The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design
Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD)
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Master degree
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
Key Summary
About: The Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD) trains leaders who drive transformational change across organizations and society. It integrates design, business and technology through practice-based research, design thinking and an innovation ecosystem. The programme stresses creativity, sustainable business practices and design-centered entrepreneurship, and uses PolyU Design’s Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area links and international cultural awareness to incubate talent and spot opportunities to improve lives and economies.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work in innovation management, design strategy, UX, product design, entrepreneurship, consultancies, startups, innovation hubs and regional government agencies. Roles include innovation manager, design strategist, product manager.
The Master of Design (Innovative Business Design) (IBD) is an interdisciplinary specialism designed to equip students with the necessary skills and competencies to become leaders of transformational changes in organizations and society. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of today’s global market through the program's interdisciplinary approach to design and business. The program emphasizes the importance of creativity, innovation, and responsible business practices in driving sustainable growth in organizations. Students are encouraged to think critically, challenge traditional business models, and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
Aims
The aims of this specialism are:
- To foster transdisciplinary knowledge through systematic integration;
- To impart an understanding of the essentials of design, business, and technology;
- To progress practice-based research and integrative design thinking training;
- To incubate talents for Hong Kong industries' transformation; and
- To identify opportunities and resources for improving lives and economies at the local, regional, and global levels.
Objectives
Targeting meaning creation, IBD is the first postgraduate program focusing on design-centered entrepreneurship in the world. A succeeding program of the unique ID&BM (International Design and Business Management), IBD aims to foster transdisciplinary knowledge based on a systematic understanding of essentials in design, business, and technology and, at the same time support practice-based research with the established history of SD and unique resources in Hong Kong and the GBA. IBD is a hub of innovation ecosystem through configuring resources and facilitating innovation for our students, alumni, industrial partners, government, and other key stakeholders as a catalyst for change.
The program begins with subjects in which IBD students formulate a knowledge foundation in their focal domain, identify appropriate directions for further development, and develop skills in multidisciplinary collaborations.
In the second stage of the study, students learn the core knowledge of Innovate with Lifestyle and Culture and Design for Transformation with a holistic view of design’s value in the new business context created by human-centered design thinking and new technologies.
The final stage is for students’ self-reflection and career preparation. Every student should have completed three projects by the end of this program: an interdisciplinary project, a theme-based project, and an entrepreneurial project.
To receive the award of Master of Design, students must successfully attain a total of 36 credits from the following subject categories: Compulsory Common subjects for 6 credits, Compulsory Specialism subjects for 15 credits, Elective subjects for 15 credits (12 credits from Elective Pool A and 3 credits from Elective Pool B).
Compulsory Common subjects (6 credits)
- SD5008 Research and Analysis for Design (3)
- SD5009 Research and Academic Writing (3)
Compulsory Specialism subjects (15 credits)
Foundation subjects
- SD5116 Design for Transformation (3)
Lab Studies subjects
- SD5132 Lab Studies in Human Cyber-Physical Systems (3)
Specialism Project subjects
- SD5138 Theme-Based Project (3)
- SD5139 Entrepreneurship Project (6)
Elective subjects
Elective Pool A (12 credits)
Foundation subjects
- SD5114^Design Methods (Advanced) (3)
- SD5115 Design Project Management (3)
- SD5116 Design for Transformation (3)
- SD5511 UX Design Fundamentals (3)
- SD5512 Prototyping and Scripting (3)
- SD5411 Designing Services (3)
- SD5711 Design for the Biosphere (3)
- SD5712 Design for Change (3)
- SD5713 Design Systems Thinking (3)
Specialism Major subjects
- SD5117^Innovate with Lifestyle and Culture (3)
- SD5513 Theories in Interaction Design (3)
- SD5514#Advanced Visualisation and Interaction (3)
- SD5412 Advanced Service Design Methods and Tools (3)
- SD5413 Socio-Technical Service Ecosystem (3)
- SD5414 Systemic Innovation and Designing Future Services (3)
- SD5716 Regenerative Ecosystems Design (3)
- SD5717 Territories, Societies, and Spatial Complexes (3)
Elective Pool B (3 credits)
Interdisciplinary Studio / Project subjects
- SD5131^Interdisciplinary Project (3)
- SD5431 Interdisciplinary Studio (3)
- SD5731 Regenerative Environments Design (3)
Lab Studies subjects
- SD5132 Lab Studies in Human Cyber-Physical Systems (3)
- SD5531 Lab Studies in Systems Design (3)
- SD5532# Lab Studies in Intelligent Systems Construction (3)
- SD5432 Lab Studies in Data-Driven Service Design (3)
- SD5732 Lab Studies in Applied Technologies for Territorial Design (3)
Remarks:
# denotes the subject containing pre-requisite requirements.
^ denotes subject containing co-requisite requirement.
Objectives
Targeting meaning creation, IBD is the first postgraduate program in the world to focus on design-centered entrepreneurship. IBD follows on from the unique ID&BM (International Design and Business Management) program, and it aims to foster transdisciplinary knowledge based on a systematic understanding of essentials in design, business, and technology. IBD also aims to support practice-based research with the established history of SD and unique resources in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
IBD acts as a hub of the innovation ecosystem by configuring resources and facilitating innovation for our students, alumni, industrial partners, government, and other key stakeholders as a catalyst for change. Moreover, the program provides opportunities for students to engage in research and development projects, collaborate with industry professionals, and participate in industry events and workshops. These experiences enable students to hone their skills, build their professional networks, and gain practical experience in applying design-driven innovation to real-world problems. IBD also offers exchange opportunities to students. Full-time IBD students may choose to study abroad at Thammasat University (Thailand) in Semester 2.
Fellowships for Local Students
This specialism under Master of Design is an eligible program of the Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme (the Fellowship Scheme) in the 2024/25 academic year. MDes Scheme has been allocated 26 fellowship places. Each fellowship subsidizes HK$120,000 of the program tuition. Details about the Fellowship Scheme are available on the University Grants Committee (UGC) website. For information on eligibility, assessment criteria, and application procedure, visit PolyU eProspectus. Local applicants are expected to be informed of their MDes admission and Fellowship application results simultaneously.
PolyU reserves the right to change or withdraw the fellowships/ scholarships at any time. In case of any dispute/ disagreement, PolyU’s decision is final.
Financial Aid
Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme (ENLS), administered by the Student Finance Office (SFO) of the HK Government, offers interest-bearing loans to eligible residents (who have the right of abode in Hong Kong or have resided or have had their homes in Hong Kong continuously for three complete years before the commencement of the program) to settle tuition fees. For details of the scheme, eligibility, and application, please refer to SFO's official website.
The School reserves the right to change the terms or withdraw from offering the financial aid. In case of any dispute or disagreement, the School’s decision is final.
Full-time and part-time students follow the same timetable and attend classes together. Classes are normally held during the day on weekdays.
For full-time students, the normal duration of the program is 1 year; for part-time students, it is 3 years. One academic year contains three semesters (including the Summer Term). A full-time study load is 36 credits in a year, and a part-time study load is 6–9 credits in a compulsory semester (Semesters 1 and 2).
