MASTER IN TRANSPORTATION DESIGN – AUTOMOTIVE & INTERACTION DESIGN

PRELIMINARY MODULE IN TRANSPORTATION DESIGN

The Preliminary Module builds the core toolkit: design culture and history, representation (sketching, illustration, digital sketching), 3D modelling and methodology—plus focused work on interior, exterior and motorcycle design. It’s designed for students with a design background that is not specifically automotive.

Each subject includes an end-of-course assessment. The module concludes with a final exterior/interior project presentation.

MASTER IN TRANSPORTATION DESIGN – AUTOMOTIVE & INTERACTION DESIGN

The Master Module is structured around three macro-areas: 

• Vehicle Design – Exterior Design
  Proportions, volumes and styling. You’ll progress from ideation to concept development (sketches/renderings) and final project presentation.
• Vehicle Design – Interior Design
  Designing interiors from a brief while respecting brand constraints, with strong attention to materials and perceived quality.
• Product Interaction Design / Interaction Design
  A deep dive into social, technological and communication trends—turning them into interfaces and experiences that create a clear, logical dialogue between user and product/system/service (physical + emotional interaction across form, function and technology).

The programme traces the technological evolution of car design alongside current mobility trends and sustainability impacts—so you can translate context into design decisions with confidence. 

Admission requirements and procedures

Preliminary Module

Open to applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Automotive Engineering or related fields; to post-graduates in Industrial and/or Automotive Design; and to candidates with significant professional experience in transportation.

Admission is based on application review (cover letter, CV and portfolio). IAAD. may request an in-person or remote interview if needed. 

Master Module
Admission requires passing the Preliminary Course and holding an English certification at B2 level or higher. Students may enrich their curriculum with competitions, seminars or workshops to collect additional credits for the Preliminary. 

Applicants with an undergraduate degree in Transportation Design—or significant experience in transportation/modelling—may request direct admission, subject to approval by the Course Coordinator based on qualifications, experience and portfolio. 

APPLICATION

Your application must include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter
• Portfolio 

Applications are evaluated by the Master’s Coordinator. IAAD. may request an additional interview; outcomes are communicated by the Orientation Office.

Course delivery, attendance and participation

Classes run Monday to Friday (occasional extra sessions may be scheduled on Saturdays). The programme is full-time (lectures, labs and individual study) with mandatory attendance. 

The Master is held in person at IAAD. Turin; selected activities may be delivered remotely. 

Each edition of the Master includes the development of a thesis project in collaboration with a partner company. The design phase starts with an initial briefing, followed by presentation sessions and mid-term reviews with the partner company’s reference designers, who remain involved all the way through to the final thesis discussion.

In previous editions, thesis projects were developed in collaboration with Fiat Research Center, Lancia Style Center, Italdesign Giugiaro – Volkswagen Group, Porsche, Pininfarina, Changan, MG, Peugeot, Hitachi Rail, and Suzuki.

Car Designer

This professional designs the exterior and/or interior of a car or other vehicles, aligned with the latest visual trends and technological developments. They communicate ideas through sketches and renderings to support proposed concepts. Car designers typically work in teams within a company’s design studio or as freelance designers.

Interaction Designer

Creates interaction processes and methods between users and products to help users achieve their goals in the most effective way. They leverage the latest technological developments to create seamless communication between user and product. Interaction designers often work alongside a company’s interior design department or as independent freelancers.

3D Modeller & Visual Designer

Works in parallel with exterior/interior designers to translate and refine 2D ideas into 3D models. They are responsible for 3D development, using specialised software to optimise and visualise the vehicle in VR/AR and prepare it for production.

Color & Trim Designer

Specialises in creating the desired interior atmosphere according to the latest visual trends. They apply extensive knowledge of colours, textures and materials to create a sustainable, safe interior environment that is visually and ergonomically optimised for the vehicle.

To ensure students access the best opportunities within the creative industries, IAAD. manages connections between students and the professional world, promoting graduates and Master’s alumni profiles to key market players. Thanks to an established network across the sector, IAAD. maintains an up-to-date company database of organisations that regularly contact the Institute to recruit emerging talent.

IAAD. supports students with partial scholarships to help cover tuition fees for both the Preliminary Module and the Master Module.

Please note: the number of available scholarships is always lower than the number of applications. Most scholarships are awarded based on the Selection Committee’s evaluation of key requirements, including:

• personal portfolio
• educational background / qualifications
• professional experience

The Selection Committee will award the available scholarships, at its sole discretion, to the most deserving candidates admitted to the Preliminary Module. Scholarship recipients will receive official confirmation before the start of the Preliminary Module.

To maintain the scholarship for the Master Module, recipients must have completed the Preliminary Module with an average grade of 27/30 or above.

Scholarships will be assigned to candidates who have received the official email confirming their eligibility to attend the programme.

Additional scholarships may be awarded to candidates admitted directly to the Master Module.