Diploma in CMF Selection: Biopolymers, Recycled Materials and VOCs
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in CMF selection of biopolymers, recycled materials and VOC: 8 modules covering the CMF discipline, biopolymers, recycled materials, emissions and indoor air quality, substance regulations, processing and finishes and material evaluation and selection, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in CMF Selection: Biopolymers, Recycled Materials and VOCs — studying from India
Product design and human-machine interface work is growing across India, from consumer electronics and automotive interiors to industrial equipment and medical devices. Design centres in Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai and Gurugram serve global brands as well as domestic manufacturers. Engineers and designers in this area combine mechanical design, usability research and digital interface development. Standards for usability and product quality are referenced through the Bureau of Indian Standards, and the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad is a well-known training institution for product and industrial designers.
Fees for India: ₹159,000 (Indian Rupee), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in India
Typical roles
Questions from India
Which bodies in India recognise design and HMI professionals?
Design in India is not licensed, so recognition comes through professional and academic bodies. These include the Indian Institute of Design network, the Design Council of India and the Usability Professionals' Association India chapter. SEIUM's private qualifications are not state degrees and are not accredited by any national body, so employers decide how much weight to give them.
Which employers in India hire HMI and product designers?
Hirers include consumer electronics and automotive firms, software and app companies, fintech and e-commerce platforms, and design consultancies in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune and Delhi NCR. A private online programme can strengthen your profile, but employers mainly assess your design portfolio, user research work and tool skills.
Can I manage this with a job in India, and what language level is needed?
The programme is entirely online and taught in English, so good written and spoken English is needed. You can study from India without a student visa. Specialist courses take around 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's about 1,900. Schedules follow IST, and you have an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and some employers offer sponsorship, so ask yours.
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
Apply the CMF process from trend research to industrialisation.
Select biopolymers and natural composites according to performance and processing.
Evaluate recycled materials and their traceability.
Interpret VDA 278 emission tests and VDA 270 odour tests.
Verify REACH, GADSL and IMDS compliance in components.
Plan finish and surface durability tests.
Justify a CMF selection through multi-criteria analysis.
Who it's for
- CMF designers moving towards sustainable materials.
- Materials engineers evaluating biopolymers and recycled grades.
- Product sustainability specialists working on footprint and recycled content.
- Substance compliance engineers handling REACH, GADSL and IMDS.
- Emissions laboratory technicians running VDA and ISO 12219 tests.
- Technical materials buyers assessing supply risk and cost.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the automotive industry.
What you'll work with
- VDA 278 (thermal desorption analysis of organic emissions)
- VDA 270 (determination of the odour characteristics of interior materials)
- ISO 12219-1 (interior air of road vehicles: whole vehicle test chamber)
- Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH) (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals)
- Directive 2000/53/EC (end-of-life vehicles)
- ISO 14021 (self-declared environmental claims)
- EN 16785-1 (bio-based content)
- FMVSS 302 (flammability of interior materials)
- Ansys Granta Selector
- IMDS
- Adobe Substance 3D
- SimaPro
- X-Rite Color iMatch
8 modules
1.1Colour, material and finish in design1.2The CMF process from research to production1.3Colour and material trends1.4Colour palettes and harmony1.5Haptic and visual perception of materials1.6Perceived quality of surfaces1.7Cost and industrial feasibility1.8Collaboration with suppliers1.9Material libraries1.10Workshop: CMF moodboard for a sustainable interior
2.1Classification: bio-based versus biodegradable2.2PLA, PHA and bio-PE2.3Bio-based polyamides2.4Bio-PU and plant-based foams2.5Natural fibre composites: flax, hemp and kenaf2.6Plant-based and mycelium alternative leathers2.7Mechanical and thermal properties2.8Bio-based content according to EN 16785-12.9Durability and processing limitations2.10Lab: comparison of biocomposite test specimens
3.1Mechanical and chemical recycling3.2Recycled PP and PET in interiors3.3Recycled PET textiles3.4Post-consumer and post-industrial regrinds3.5Batch variability and quality control3.6Recycled content and traceability3.7Claims according to ISO 140213.8Chain-of-custody certification3.9Recycled content requirements in the ELV regulation3.10Case study: replacing virgin PP with recycled PP
4.1Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds4.2Formaldehyde and aldehydes4.3Fogging and condensables4.4VDA 278 test method4.5Odour determination VDA 2704.6VDA 276 bag test and chamber test4.7Interior air quality ISO 122194.8Requirements of Asian markets4.9Emission reduction strategies4.10Lab: interpreting a VDA 278 report
5.1REACH Regulation and SVHC substances5.2GADSL list of declarable substances5.3IMDS material data system5.4Directive 2000/53/EC on end-of-life vehicles5.5Restriction of flame retardants5.6Flammability FMVSS 302 and ISO 37955.7Skin contact and allergenic substances5.8Supply chain compliance5.9Compliance documentation management5.10Case study: IMDS declaration of a component
6.1Injection moulding of biopolymers and recycled materials6.2Compression moulding of natural composites6.3Paint, waterborne varnishes and paint-free solutions6.4Grains, textures and graining6.5Mass colouring and pigments6.6Lamination and textile coating6.7Scratch and abrasion resistance tests6.8Light and colour fastness6.9Thermal and humidity ageing6.10Practical exercise: test plan for a paint-free finish
7.1Multi-criteria selection matrices7.2Carbon footprint of materials7.3Cost and supply risk analysis7.4Granta materials database7.5Technical validation against the specification7.6Perceived quality in clinics7.7Communicating the material to the customer7.8Scaling up to production7.9Lessons learned from launches7.10Case study: multi-criteria selection of a door trim covering
8.1Product and brand briefing8.2Research of candidate materials8.3CMF palette proposal8.4Emission and property tests8.5Regulatory analysis of substances8.6Environmental footprint assessment8.7Final decision matrix8.8Samples and presentation mock-up8.9Report 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 is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Granta Selector, IMDS, Adobe Substance 3D, SimaPro and X-Rite Color iMatch, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures for VDA 278 emission and VDA 270 odour tests, perceived quality clinics with material samples and multi-criteria selection of sustainable materials. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: VDA 278, VDA 270, ISO 12219-1, Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH), Directive 2000/53/EC, ISO 14021, EN 16785-1, FMVSS 302.
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 Ansys Granta Selector, IMDS, Adobe Substance 3D, SimaPro and X-Rite Color iMatch, 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 programme 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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