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Master'sDesign, HMI & Product Applications open

Master’s in Hybrid Prototyping Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in hybrid prototyping engineering, structured in 12 modules covering prototyping strategy, electronics for prototypes, digital fabrication, mixed reality and mock-ups, interface prototyping, simulation, vehicle and mobility prototypes, user validation, project management, industrialisation and strategic innovation, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Define prototyping strategies according to the design question.

02

Build electronic prototypes with microcontrollers and sensors.

03

Manufacture functional parts with 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC.

04

Combine physical mock-ups with virtual and mixed reality.

05

Connect digital interfaces to real hardware.

06

Validate prototypes with users and objective metrics.

07

Plan the transition from prototype to industrial pre-series.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Prototyping engineers.
  • Interactive product designers.
  • Digital fabrication technicians.
  • Prototype electronics engineers.
  • UX researchers working with prototypes.
  • Innovation lab managers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the automotive sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 9241-210:2019 (human-centred design for interactive systems)
  • Directive 2014/53/EU (RED) (Radio Equipment Directive)
  • Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) (Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive)
  • IEC 62368-1 (safety of audio/video, information and communication technology equipment)
  • ISO/ASTM 52900:2021 (additive manufacturing: general principles and terminology)
  • Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (General Product Safety Regulation)
  • ISO/ASTM 52910:2018 (additive manufacturing: design requirements, guidelines and recommendations)
  • KiCad
  • Autodesk Fusion
  • ProtoPie
  • Unity
  • Arduino IDE
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Definition of a hybrid prototype
  2. 1.2Physical versus digital fidelity
  3. 1.3Fast low-cost prototypes
  4. 1.4Mixed prototyping in engineering
  5. 1.5The right moment for each prototype
  6. 1.6The design question behind the prototype
  7. 1.7Cost of error and learning
  8. 1.8Cases in automotive and electronics
  9. 1.9Tool selection by phase
  10. 1.10Case study: prototyping strategy for a connected product
  1. 2.1Arduino, ESP32 and Raspberry Pi
  2. 2.2Common sensors and how to read them
  3. 2.3Actuators, motors and servos
  4. 2.4Power supply and portable batteries
  5. 2.5Breadboards and basic soldering
  6. 2.6Rapid PCB design with KiCad
  7. 2.7I2C, SPI and UART communication
  8. 2.8BLE and Wi-Fi connectivity
  9. 2.9Debugging with an oscilloscope
  10. 2.10Laboratory: connected physical control with ESP32
  1. 3.13D printing for functional parts
  2. 3.2Laser cutting and bending
  3. 3.3Desktop CNC milling
  4. 3.4Thermoforming of housings
  5. 3.5Silicone and resin casting
  6. 3.6Threaded inserts and fasteners
  7. 3.7Tolerances in 3D printing
  8. 3.8Rapid finishing and painting
  9. 3.9Workshop safety
  10. 3.10Workshop: functional housing for electronics
  1. 4.1Physical mock-ups with digital projection
  2. 4.2Mixed reality over a physical mock-up
  3. 4.3Tracking of physical objects
  4. 4.4Physical controls in virtual simulators
  5. 4.5Seating buck combined with VR
  6. 4.6Passive haptics with mock-ups
  7. 4.7Calibration between the physical and virtual worlds
  8. 4.8Latency and spatial registration
  9. 4.9User evaluation scenarios
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: seating buck with VR
  1. 5.1Interactive interfaces in ProtoPie
  2. 5.2Connecting prototypes to real hardware
  3. 5.3Real embedded touch screens
  4. 5.4Voice interaction prototypes
  5. 5.5Wizard of Oz technique with a hidden operator
  6. 5.6Micro-interactions and animation
  7. 5.7Simulated data and scenarios
  8. 5.8Fast guerrilla testing
  9. 5.9Weekly iteration cycles
  10. 5.10Workshop: interface with a physical control via ProtoPie Connect
  1. 6.1Fast structural simulation in design
  2. 6.2Kinematic simulation of mechanisms
  3. 6.3Fast CFD for housing thermal behaviour
  4. 6.4System models in Simulink
  5. 6.5Simple hardware-in-the-loop benches
  6. 6.6Software-in-the-loop testing of firmware
  7. 6.7Digital twin of the prototype
  8. 6.8Correlation of simulation and testing
  9. 6.9Test data logging
  10. 6.10Laboratory: low-cost HIL with a microcontroller
