MA Design Management

Design management explores the role of design and how it is managed within businesses and organisations. The course attracts designers who wish to develop their business and management skills, and non-designers with an established interest in working in design.

This multi-disciplinary and professionally related course enables participants to tailor their program of study around their own area of specialisation and career plan. Our students have backgrounds in design for architecture, Interiors, product, jewellery, fashion, graphics and media or design related business / marketing.

Collaboration with companies and organisations involved in design takes place throughout the programme, including a six-week placement option. Insight into the crucial relationship between designers and non-designers is gained by working directly with designers. The course also provides the opportunity to reflect on and develop interpersonal, team-working, motivational and communication skills.

Insight into the strategic role of design allows participants to develop their careers as designers or managers in consultancies, design and marketing departments, as buyers or in their own businesses.

The course can be studied either full-time, part-time or whilst in employment via a learning contract. The unique learning contract enables practising designers and managers to develop their careers whilst gaining credit towards the MA for projects and time at work. Developed around personal and work related goals the learning contract is constructed from a combination of tailor-made and standard course modules, involving approximately 15 days attendance over 18 months.

Building on the success of this master’s program three additional pathways are being introduced alongside the existing route, which is entitled Professional Practice. These are Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Sustainable Design Policy and Service Design. These pathways reflect the changing nature of the global design context and create opportunities for those interested in design management to specialise.  The pathways will operate at the MA stage of the course via the dissertation.

Professional Practice
Design management aims to bridge the gap between design and business, designers and non-designers. Students examine aspects of the design management process and the strategic role of design. Insight into design practice enables students to develop their strategic skills, learning how to manage people and process, identifying the real value of design and articulating how return on investment can be quantified.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Entrepreneurship and innovation are at the heart of design with over half of UK design businesses employing five or less people.  Students interested in setting up their own businesses explore the nature of entrepreneurship and innovation and can develop a business plan as their dissertation.

Sustainable Design Policy
Sustainability is high on the agenda for all businesses and organisations worldwide.  This pathway provides the opportunity to research the relationship between design and organisational policy and explore the role of designers in achieving a sustainable future.

Service Design
The dramatic growth of the service economy means that service design is becoming increasingly important.  This pathway creates the opportunity to explore the specific role that design plays within the design of services and the service sector.

Career Prospects
Career opportunities are found in architecture, design and brand consultancies, in-house design and marketing departments as designers, design managers, project and account managers, marketing communication managers and buyers. Former students have also become freelance consultants, set up their own businesses and pursued careers in research and teaching.

Student Successes September 2009
Click here to learn more about some of this years students and their work.