Transportation and Mobility Design: A Niche B.Des Specialisation With Big Industry Potential
Published by Shikha Kumari on May 23, 2025
Transportation and Mobility Design isn’t as widely discussed as other B.Des specialisations, but it’s quietly becoming one of the most future-focused, high-opportunity domains in the field. As industries shift towards electric, connected, and sustainable mobility, the demand for designers who understand movement, not just of vehicles, but of people and systems, is only growing.
This is a specialisation that blends product thinking, interaction, and service design with real-world systems. The result? A career path that’s not just creative but practical, strategic, and yes, often better paid than the average design role.
What Does Transportation and Mobility Design Cover?
The scope of Transportation and Mobility Design includes everything from public transportation systems and electric scooters to mobility apps and urban service flows. The focus is on designing how people and things move efficiently and sustainably.
Types of Transportation Design
| Design Area | Description |
| Vehicle Design | Designing the exterior, interior, and mechanical systems of vehicles. |
| Infrastructure Design | Planning and designing roads, railways, airports, and other infrastructure. |
| System Design | Designing transportation networks, including scheduling, routing, and traffic. |
| User Interface (UI) Design | Focusing on the user experience in vehicles and transit hubs. |
Where to Study Transportation and Mobility Design in India
This specialisation is offered at a select group of institutions, mostly known for strong industry links and a project-heavy curriculum. One such college is IDC School of Design, which offers a high-level curriculum in MDes Mobility and Vehicle Design.
| Product Detailing | Typography | Narratives | Book Design | Info Graphics | Craft |
| Instructional | Field Study | Detailing | Cinema | Storytelling | Interaction |
| Human Factors | Character | Sustainability | VR Basics | Explainer Vid | Media Study |
| Service Topics | Pattern Lang | Service Design | Game Design | Animation | Mgmt |
| Kids Games | Semantics | Seeing | Packaging | Experiential | Furniture |
| Exp. Animation | Social Entrep. | Immersive Media | Adv. Service | Innovation | Sketching |
Global Perspective: Why Italy is Still Leading in Transportation Design
Italy continues to be a major destination for advanced transportation design education. Schools like IED and SPD maintain close ties with global auto brands and offer studio-heavy master’s programs.
| School | Course Name | Location |
| IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) | Master’s in Transportation Design | Milan |
| SPD (Scuola Politecnica di Design) | Master’s in Car and Transportation Design | Milan |
Graduates from these programs often work with luxury carmakers or bring that expertise into mobility startups worldwide.
Transportation and Mobility Design Syllabus
Courses tend to focus on a mix of design fundamentals, technology, research, and user experience. For example, here’s what an IDC School of Design MDes in Mobility and Vehicle Design syllabus include:
| Course Title | Code | Duration / Format | Key Activities | Focus / Outcome |
| Mobility Design I | MD 611 | 4 weeks, group + solo work | Surveys on A-segment vehicles, interior concept development | Research, analysis, and individual concept generation |
| Mobility Design II | MD 614 | 1-week workshop starts | Electric taxi system design for suburban Mumbai | Systems thinking, urban transport ideation |
| CAID Modelling for Automotive Design | MD 615 | 3 weeks, software-focused | Alias classes, Segway-based design using metaphors | CAID skill-building, form development |
| History of Transport & Auto Design | MD 616 | Multiple assignments | Retro car study, designer research, retro scale model | Design history, critical analysis, model-making |
| Studies in 3D Form | MD 618 | Studio-based | Clay modelling, form based on “speed” | Form expression, physical modelling |
| Forms, Space and Order | MD 649 | 3 weeks | Wireframe forms, Segway form design | Visual structure, spatial awareness |
Books & Learning Resources
For candidates preparing portfolios or aiming to apply for master’s programs, these books are highly useful. These can also support B.Des portfolio preparation and add polish to submissions for both Indian and international schools.
| Book Title | Use Case |
| Sketching by Koos Eissen | Rapid concept visualisation |
| H-Point: Fundamentals of Car Design | Vehicle design layout and packaging |
| The Car Design Yearbook series | Visual inspiration, brand evolution |
| Mobility: A New Urban Design | Systems design in modern cities |
Career Outcomes & Salary Expectations
The specialisation offers strong hiring potential across electric vehicle startups, automotive OEMs, urban transport planning, and interface design. In India, candidates with 0 to 4 years of experience can expect a salary ranging from 2.3 LPA – 13.8 LPA
| Company | Experience | Salary Range (LPA) |
| Pur Energy | 0–2 yrs | 5.5 – 12 LPA |
| Raika Automobiles | 1 yr | 2.3 – 2.9 LPA |
| Greaves Electric Mobility | 1 yr | 5.2 – 6.7 LPA |
| TI Clean Mobility | 1 yr | 3.8 – 4.8 LPA |
| Yearlater | 1 yr | 3.6 – 4.6 LPA |
| Exa Mobility | 1–2 yrs | 5.9 – 7.6 LPA |
| Rivot Motors | 2 yrs | 3.2 – 4 LPA |
| VE Commercial Vehicles | 1–3 yrs | 7.7 – 9.8 LPA |
| Brisk EV | 1–3 yrs | 8 – 12 LPA |
| Gear Head Motors | 4 yrs | 10.8 – 13.8 LPA |
Professionals with an international master’s degree, or those who intern with high-tech OEMs, often scale faster. It’s a specialisation that blends design, engineering, tech, and urban problem-solving in one space. For candidates seeking a path that’s both creative and strategic, this is a track worth looking into.
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