  1. 7.1Mules and engineering vehicles
  2. 7.2Functional interior mock-ups
  3. 7.3Custom driving simulators
  4. 7.4Demonstration vehicles for trade fairs
  5. 7.5Micromobility prototypes
  6. 7.6Concept cars and show cars
  7. 7.7Rolling test platforms
  8. 7.8Conversion of series-production vehicles
  9. 7.9Safety in prototype testing
  10. 7.10Case study: e-scooter prototype with a new HMI
  1. 8.1Planning studies with prototypes
  2. 8.2Designing representative tasks
  3. 8.3Usability and performance metrics
  4. 8.4Observation and video recording
  5. 8.5Post-test surveys and interviews
  6. 8.6Eye tracking on prototypes
  7. 8.7Testing in real contexts of use
  8. 8.8Ethics and participant consent
  9. 8.9Synthesis of actionable findings
  10. 8.10Practical exercise: test with a hybrid prototype
  1. 9.1Prototyping budgets
  2. 9.2Hardware sprint planning
  3. 9.3Rapid prototyping suppliers
  4. 9.4In-house workshop versus outsourcing
  5. 9.5Documenting prototype versions
  6. 9.6Inventory of components and materials
  7. 9.7Technical and schedule risks
  8. 9.8Agile methodologies in hardware
  9. 9.9Communication with management and clients
  10. 9.10Workshop: prototype plan for a project
  1. 10.1Design for manufacture of parts
  2. 10.2Design for assembly
  3. 10.3Pilot series and pre-series
  4. 10.4Certification and CE marking
  5. 10.5Tooling and unit costs
  6. 10.6Component supply chain
  7. 10.7Scaling electronics to production
  8. 10.8EMC compliance testing
  9. 10.9Quality plan for launch
  10. 10.10Case study: moving from prototype to pre-series
  1. 11.1Five-day design sprints
  2. 11.2Lean start-up applied to hardware
  3. 11.3Physical minimum viable product
  4. 11.4Prototypes for investors and crowdfunding
  5. 11.5Patents and early protection
  6. 11.6Open hardware and licences
  7. 11.7Makerspaces and fab labs
  8. 11.8Corporate innovation labs
  9. 11.9A culture of experimentation
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: design sprint with a physical prototype
  1. 12.1Definition of the product and key question
  2. 12.2Phased prototyping strategy
  3. 12.3Development of the electronic prototype
  4. 12.4Fabrication of the physical prototype
  5. 12.5Digital layer and interface
  6. 12.6User testing of the prototype
  7. 12.7Iteration of the hybrid prototype
  8. 12.8Roadmap to industrialisation
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, 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 full-time work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is KiCad, Autodesk Fusion, ProtoPie, Unity and Arduino IDE, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: user testing on physical-digital prototypes, low-cost hardware-in-the-loop benches and seating buck evaluations with virtual reality. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: ISO 9241-210:2019, Directive 2014/53/EU (RED), Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC), IEC 62368-1, ISO/ASTM 52900:2021, Regulation (EU) 2023/988 and ISO/ASTM 52910:2018.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 9241-210, the RED Directive and the EMC Directive applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:KiCad, Autodesk Fusion, ProtoPie, Unity and Arduino IDE, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:a hybrid prototype of a product, from phased prototyping strategy, electronics and physical fabrication to a digital interface layer, user testing, iteration and an industrialisation roadmap, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Connected physical control
Build a connected physical control with an ESP32 and a functional 3D-printed housing.
Seating buck with VR
Combine a physical seating buck with virtual reality for user evaluation.
Hardware-linked interface
Connect an interactive interface to a physical control using ProtoPie Connect.
Hybrid prototype user test
Test a hybrid prototype with users and synthesise actionable findings.
Master's Thesis
Develop, test and iterate a hybrid product prototype with an industrialisation roadmap, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Prototyping engineerInteractive product designerDigital fabrication technicianPrototype electronics engineerUX researcher in prototypingInnovation lab manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • 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.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with KiCad, Autodesk Fusion, ProtoPie, Unity and Arduino IDE, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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