Car Design for 15 - 17 Year Olds
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£525
- Start Date(s): 28 July 2025
- Duration: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, one week
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course dates:
28 July - 1 August 2025, Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Explore the world of car design during this one-week course, where you’ll delve into exciting approaches that are shaping the future of car design and creativity.
The car industry has seen rapid changes in how vehicles are designed: whilst the trend is to use digital technologies to create visuals, every great car design begins with an idea on paper.
This course is an opportunity to explore the creative process of car design away from a screen, develop your drawing skills and thinking around car design.
You’ll build confidence in getting your ideas down on paper and develop fundamental design skills, taking your ideas from sketches into perspective drawings that could be used by 3D modellers in the design process of designing a new car.
This course is ideal if you’re interested in cars and how they are designed, or are thinking of further studies in product design, industrial design, or transport design.
It’s also for anyone with a keen interest in drawing looking for a creative challenge.
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You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas. -
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your portfolio. -
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices. -
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance.
Doing your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award?
This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential Award and is an amazing opportunity to make new friends and memories. It will be fun and gently challenging, allowing you to follow your passion and discover talents you never knew you had.
DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.
You must also attend the social events that are planned on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and you must plan and attend your own social activities with other participants on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Here's what our previous attendees said:
'Boris was amazing and inspirational, it was great to learn from a professional. The bit I enjoyed the most was learning how to draw cars in orographic perspective.'
'I have improved my drawing skills and the course has given me a professional insight into car design.'
'I wanted to do this course because I want to pursue a career in car design. I've learnt to sketch with focus on the properties of the car and the DNA of the brand. I now know how to properly follow a brief and move designed proposals in perspective views, then into orthographic views. A really good course and amazing teacher!'
'I read about this course online and wanted to do it as part of my Gold DoE Residential because it’s a topic I'm interested in. I've picked up various skills in Car Design such as sketching and the importance of precision. I've also been able to make new friendships with people I've never met before! I've had a good time and gained valuable experiences and I really enjoyed working with the tutor, Boris.'
'I did this course because I wanted to explore my options. I've taken away knowledge of the industry as well as drawing and designing skills. I most enjoyed seeing my designs come together!'
What you’ll study
Dive into the world of tomorrow's transportation! We'll challenge your thinking about cars, exploring the realms of electric and autonomous vehicles, envisioning the future smart cities and the role your designs could play.
Sharpen your drawing skills specifically tailored for car design; from basic sketches to intricate perspective drawings, you'll develop the techniques necessary to bring your automotive visions to life.
You’ll develop your creative thinking to design your own car with a distinct personality, considering the way it should look, how it should be shaped and what features it should have.
You will design the interior and exterior of your concept car, and learn how form and style link to the function of a vehicle, understanding proportions and perspectives.
You’ll also work as a group to design a car from a set brief for a new type of car, developing your team-working and technical drawing skills to visualise a concept.
During this course, you will:
- learn how to design in different perspectives
- create car design concepts from your own inspiration and from a brief
- look at current car design concepts and discuss how their personality and style is driven by their brand DNA
- explore your car design from different points of view
- learn about style and function in automobile design
- discuss how a 3D modeller would interpret your plans
- present your project ideas to others
- consider the future of car design.
You will be introduced to techniques through seminars, group demonstrations and discussion, feedback and tutorials.
By the end of the course you’ll be able to recognise the different stages of design development for a car and you’ll leave with sketches, concepts, perspective drawings and plans for your portfolio.
You’ll have gained confidence in presenting your ideas to others and developed a range of transferrable design and drawing skills.
Social events
We appoint NTU Student Ambassadors who host social events on Monday and Wednesday evening to help you make friends across the whole of our summer school programme for 15 – 17 year olds, which are free to attend.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll study during the course:
Start your car design journey by considering the balance of design through style and function and explore the fundamental principles of car design.
From idea to the model, discover how to breathe life into your car design visions.
Unlock the secrets of branding DNA and glimpse into the future of mobility, all while sketching concepts that reflect your unique theme of choice.
Step into the role of a car design professional as you sketch concepts tailored to a specific brief for an innovative new car.
Unleash your creativity within the confines of a challenge, pushing your boundaries to redefine the future of car design.
Take your sketches to the next level as you explore the art of moving designs into perspective views, mastering the intricacies of orthographic representation.
This day is all about bringing your automotive creations to life from every angle, refining your ability to communicate your ideas visually.
Join forces with your peers as you form teams to tackle a challenging brief for an entirely new type of vehicle.
Together, you'll bring together your creative ideas to sketch concepts that push the boundaries of innovation in automotive design. This collaborative day emphasizes teamwork and shared vision.
In a final collaborative push, teams will rework their sketches, breathing life into their concepts by selecting and refining perspective views.
This day encapsulates the essence of iterative design, ensuring your ideas are not just born but refined into fully-fledged concepts.
Student Work
How you’re taught
This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.
96% of previous course attendees were satisfied with the course, received the attention they needed and would consider doing another short course at NTU.
Contact hours
You will receive 25 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
The course is designed to give you a real experience of university life, make new friends who share similar interests and develop your portfolio so that ultimately, you can make an informed decision about your future.
Previous students have gone on to study or work in product design, automotive design, and industrial design. They have many transferable skills that can be applied to a number of roles within the creative industries.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.
Campus and facilities
You will be based in the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment on the City Campus.
You’ll find collaborative working spaces where you develop your sketches and concepts.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Open to all.
Entry requirement: You should have an interest in product, industrial or car design and in developing your creative thinking and drawing skills.
You must be 15, 16 or 17 years old at the time of the course in order to attend.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £525.
Payment is due at the time of booking.
Secure your place with a deposit - If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
Please bring with you on the first day:
- Sketchpad and notepad
- Basic drawing and designing equipment: a selection of pencils, pencil sharpener and rubber
Please note that lunch is not provided, so bring your packed lunch or money to buy food. The city centre, with plenty of cafés and grocery shops, is just a 5-minute walk away. You can also check which campus buildings have café outlets using MazeMap.
If you would like to do some pre-course reading, you can look at:
- H-Point: The Fundamentals of Car Design and Packaging by Stuart Macey and Geoff Wardle
- How to design cars like a pro by Tony Lewin, Ryan Borroff and Ian Callum
- Learning Curves by Klara Sjölén and Allan Macdonald
- Fundamentals of automobile body structure design by Donald E. Malen
- Modern Automative Technology by James E. Duffy
- Net Car Show
Read the terms and conditions of booking.
Need accommodation?
Accommodation can be booked separately to the course; the rooms are only a few minutes’ walk from our studios and classrooms, and cost £259 per week, which is ideal if you're looking to be based in Nottingham's lively city centre and want an economical place to stay.
These are single rooms with a private bathroom in shared apartments in Nottingham Trent University’s city campus accommodation.
If you're aged 16 or 17 then you can stay unaccompanied with agreement from a parent/guardian (to support safeguarding, all guests aged 16 and 17 will be accommodated together in the same halls of residence and there is a dedicated Warden available).
If you're aged 15 then you can stay as long as you are accompanied by a parent/guardian (you must book two separate rooms and let us know so we can place you in rooms next to each other).
This option is particularly popular with students completing their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award.
Find out more and book your accommodation here.
Looking to turn your one-week course into a two-week experience?
If you can match this with any second course, you’ll receive a 10% refund on your course fees (email the short course team with your order number to claim the refund).
How to apply
You can book this course via the NTU online store:
28 July - 1 August 2025, Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Browse all our summer courses for 15 – 17 year olds.
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813