COURSE IN DEPTH
Modules
Design Research
20 credits
The module Design Research introduces you to Design Management. You learn the methods, tools, approaches of conducting a creative research in this field. You learn about various forms of research strategies, writing a literature review and its purpose, and methods for data collection, analysis, and synthesis.
Professional Development
20 credits
In this module, you initiate your development plan, where you direct your learning by undertaking action research. You set yourself a goal and then make a plan on how you will achieve your goal. You begin by asking the questions, ‘where am I now?’, ‘where do I want to be?’, and ‘how do I get there?’. Your focus is beyond the Master’s. You evaluate your skills, knowledge, and learning style depending on where you see yourself in the foreseeable future, while identifying the gaps in your skills and experience. It is necessary that you strategise the way you will acquire the missing skills and knowledge while you are on the course.
Design Strategy and Innovation
20 credits
The module, Design Strategy and Innovation, enables you to apply design thinking in creating new ideas. You examin the role of design and creativity in creating breakthrough innovations. The module bridges the languages of design and business. The curriculum enables you to apply design thinking for innovation, and evaluation of the return on investment. In this module you build strategies to establish design as a leading functional discipline.
Global Perspectives
20 credits
The module, Global Perspectives, aims to broaden your thinking about the application and relevance of design management in various cultural contexts. This module introduces you to the different contexts in which Design Managers operate, the relationships they manage, the cross-cultural practices they have to navigate and their impact at a global level. You learn about successful practices of Design Managers from different parts of the world, and practices where they are positively impacting non-design sectors. As a result, you open your mind to different design cultures, design practices, and design attitudes.
Leadership and Design Entrepreneurship
40 credits
The module, Leadership and Design Entrepreneurship, aims at embedding you in practice. The module introduces you to the multifaceted role of a design manager. You acquire project management and interpersonal skills whilst you work in a team on a live industry brief. You also have the opportunity to conduct an inquiry with industry which could be a work placement. On this module, you learn to manage client expectations and communicate with a diverse audience. You are expected to be an independent learner. As an independent learner you have to find opportunities to apply your knowledge to practice and show your leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Major Project
60 credits
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. It is important that we can support you appropriately, so you will be guided towards choosing a research topic which is relevant to your discipline and in which your lecturers have expertise. The outcome may take the form of a written dissertation or a practical outcome with accompanying reflective, critical and contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be relevant to your programme and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
