Car Design Academy ーThe only place in the world where you can learn car design onlineー

First in the world

An online car design school

CDA's student work
CDA's student work
CDA's student work
CDA's student work
CDA's student work
CDA's student work

Individual tutoring
by professional car designers

Individually curtailed tutorials
made possible only through our online program

Car Design Academy provides high quality design education to the whole world. Our unique method ensures the access to our education to anybody who has passion for learning product design, regardless where they are on the globe. We train fine designers with creativity and proposal power.

Video Feedback Sample

You can select the way you receive instructor’s feedback either Live Feedback Session or On-demand Lesson for your assignment. Either way all lessons are recorded, so you can go back and rewatch contents as needed, and it will assist you to fully understand. Click the button to watch sample videos via YouTube [YouTube Playlist]

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A competitive environment
where you learn with fellow students from all over the world

The CDA offers an environment in which you can grow through competing with other students

We hold annual events such as the CDA competition, where you can receive face-to-face instructions. You can also view over 1,000 student works and tutoring videos.

CDA supports your dream to come true

Professional designers will support your dream to come true.

What are necessary skills to become a designer? How to create a portfolio which you need for school and job applications? Our car designers, who exactly know what kind of car designers the car industry is looking for right at this moment, will support your dream.

Professional designers will support your dream to come true.

What are necessary skills to become a designer? How to create a portfolio which you need for school and job applications? Our car designers, who exactly know what kind of car designers the car industry is looking for right at this moment, will support your dream.

  • Toshio Yamashita

    Toshio Yamashita

    Designer of Nissan Fairlady Z Z32. During his time at Nissan, he participated in projects that expressed fundamental charms of cars, such as the second generation Violet, Silvia 240SX, Skyline GT−R, Infinity G35, Q45. He is a founder of Interrobang Design Collaboratives, Inc.

    The sketching skills hardly improve without actually moving hands. The techniques of drawing three dimensions make everybody almost confused at the beginning. CDA offers a concrete explanation on how three dimensions work, and it is a practical, good course. Anyways, sketching is the start of creative activities!

    Excerpt from Designer Interview
    Toshio Yamashita

    Toshio Yamashita

    Designer of Nissan Fairlady Z Z32. During his time at Nissan, he participated in projects that expressed fundamental charms of cars, such as the second generation Violet, Silvia 240SX, Skyline GT−R, Infinity G35, Q45. He is a founder of Interrobang Design Collaboratives, Inc.

  • Eiji Mitooka

    Eiji Mitooka

    CEO, Don Design Associates. He has designed many public transportation systems, most notably Kyushu Shinkansen. His works range from industrial design, interior design, illustration, to costumes. Author of Around The Kyushu and many others.

    An online school creates a diverse and free educational environment, which would greatly contribute in discovering designers of tomorrow.

    Excerpt from message for the CDA opening
    Eiji Mitooka

    Eiji Mitooka

    CEO, Don Design Associates. He has designed many public transportation systems, most notably Kyushu Shinkansen. His works range from industrial design, interior design, illustration, to costumes. Author of Around The Kyushu and many others.

  • Holger Hutzenlaub

    Holger Hutzenlaub

    Design director for advanced design department for Mercedes Germany. He served as project manager, exterior designer, and interior designer of numerous cars including CL class. Since 2003, he has been overseaing design project management of Maybach.

    I would have taken this course if this system had existed when I was student

    Excerpt from Designer Interview
    Holger Hutzenlaub

    Holger Hutzenlaub

    Design director for advanced design department for Mercedes Germany. He served as project manager, exterior designer, and interior designer of numerous cars including CL class. Since 2003, he has been overseaing design project management of Maybach.

Example of Student Sketches
- Before and After -

Not only beginners, but also students at all levels including intermediate or advanced level are realizing their improvements.

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Student Testimonials

  • "The biggest thing which helped me was participation in competitions."

