You develop your strategic thinking skills at the interface between innovation management, brand strategy and the management of creative processes. You will not only learn to understand social and technological innovation, but also to think about it holistically and shape it for the future.   

To this end you will immerse yourself in methods and theories of corporate and brand management, design thinking, social design, transformation design, system thinking and critical thinking.

You learn user-centred research, focused synthesis and systematic idea development. You will deal with creativity techniques, business models, sustainability and intercultural communication.

Soft skills such as presentation skills and the development of your personal leadership style are specifically promoted through specially designed teaching units. The teaching of methods of scientific work creates the basis for writing a Master's thesis in the fourth semester of the programme.

Become a Creative Director, Brand Manager and more:

More than ever before, companies, institutions and startups alike are realising that brand management and shaping a strategic brand identity are key to gaining and maintaining a competitive advantage. The demand for specialists in design and brand management, as well as, creative direction is accordingly high. Service design and experience design are also popular occupations for strategic designers and alumni of our programme.

Another professional field constantly growing in popularity for strategic designers is innovation management. Driving innovation in enterprises, institutions and startups is increasingly being led and moderated by strategically-trained designers, as they can connect creative and strategic processes. Strategic designers can be found in many strategy departments of large companies.

Your modules:

The Master's programme in Strategic Design equips you with comprehensive skills to develop innovative design strategies. You will gain expertise in design thinking, project management, and conducting human-centred research. A key focus lies in data analysis and participatory design methods.

You will explore brand identity in the creative realm, employing analogue and digital tools. Change management and storytelling techniques will support you in implementing effective design solutions. You will also refine your publication skills to present your work professionally.

The programme provides practical experience through excursions, mentoring, and exchanges with industry professionals. Sustainability, media ethics, and intercultural communication are also embedded within the curriculum. In the final phase, you will produce a Master's thesis that synthesises your skills in a practical context.