Diploma in Seat Design: Foams, Structures and Comfort Mapping
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in seat design: foams, structures and comfort mapping: 8 modules covering seated posture biomechanics, seat structures, foams and comfort materials, comfort mapping, seat safety, active comfort functions and seat development and validation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Seat Design: Foams, Structures and Comfort Mapping — studying from Canada
Product design and human-machine interface work is well established in Canada across automotive, aerospace, medical devices and consumer electronics. Design studios and engineering firms in Toronto, Montréal, Waterloo and Vancouver develop user interfaces for vehicles, industrial equipment and healthcare technology. Usability and accessibility requirements are shaped by national standards and provincial legislation, including the Accessible Canada Act at the federal level. Typical employers include manufacturers, software companies and design consultancies.
Fees for Canada: C$2,010 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Is design or HMI work in Canada regulated, and how does SEIUM fit in?
Product and HMI design is generally not a licensed profession in Canada, unlike engineering, which is regulated by provincial associations issuing Professional Engineer licences. SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees and not accredited by a national body. Recognition is decided by employers or relevant bodies, so confirm acceptance with them before enrolling.
Do Canadian product and interface design employers value this kind of study?
Canadian design employers, including software firms in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, usually focus on portfolios, user research and shipped work. A SEIUM qualification may add to your profile, especially with a strong final project, but whether it is valued depends on each employer. Build your portfolio alongside your studies.
How much time does this need alongside work, and how is it paid for?
The courses are fully online, so you can study from home at your own pace. Specialist courses take 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and master's 1,900, so consider your weekly availability. Teaching is in English with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which you can ask your employer about.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the biomechanics of the seated posture.
Design strong, lightweight seat structures.
Select foams and upholstery according to hardness and comfort.
Carry out comfort mapping with pressure maps.
Apply safety requirements for seats and head restraints.
Specify active comfort functions.
Plan seat validation and type approval.
Who it's for
- Seat engineers
- Occupant comfort specialists
- Interior materials engineers
- Passive safety engineers
- Interior designers
- Product validation engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the automotive sector
What you'll work with
- UN ECE Regulation No. 17 (seats, anchorages and head restraints)
- UN ECE Regulation No. 14 (safety-belt anchorages and ISOFIX)
- ISO 2439:2008 (flexible foams: indentation hardness)
- ISO 10326-1 (evaluation of seat vibration)
- ISO 2631-1:1997 (human exposure to whole-body vibration)
- ISO 3386-1 (flexible foams: compression)
- UN ECE Regulation No. 25 (head restraints)
- Euro NCAP Whiplash Test Protocol
- RAMSIS
- XSENSOR
- LS-DYNA
- CATIA V5/3DEXPERIENCE
- Abaqus
8 modules
1.1Anatomy of the spine and pelvis1.2Seated posture and lumbar curvature1.3Pressure distribution1.4Comfort and discomfort: models1.5Fatigue on long journeys1.6Vibration transmitted to the body1.7Anthropometry for seats1.8Differences between populations1.9Comfort assessment methods1.10Workshop: postural analysis of a driver
2.1Seat architecture: cushion, backrest and head restraint2.2Steel and aluminium frames2.3Tracks, adjusters and mechanisms2.4Recliners and locks2.5Folding rear seats2.6Anchorages and their strength2.7Side airbag integration2.8Weight reduction and materials2.9Structural simulation of the frame2.10Practical: load analysis of a frame
3.1Moulded polyurethane foam3.2Density, hardness and indentation curve3.3Testing according to ISO 24393.4Hysteresis and recovery3.5Dual-hardness foams3.6Springs, suspensions and technical fabrics3.7Upholstery: fabric, leather and synthetics3.8Breathability and thermal performance3.9Sustainable and recycled materials3.10Lab: foam hardness characterisation
4.1Pressure maps with sensor mats4.2Peak pressure and distribution indices4.3Lumbar and lateral support zones4.4Correlation with subjective rating4.5Jury tests and percentiles4.6Dynamic comfort while driving4.7SEAT vibration transmissibility4.8Seat thermal comfort4.9Map visualisation and analysis4.10Case study: pressure map of a benchmark seat
5.1Strength of seats and anchorages5.2Head restraints and neck protection5.3Whiplash tests5.4Luggage retention5.5ISOFIX anchorages and top tether5.6Seat belt integration5.7Cushion anti-submarining ramps5.8Dynamic sled tests5.9Euro NCAP rear impact protocols5.10Workshop: head restraint geometry assessment
6.1Power adjustment and memory6.2Adjustable lumbar support and massage6.3Heating and ventilation6.4Seats for automated driving6.5Swivel and relaxation positions6.6Occupancy sensors6.7Seats for reduced mobility6.8Control integration6.9Mechanism noise6.10Practical: specification of a seat with massage
7.1Development process with the supplier7.2Seat technical specification7.3Prototypes and validation7.4Durability tests7.5Perceived quality tests7.6Target cost and weight7.7Manufacturing and assembly7.8Variant management7.9Type approval of the complete seat7.10Case study: validation plan for a front seat
8.1Defining requirements8.2Structure concept8.3Foam selection8.4Comfort analysis8.5Safety analysis8.6Active comfort functions8.7Validation plan8.8Seat weight and cost estimate8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RAMSIS, XSENSOR, LS-DYNA, CATIA V5/3DEXPERIENCE and Abaqus, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for seat pressure mapping with participants, polyurethane foam characterisation, and head restraint geometry and whiplash assessment. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integration project.
Standards covered: UN ECE Regulation No. 17 (seats, anchorages and head restraints); UN ECE Regulation No. 14 (safety-belt anchorages and ISOFIX); ISO 2439:2008 (flexible foams: indentation hardness); ISO 10326-1 (evaluation of seat vibration); ISO 2631-1:1997 (human exposure to whole-body vibration); ISO 3386-1 (flexible foams: compression); UN ECE Regulation No. 25 (head restraints); Euro NCAP Whiplash Test Protocol.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with RAMSIS, XSENSOR, LS-DYNA, CATIA V5/3DEXPERIENCE and Abaqus, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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