    Jonathan / Designer

    CDA puts importance on developing skills and accurate perspectives in sketch, which I like about this course. And CDA walks you through. After each lesson, there is a video, which literally teaches all the points you need. The biggest thing which helped me was participation in competitions, in which everybody was allowed to express themselves and bring all they had learnt.

  • "I got more comfortable at developing car design concepts and presenting my ideas."

    Alireza Saeedi / KISKA Designer

    The biggest benefit for me was to be able to work hard at home. I kept on sketching and I got better. I got more comfortable at developing car design concepts and presenting my ideas. It was a pleasure being instructed by Mr. Can. Although I got my feedback in a video format from him, the communication and the input that I got from him was amazing.

  • "CDA has helped me build my portfolio, and the things I have learned were very similar to my internship."

    Agri Bisono / Car Designer

    I feel that many schools across the world do not support the job search process, but CDA was very aggressive in the job search process in the Car Design industry.

  • "I was very much impressed by the contents of the materials."

    Rishabh

    The text materials provided in the lesson have almost all of the info regarding car design and I was very much impressed by the contents of the materials. For each lesson I always submitted thinking there is no error and it’s the best I could do, but after their advice only a bit of tweaking would give my work more professional taste, of which I never thought. CDA also makes you a very competitive person in the job market, after the completion of the course.”

  • "To all the instructors, thank you for your patience. I really appreciate the detailed corrections."

    Nicole

    1.) Text materials – very detailed, 2.) Video Text – the video texts are also top notch., 3.) Instructor’s review – I can’t believe how much my instructor’s reviews have helped me in improving my sketches. I can see an improvement with each assignment.

  • "The text materials and video text were excellent in cultivating my sketching skills."

    Kaustubh Adhav

    I personally benefited a lot from CDA’s Total Design Course. My skills have improved by leaps and bounds. The concepts that I used to design before CDA looked amateur and now my skills have progressed to become more professional over time.

  • "I have learned a lot of things that I didn’t know about the whole process of car design."

    Carlos

    The materials have let me understand the detailed process from the main idea, sketches, renderings and until the final compositions. The feedback is much more about what I expected. The feedback is really fast and completed and the Lessons are really good programmed.

  • "I learned efficient way to draw sketches."

    H.T / Car Desginer

    I’m very satisfied with the curriculum and could learn the efficient way to draw sketches including rendering and adding corrections on my work, that I really wanted to learn. I am usually required to produce any outputs within a restricted time in my job, so I had been looking for the way.

  • “I was not expecting this much detailed feedback.”

    Y.O /College Student

    I am not major in design at college, but I have been interested in taking a job in the car industry. I have been feeling that a certain level of understanding on car designing is needed regardless what kind of department I would be assigned for. I had considered about studying abroad in a school where specialized in car design; however, I had to put more importance on getting a job first. It’s my pleasure that I received comments from overseas in CDA.

  • "The teacher’s drawing over my sketch was clearly addressing my problems"

    Tetsuya Takahashi

    I was thinking of taking course at CDA while working. I wanted to check if I can manage my time, the pace of lessons, and how lessons are conducted. All my problems on sketch were solved by correcting my perspective that pointed out from my instructor. I am now realizing that learning directly from professionals is important.

  • "Participating in CDA Design Competition helps my skills improve besides lessons."

    K.S / College Student

    The CDA Design Competition provides a valuable experience to students. In the competition, students are rated on their designs and ranked in the results. I am inspired with other student’s works for the competition, and try to take their good point in my works.

  • " By receiving precise advice and corrections from my instructor, I could know the points where I had to improve."

    Momoka /Art College Student

    I’m major in mobility design at my college and I felt the ability difference with other students, so I had to get more skills especially in sketch. Instructions from my instructor in CDA are easy to understand, and I can watch real professional technique in the feedback video, that really helps me.

CDA Magazine

We provide articles on car designing, job hunting, and CDA activity report. It is loaded with beneficial information for anyone who wants to become a car designer. Please take a look!

CAR DESIGN ACADEMY

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