Program Overview

Master of Arts in Strategic Design

Overview

The Master of Arts in Strategic Design is a full-time program that equips students with comprehensive skills to develop innovative design strategies. The program focuses on design thinking, project management, and conducting human-centered research.

Program Structure

The program consists of four semesters, with 120 ECTS credits.

1st Semester

• Strategic Design Introduction | Strategic Design Mindset, Methodology and Tools, Innovation Strategies, Design Thinking, Project Management and Agile/Lean Principles (5 credits)
• Strategic Design Research | Human Centered/Qualitative Research, Participatory Design Strategies and Ethnography, Systems Thinking, Data Driven/Quantitative Research (5 credits)
• Strategic Design Synthesis | Analysis and Synthesis Frameworks, Data Analytics, Strategic Information Design and Graphic Recording (5 credits)
• Content Management | Documentation and Writing Skills, Methodology Toolbox, Individual Mentoring and Peer Evaluation (5 credits)
• Theory I | Brand and Personality I, Sustainability I, Trends and Future Technologies, Media Ethics I (5 credits)
• Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice I | Intercultural Communication, Alumni and Expert Talks, Guided Excursions to Strategic Design-Related Exhibition/Events (5 credits)

2nd Semester

• Strategic Design Creation | Creation Tools and Methods, Brand Identity, Critical and Speculative Design, Future Studies (5 credits)
• Strategic Design Realisation | Analogue and Digital Design Development Tools, Digital Prototyping, Design Prototyping, Design Testing (5 credits)
• Strategic Design Implementation | Change Management, Transformation Design, Implementation Strategies, Storytelling and Presentation Skills (5 credits)
• Publication | Publication Skills, Individual Mentoring and Peer Evaluation (5 credits)
• Theory II | Sociology, Media Ethics II, Brand and Personality II (5 credits)
• Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice II | Creative Industries and Innovation Organizations: Guided Visits/Exhibition/ Events/Excursions, Business Modelling, Entrepreneurship/Start-Up Thinking (5 credits)

3rd Semester

• Purpose Driven Innovation: Intro and Research | Service Design, Experience Design, Game Design Strategy, Qualitative and Quantitative Research II (5 credits)
• Purpose Driven Innovation: Synthesis and Creation | Analysis and Synthesis Frameworks II, Data Analytics II, Systems Thinking II, Strategic Information Design II, Creation Tools and Methods II (5 credits)
• Purpose Driven Innovation: Realisation | Design Prototyping and Testing II, Business Modelling II, Storytelling and Presentation Skills II (5 credits)
• Strategic Design Manifesto and Portfolio | Strategic Design Manifesto, Portfolio, Exhibition Design, Individual Mentoring (5 credits)
• Theory III | Scientific Writing and Context, Sustainability II, Subject Exploration for Master's Thesis (5 credits)
• Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice III | Creative Leadership and Conflict Management, Student Led Integrated Workshops and Moderation, Alumni and Expert Talks (5 credits)

4th Semester

• Master's Thesis | Master's Thesis, Master's Colloquium and Individual Coaching (30 credits)

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a design discipline such as design, architecture, interior design, UX design, photography, or film.
• Portfolio with 15 pages of your own creative work.
• Letter of motivation
• Proof of English language proficiency
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of your identity card or passport

Tuition Fees

• Citizenship | EU/EEA, including Western Balkans, Switzerland and Ukraine: €830 / month
• Citizenship | non-EU/EEA: €5,950 / semester

Financing Options

• Educational loans
• Scholarship programmes

Application Process

1. Submit your online application via the SRH application portal.
2. If you meet the admission requirements, we will invite you to answer three short video questions.
3. If your video responses are successful, you will be invited to an online admission interview with one of the two professors who run the program.
4. If the interview is successful, you will receive an acceptance letter and study contract.
5. Sign the study contract and send it back to us.
6. Pay the enrollment fee.
7. You will receive your letter of admission — this is the document that students from outside the EU need for the visa application process.
8. Pay the tuition fee.
9. Join us for Welcome Week, and you’re all set to begin your journey!