IAAD Istituto D'Arte Applicata e Design
Bachelor in Transportation Design
Turin, Italy
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English, Italian
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 8,300 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* enrollment fee: €1,200 / Tuition fee: €7,400
Key Summary
About: IAAD's Bachelor in Transportation Design pairs design history and criticism with specialized subjects: theory of perception, psychology of form, basic design, materials science, representation, sketching, product system design, car, motorcycle and scooter design, plus freehand drawing and digital design tools. Based in Turin, a global automotive design hub, you'll develop practical and conceptual skills for vehicle and mobility design.
Career Outcomes: The degree prepares you for positions of responsibility in the automotive industry, R&D and style centers. Graduates work in vehicle design across cars, public transit, rail, motorcycles and boats – roles include concept, exterior, interior, modeler and sketch artist.
IAAD. BACHELOR IN TRANSPORTATION DESIGN
We have designed a curriculum that pairs a foundation in design history and criticism, with more specialized disciplines: theory of perception, psychology of form, basic design, materials science and technology, representation techniques, sketching, product system design, car design, motorcycle and scooter design, and more.
All of this, of course, is complemented by an advanced training in freehand drawing and design aid software - Photoshop, Alias, and Rhino - thus providing a comprehensive knowledge that can best meet the challenges of a constantly evolving job market.
IAAD. has always distinguished itself - and continues to do so - for an extremely practical academic and didactic approach that allows each student to engage in ambitious projects right from the beginning, participating in international events during their studies, and working with the best companies in the automotive industry.
Our professors, thanks to their experience as established professionals in various relevant sectors, enable students to immediately confront the real demands of the job market, laying the foundations for a solid and creative career.
TURIN AND CAR DESIGN
Turin is the undisputed world capital of Automotive Design and one of the main headquarters in the international automotive industry: here we find the iconic Italian production by Ferrari, FIAT, Lancia and Alfa Romeo, iconic brands that have been embodying and symbolizing the Made in Italy approach for decades.
Some of the greatest designers of all time - Giugiaro, Pininfarina, Bertone - have always called Turin home, and same goes with the automotive innovation of Centro Ricerche FIAT, the robotic technologies of DEA, Comau and Rambaudi, the innovation of Oxygen (electric alternative mobility) and other brilliant companies that have been contributing to reshaping the automotive industry landscape.
Last but not least, Turin is the epicenter of a huge supply chain that serves not only Fiat, but almost every major automotive industry in Europe and the world, including the Chinese style centers that here have their European home.
IAAD. scholarships are real. What about you?
With us, they don't have an expiry date – but they do run out.
IAAD. supports young talents and the right to education by offering scholarships covering up to 50% of the tuition fee for its three-year undergraduate design programmes. A concrete opportunity for those who want to turn their passion into a solid academic path, built on merit, commitment and a strong design vision.
IAAD. believes that merit should be rewarded and that no talent should have to give up a career in design for financial reasons. This is why scholarships are a real means of accessing education – designed to enhance individual abilities and support students throughout their growth journey.
Scholarships can be renewed each year for the entire three-year course, provided students maintain a minimum average grade of 27/30, rewarding consistency, responsibility and the quality of their work.
The Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Design at IAAD is structured to provide students with a comprehensive education that combines creativity, technical knowledge, and real-world experience. The study program is designed to prepare future professionals for the evolving mobility industry, covering every stage of vehicle and transportation concept development.
Throughout the three-year course, students explore subjects ranging from the foundations of design and visual communication to advanced automotive and transportation design. The curriculum places strong emphasis on sketching, 3D modeling, and digital visualization, while integrating essential skills such as ergonomics, sustainability, and innovative design thinking.
The first year introduces students to the fundamentals of design, visual representation, and the history of transportation. In the second year, the focus shifts toward specific transportation design courses, including interior and exterior vehicle design, clay modeling, and the study of materials and production processes. The final year is dedicated to project development, with students working on innovative transportation concepts in collaboration with leading automotive companies. The program culminates in a professional thesis project that reflects each student’s creative identity and technical competence.
By combining artistic vision with engineering principles, IAAD’s transportation design degree equips graduates with the tools to succeed as automotive designers, mobility innovators, and creative leaders in one of the most dynamic sectors of design.
Schedule
The opening of the academic year is expected in October, with our famous ceremony.
You will dive into our Design and Creative world right from the start.
The ordinary lessons begin 1 week after, according to the time schedule, and take place from Monday to Friday, while activities on Saturday can occasionally be inserted. Any extraordinary lectures and seminars are provided with due notice.
Lessons ordinarily follow the schedule published on the Notice Board before the beginning of each semester.
