MA Design Management
MA Design Management is an online, flexible part-time course with a duration of one year or more. It explores how design thinking, visual communication and creative practice can be brought together with strategic leadership and project management. It may suit designers and creative practitioners who want to develop their ability to lead design projects, manage teams and communicate design strategy.
About this course
This online MA Design Management examines how design can be planned, led and communicated within organisations. It combines design practice with project management, strategic leadership and the management of creative teams and workflows.
You will work with physical, digital and conceptual design practice, considering communication design, visual design communication and approaches to reducing environmental impact through design. Research methods and research reporting are also developed in design management contexts.
The course includes collaborative work, professional practice and a substantial research report. It is CMI accredited, with CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice and CMI Foundation Chartered Manager Status listed among the associated professional recognitions.
What you will study
Core areas include:
• Design Thinking and Practice • Design Management Practice • Emerging Communication Design • Collaborative Design I • Collaborative Design II • Design Professional Practice • Research Report • Creative Situated Practice
The course also addresses visual design, creative project management, strategic leadership, team and workflow management, sustainability in design, and research methods.
Modules
- Design Thinking and Practice
- Design Management Practice
- Emerging Communication Design
- Collaborative Design I
- Collaborative Design II
- Design Professional Practice
- Research Report
- Creative Situated Practice
Assessment
Assessment is through portfolio work, Design and Personal Development reports, and a final portfolio assessment.
Entry requirements
Standard entry requires a completed bachelor's degree at 2:2 or above in a relevant discipline, plus a portfolio assessment containing five completed projects. The portfolio must show design planning, process and research.
Relevant disciplines include graphic design, multimedia and interactive design, visual communication, advertising and marketing, marketing and design, and IT.
Non-standard entry requires at least four years of relevant work experience and a portfolio of work. This portfolio must include 5–10 complete design projects demonstrating the design process and use of the full design cycle, with evidence of planning and research.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no element below 6.0; or TOEFL iBT 90.
Evidence of previous study delivered in English may also be accepted, such as a letter confirming that English was the medium of instruction.
Careers
The course may support progression into roles such as design manager, senior designer, strategic design manager, innovation designer, UX/UI lead designer, human-centred design specialist, customer experience researcher, innovation consultant, experience lead, change transformation designer, or service and experience design lead. It may also be relevant to work in design and brand consultancy, design communication management, in-house design and marketing, and research and development.
Your next step starts with a conversation
Tell us where you are now. We will tell you honestly what your options are — in English or Persian, at no cost to you.