Design Management and Entrepreneurship MA/PG Dip/PG Cert

About the course

Design Management and Entrepreneurship is an innovative course which enables you to examine international and global design and business issues, while developing your specialist design management knowledge and skills.

It is aimed at design and creative industry entrepreneurs, and will allow you to apply your creative and analytical skills to a wide variety of business and social contexts, ranging from small local businesses to multinational corporations and social enterprise.

After graduation, you will be ideally placed to respond to growth demands in the global cultural and creative industries, with skills that are vital in today’s modern entrepreneurial and knowledge based economy; enabling you to operate effectively at a high level of executive responsibility in design, creative and digital media technology businesses.

The course is taught by expert academics in the School of Design, which has a long-standing collaborative link with the Bauman Moscow State Technical University; the leading technical university in Russia. There is also a flexible learning package which promotes professional and personal development of designers and design managers currently working in the industry.

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Key facts

Location: De Montfort University, Leicester

Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time

Start Dates: September 2014 and January 2015

Entry and admission criteria

You should have the equivalent of a 2:2 or above UK bachelor’s Honours degree in a related subject.

If you have other professional qualifications and industry experience we will consider your application on an individual basis.

Evidence of creative or design work in a digital portfolio of work is desirable but not essential.

If English is not your first language, you must have an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent. English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Teaching and assessment

Full-time study entails a student commitment of about 40 hours per week over a period of 49 weeks of the year. The part-time route is normally conducted over two years but is flexible. Typical contact time will be 15 hours per week. Modules in the first two terms are taught through a programme of lectures, seminars, workshops, group and individual tutorials. Modules in the third term are supported by a programme of seminars, group and individual tutorials.

Assessment methods include report submissions, digital online submissions, individual and group presentations. Your final major research project will be assessed by a dissertation or a work-based project assessed by a written research proposal, detailed written report and an individual presentation.

Course modules

Term one

Core modules:

• Research Methods develops knowledge and understanding of the nature and scope of research and research methodologies in the field of design and business.
• Design as a Strategic Business Tool examines design as a driver for the strategic management and development of digital design and creative businesses. You will analyse the use of design management and design thinking in the creative industries and business.
• Integrated Brand Management provides a thorough understanding of brand management with an emphasis on brand narrative, exploring the holistic approach to brands by examining sensory branding, emotional branding, spiritual branding and experience design.

Optional modules:

• Critical Perspectives in Ethical and Sustainable Fashion examines the major sustainability and ethical issues that exist within global fashion manufacturing and the retail industry.
• Marketing for the Creative Entrepreneur examines marketing and corporate strategy issues in relation to the activities of the design manager and entrepreneur. This module will investigate methods and tools for marketing design-based products and services to consumers (b2c), businesses (b2b) and the public sector.

Term two

Core modules:

• Business Planning for the Creative Entrepreneur develops business planning skills and knowledge to identify potential for a new product or service and examines the key issues in starting a new design or creative business, covering topics such as business plans, leadership, investment and risk management.
• Strategic Markets for Design in the Global Economy examines the key issues involved in developing new international markets and the role of the design manager and entrepreneur in enabling design and creative businesses to compete effectively in the global economy.
• Service Design examines the role of design in service industries, analysing ethical, political, social and ecological concerns, which require approaches that focus on design and the designers’ role in sustainability issues.

Optional modules:

• Managing Business Web Presence teaches a critical appraisal of web design, social media and networking along with creative production and management processes and techniques in business. You will evaluate critically the role of website design in business, marketing and the creative industries, while examining advances in web architecture, technology, interface and management.
• The Nature of Creativity examines the role of creativity and its management in the business environment. You will focus SMEs to identify the existence, extent and purpose of creativity as both a theoretical and practical process.
• Museum and Exhibition Design examines innovative designs and strategies for museums and exhibitions, focusing on display, interpretation, conservation, marketing, management and funding, cultural identity, heritage, inclusive design, sustainability, education and audience.
• Design for Retail covers all aspects of in-store retail design, including product, environment, technology, communication and service while studying brand perception, buyer behaviour and engagement with the retail experience.

Term three

• The final module will either be a dissertation on your major research project or an assessed work based research project.

Academic expertise

The School of Design’s close-knit community of postgraduate students and staff creates a supportive learning environment for design students from around the world. Teaching staff are involved in research and commercial activities that inform the curriculum.

Within the Design Management and Entrepreneurship subject area, staff maintain the currency of their module and design project teaching through involvement in consultancy, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP Schemes) and noteworthy research activities and continuing professional development (CPD) training. We also have fantastic CAD laboratories and workshop facilities to support you in your research and development.

Graduate careers

Graduates have found employment as design managers and design project managers in many sectors of the design industry including companies such as Next and Path Retail Display Limited. Other graduates have gone on to carry out further research and study for a PhD or run their own creative businesses.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding options for 2013/14 entry are still under review and are subject to change.

Full-time UK/EU Postgraduate courses fees £4,200 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* £5,000 International
Postgraduate courses fees £11,700 Part-time Part-time fees are charged on a credit basis, you will need to complete 180 credits over the course of an MA/MSc programme. 15 credits £350 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* 15 credits
£420 Continuation UK/EU Fee** £150 Continuation International Fee** £5000

For more information please take a look at our Funding| | section.

* ELQ Student definition - If you are a Home or EU status student and you already have a qualification at or above the level of the programme you wish to study from any country you will be considered as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) student. In 2008 the UK Government decided to stop funding universities for student in this situation and therefore the following fees will apply £5,000. Students from outside the EU are not affected by the policy.

** A fee that is charged on a periodic basis where Postgraduate or Research students need to extend their registration to complete the course.

Scholarships

Learn more about postgraduate funding and finance|