativity in the generation of ideas.

30 Credits

2-year Part-time MA

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

  • Utilize advanced design and technology skills and knowledge that integrate the key elements, terminology, theory, and practices to resolve user experience and interactive design challenges.
  • Critically engage with Design Research Methods and analysis in informing practical and/or critical User Experience and Interaction Design outcomes.
  • Utilize user-centered research and idea generation to generate contextually-rich technologically mediated interactions.
  • Develop in-depth critical and contextual understanding of interrelated User Experience and Interaction Design factors informing innovation and evidencing original thought and creativity in the generation of ideas.

Our students are taught by industry professionals and leading academics working at the cutting edge of UX design.

Emphasizing ethically, socially and environmentally responsible mindsets, the program foregrounds skills in design thinking, user-centered research, prototyping and communication. Students will learn advanced user-centered research methods and work with the latest software and hardware for design ideation and development. Students will also learn about physical and cognitive ergonomics in human-machine and system interactions.

Not able to attend in-person? Our fully asynchronous online Master of Professional Studies in User Experience Design might be for you.


The program is grounded in creativity, speculative thinking, and experimental practices, frequently working with industry partners in sponsored studios.

A CCS student showcases work and speaks to an industry professional at a CCS Industry Day Event.

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.

A student sits at a desk in front of a computer monitor with a VR headset on and artwork in the background

Cutting-Edge Spaces for Creative Minds

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


Alumni Success

Our Alumni are changemakers, leading and inspiring the next generation of design.

*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.

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Comsumers Energy logo
Tomtom logo
HBO logo
Stellantis logo
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Possible Career Choices

User Experience (UX) Designer

User Interface (UI) Designer

Interaction Designer

Visual Designer

UX Researcher

Mobile or Web UX Designer

AI UX Designer

Smart Mobility UX Designer

Automotive UX Designer

Content Designer

Systems Designer

Service Designer

Product Designer

UX Strategists

Lead/Principal UX Designer

Entrepreneur/UX Startup Founder

UX Director/Head of UX

  • An image of a TV, laptop, tablet and phone showing the HBO max interface and how it looks on different screens

    Hakha Mashayekhi ’15

    Director of Product Design, HBO Max

Unlock Essential Admissions Info.

Fill out our inquiry form to receive personalized updates, tips, and can’t miss info from our Admissions team.

MPS

User Experience Design Online

The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in User Experience Design is a fully online graduate degree designed for working professionals and learners who need to balance their studies with busy lives.

UX Design Studio II Student Project

Students learn to design technologically mediated systems, experiences, and human interactions that are data-driven. Critical inquiry and design provocations sharpen insights as students become adept with models of interaction, experience, and communication.

The Masters of  Professional Studies (MPS) in User Experience Design (UX) is a fully online graduate degree program focusing on building students’ professional skills and understanding of the User Experience Design field.

The program, designed for working professionals and students who have a need to balance their studies with life commitments, takes place one class at a time, consecutively over 18 months.

Over 18 months, students will take one class at a time, developing skills in user-centered research, interface design, smart mobility, user testing, augmented reality, and data visualization, culminating in a two-part capstone project that foregrounds professional skills aligned to personal career goals.


Our students are taught by industry professionals and leading academics working at the cutting edge of UX design. Students will learn advanced user-centered research skills, and work with the latest software and hardware for design ideation and development. Students will also learn about physical and cognitive ergonomics in human-machine and system interactions.


Alumni Success

Our Alumni are changemakers, leading and inspiring the next generation of design.

*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.

Brambles logo
Comsumers Energy logo
Tomtom logo
HBO logo
Stellantis logo
VML Logo

Possible Career Choices

User Experience (UX) Designer

User Interface (UI) Designer

Interaction Designer

Visual Designer

UX Researcher

Mobile or Web UX Designer

AI UX Designer

Smart Mobility UX Designer

Automotive UX Designer

Content Designer

Systems Designer

Service Designer

Product Designer

UX Strategists

Lead/Principal UX Designer

Entrepreneur/UX Startup Founder

UX Director/Head of UX

  • An image of a TV, laptop, tablet and phone showing the HBO max interface and how it looks on different screens

    Hakha Mashayekhi ’15

    Director of Product Design, HBO Max

Unlock Essential Admissions Info.

Fill out our inquiry form to receive personalized updates, tips, and can’t miss info from our Admissions team.