Academic Year Opening and Semester Scheduling
| 2nd and 3rd years: | October |
|---|---|
| 1st years | October |
| I Semester | 2nd and 3rd years: October / January 1st years: October / January |
| Design Workshop (only 2nd and 3rd years) | February |
| II Semester | February / May |
Exams and thesis:
| I ordinary session | February |
|---|---|
| II ordinary session | June (1st and 2nd years) |
| II ordinary session | June (3rd years) |
| I extraordinary session | June |
| II extraordinary session | September |
| Thesis Ordinary Session | June / July |
Weeks off ordinary lessons:
- February (1st years)
- January / February (2nd and 3rd years)
- June
During these weeks, students are required to ensure the availability to participate in any additional classes or catch lessons. The schedule is subject to changes which will be duly communicated.
Exams
Students are admitted to the examination sessions (2 per academic year) only if they are up to date with payments, are not over the minimum attendance required, and – if any – have successfully passed the midterm checks for each subject.
In case of failure of one or more examinations in the ordinary session, students will have access to the call of the extraordinary exam sessions (2 per academic year).
The procedures to access the exam sessions are contained in the Institute Regulation, given annually to students, and available at the Academic Office.
Thesis
In order to achieve the qualification at the end of the third year of the course and graduate, all of our IAAD. students must submit two theses: a Class Thesis and an Individual Thesis, in addition to their Personal Portfolio.
The Class Thesis - different for each department and to be carried out in working groups - is the realization of a project specified by the Institute, consistent with the various issues of the syllabus.
The Class Thesis is held under the supervision of the Department Coordinator and the 3rd year professors, with the support of external interventions – partner companies and their referents.
The Individual Thesis consists of an individual project that the student will perform in total autonomy, identifying a theme, a partner with its referent (External Mentor), and a supervisor in the faculty IAAD. (Academic Mentor).
The ordinary session of the thesis is planned for each year in July.
Both of these are great opportunities to professionally get in touch and collaborate with our partners, a definitive step into the job market and make your dreams come true.
Ideal Transportation Design students dream of becoming the next generation of designers who are able to seize the opportunities offered by this rapidly changing context, passionate problem solvers focused on the future and on developing creative solutions.
At the end of the course students have a First Level Academic Diploma recognized by the MUR (Ministry of Education, Universities and Research) equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in Design (DIPL02) – Transportation Design
- ACCREDITATION
The IAAD. three-year courses (for the Turin office) are accredited by the MUR (Ministry of University and Research) as Level I Academic Diploma courses and are equivalent to Level I Degrees issued by Universities. - COMPANIES AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD
IAAD. collaborates with a network of leading national and international companies.
The teaching staff, supported by visiting professors, is made up of professionals who are an active part of the national and international “design system”. - COMMUNITY
IAAD. is a community of over 5,000 people and institutions that are part of AD Education, one of the largest networks in Europe for training in creative professions.
Each student has a personalized path thanks to individual theses, curricular internships, analysis and design of their own portfolio, special projects and lectures with professionals in the sector. - JOB PLACEMENT
IAAD. uses an internal Job Placement service dedicated to activating internship and professional placement paths.
Thanks to its dense network of relationships with the world of work, IAAD. has a constantly updated database of over 7,000 companies that contact the Job Placement office for the selection of young resources. To facilitate the entry of students into the professional market, IAAD. provides a structured path that ends with the Career Day, days of meetings between students and companies in which the current academic year's graduates present their portfolio to an equal number of partner companies. - REPUTATION
IAAD. is one of the reference realities in the international panorama of design and Made in Italy training.
The success stories of its graduates contribute to making IAAD.'s name excellent in the world. - EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
The goal is to prepare designers with high professional quality through the acquisition of tools, knowledge and skills. - INTERNATIONALIZATION
In IAAD. there is an international atmosphere: 35% of the students are foreigners, teachers and visiting professors are important professionals who come from all over the world. - THE HEADQUARTERS
The IAAD headquarters are located in the Aurora neighborhood, one of the most interesting urban regeneration projects in Italy. - INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
Joining IAAD. means opening a door to Europe and all the schools that are part of the AD Education group in France, Spain and Germany for a total of 69 locations.
The international relations developed over time broaden the echo of IAAD. also outside Europe, where more and more institutions are starting and developing collaborations with our locations.
This program prepares students to work in positions of responsibility in the automotive industry and in style and R&D centers to develop product design and advanced design projects. In addition to automotive design, graduates also work successfully in many other fields of vehicle design, such as public transportation, railways, motorcycles, boats, yachts and personal transportation.
Everything you need to know about our course