| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
MA Design Management
Course Overview
This MA Design Management course offers a range of interdisciplinary perspectives from business, technology, social enterprises, and new venture creation. It provides practical research and work-based projects in all areas shaping the creative economy and the fourth industrial revolution – including the role of creative interventions in technology-enabled business transformation, change management, and design leadership.
Key Study Topics
- Emergence and discovery of opportunities
- Organisation and growth of the venture
- The psychological characteristics of the entrepreneur
- System, strategies, and structure to transform businesses, products, and services
- New cognitive technologies and how to redesign roles/projects to incorporate new technology solutions
- Creative-skills identifying user needs, idea-generation, conceptualisation, and leadership development
- Market research and brand innovation
- Work-based learning research project
The Specifics
Programme Specification
Entry Requirements
- Home: A lower second-class honours (a 2:2, or equivalent non-UK qualifications) or higher in a relevant subject, or an equivalent professional qualification in a related subject.
- International: If you have international qualifications, please view our entry requirements per country. In order to be eligible for this course, you will need to be a competent speaker and writer of English. If you require a Student Visa, you need to provide us with an IELTS or equivalent English language qualification, which demonstrates a minimum of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-test) or CEFR Level B2 in each component.
Selection Criteria
We welcome suitably-qualified applicants who are able to demonstrate a good level of skills in areas associated with this subject. To get a holistic view of your ability and aptitude to succeed on the course, we will also consider your enthusiasm and interest in the subject area, how you manage the creative process, previous study, and your professional skill-set.
How to Apply
Applications are welcome from a wide range of backgrounds and experience, including from students who may not necessarily possess formal academic qualifications. It is important that applicants can demonstrate an aptitude for learning and continued professional development through a research-led approach.
Fees and Funding
- Tuition fees for 2024/25:
- UK: £9,250 per year
- Overseas: £18,000 per year
- Tuition fees for 2025/26:
- UK: £9,750 per year
- Overseas: £18,000 per year
International Students
We very much welcome applicants from outside the UK. For information on study routes, visa requirements, studying in England, language, and entry requirements, application requirements, and access to international agents, please visit our international student section.
Career Opportunities
These are the types of design management jobs you could potentially move into after graduation:
- Design manager
- Business start-up entrepreneur
- Organisational development
- Brand strategist
- Market insights research
- Senior manager
- Marketing director
- Social enterprise
- Behavioral economics
- Forecasting and trend-casting
Facilities
- EventsHub: The EventsHub is a flexible space designed to house various industry-facing lectures, presentations, events, launches, promotions, showcases, exhibitions, and short courses for Ravensbourne, the local community, and across the Design District.
- The Workshop: Our prototyping facilities are designed to enable and support experimentation and exploration of materials and making through hi-tech, lo-tech, and no-tech facilities. This includes 3D printing, large-format digital print, laser cutting, and vacuum forming, Arduino and Raspberry Pi coding, and workshop hand-tools.
- CreativeLab: CreativeLab is Ravensbourne’s own in-house design and media production studio. Working across creative commercial projects, not-for-profit third-sector briefs, and internal design and content requirements, CreativeLab combines professional design expertise with employment opportunities on projects for our students and graduates.
Program Outline
Degree Overview
Ideal for:
Professionals and graduates with an interest in innovation, entrepreneurship and management who want to engage in cutting-edge challenges within the area of business transformation.
Description:
This program offers a contemporary look at design leadership through interdisciplinary perspectives from business, technology, social enterprises, and new venture creation. It provides practical research and work-based projects in areas shaping the creative economy and the fourth industrial revolution, including the role of creative interventions in technology-enabled business transformation, change management, and design leadership.
10 reasons to study this master's in design management course:
Gain highly desirable skills in business design, modeling, and organizational transformation Gain masters level skills in change management, leadership, evidence-based approaches to innovation and measuring impact Gain highly desirable skills in systems thinking Develop your knowledge of sustainability, social innovation, and corporate responsibility Gain business and entrepreneurial skills that will accelerate your career Experience a ‘real world’ research-led and practice-based approach to management education Learn about ‘holistic’ people-centered organizations and their success factors Improve your professional network through meeting people with similar interests and different skillsets Be part of a forward-thinking creative community bringing together design, technology, business, and social transformation.
Objectives:
- Equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to become effective leaders in the creative and digital industries.
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to navigate complex business challenges.
- Foster innovation and entrepreneurship through practical projects and research.
- Provide a strong foundation in design thinking, technology, and business management.
- Prepare students for successful careers in design management, business development, and related fields.
Outline
Key Study Topics:
- Emergence and discovery of opportunities
- Organization and growth of the venture
- The psychological characteristics of the entrepreneur
- Systems, strategies, and structure to transform businesses, products, and services
- New cognitive technologies and how to redesign roles/projects to incorporate new technology solutions
- Creative-skills identifying user needs, idea-generation, conceptualisation, and leadership development
- Market research and brand innovation
- Work-based learning research project
Structure:
- The program consists of 120 credits, delivered over one year of full-time study.
- Modules are typically delivered in a block format, with each module lasting for 4-6 weeks.
- A combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and project work is used to deliver the program.
Modules:
- Introduction to Design Management
- Design Thinking and Innovation
- Business Strategy and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation
- Design for Sustainability
- Leading and Managing Change
- Design Research Methods
- Work-Based Learning Project
Assessment
Assessment methods:
- Written assignments
- Presentations
- Group projects
- Portfolios
- Examinations (where applicable)
Assessment criteria:
- Knowledge and understanding of the subject matter
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Research skills
- Communication skills
- Teamwork skills
- Creativity and innovation
Teaching
Teaching methods:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Project supervision
- One-to-one tutorials
Faculty:
- The program is taught by experienced academics and industry practitioners with expertise in design management, business, technology, and related fields.
- Many of the faculty members are actively involved in research and consultancy, providing students with access to cutting-edge knowledge and insights.
Unique approaches:
- The program emphasizes a hands-on, practical approach to learning.
- Students work on real-world projects with industry partners, providing them with valuable experience and insights.
- The program encourages collaboration and interdisciplinarity, fostering a creative and supportive learning environment.
Careers
Potential career paths:
- Design manager
- Business start-up entrepreneur
- Organisational development
- Brand strategist
- Market insights research
- Senior manager
- Marketing director
- Social enterprise
- Behavioral economics
- The program has been designed to be highly relevant to the leadership and organizational challenges of the creative industries and the technology sectors.
- The course looks at the creative skills and competences needed to identify and anticipate business change and transform business models so that they are interactive, anticipatory, and future-focused.
- The program provides students with the opportunity to network with industry professionals and potential employers.
Additional Points
- The program offers a variety of scholarships and bursaries to help students with the costs of their studies.
- Students have the opportunity to study abroad at one of Ravensbourne's partner universities.
- The program is accredited by a number of professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
- Graduates of the program are highly employable and in demand by employers in the creative and digital industries.
UK: FT £9,250 INT: FT £18,000
