The evolution of conceptual developments in the field of transport is considered in the paper. It is possible to clearly trace the significance of these developments and the impact of various spheres of human life on their forming. Conceptual transport finds its application not only in the field of entertainment such as science-fiction films or computer games, but is crucial in the design of new industrial objects in the automotive industry and in the choice of strategic directions of development of industry and each brand in particular.

This article describes the historical analysis of design methods that allowed creating an original design model of creative process, consists of three different layers of factors that influence design- er’s work - environmental, basic and shaping factors.

The article describes the proposed classifier, which allows you to determine if a specific vehicle design project belongs to concept-art, concepts, or to industrial designs. The classifier is based on two axes - the horizontal axis considers the factors that the designer guided in the development of object shapes, and the vertical axis evaluates the object and its underlying concept in terms of level of science and economic feasibility. Based on this there are refined definitions of concept-art, concept and industrial design.

This article depicts professional qualification analysis and current working conditions of trans- portation designers, and also trends in transportation design. All gathered information shows the requirements to be met by transportation designers that could form the basis of the new professional standard.

The article presents an analysis of the tasks of industrial design (and in particular the design of vehicles) and demonstrates the importance of developing not only real objects, the purpose of which is to create cost-effective products, but also conceptual developments, the tasks of which are much wider. Conceptual developments allow us to form an image of the future, which we want to strive for, to form trends and to demonstrate new opportunities that new technologies open up to us. In this regard, the paper demonstrates a new classification of conceptual developments, as well as the competence of the concept designer who carries out such developments. The classifier contains the division of industrial design, conceptual design and concept art. Conceptual design is concentrated near the border of scientific knowledge, which allows the relevant developments, on the one hand, to be guided by modern high technologies (high technology design), and, on the other hand, to offer solutions that can potentially offer an innovative way of development of a particular field of knowledge, forming a request for new technologies. Competence of a concept designer for such work involves, among other things, the ability to work with the future (futurology) and additional competencies in the field of directing and screenwriting, to create an appropriate visual narrative and convey the value content of the projected image of the future.