M.A. Strategic Design
Berlin, Germany
MA
DURATION
4 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 22,610 / per course
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
For you, design is not just about aesthetics. It has the potential to change the world for the better. You have a BA degree in creative disciplines and want to help create the future. Welcome to our design strategy Master's program.
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-centered 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 program.
1st Semester
- Strategic Design Introduction | Strategic Design Mindset, Methodology and Tools, Innovation Strategies, Design Thinking, Project Management and Agile/Lean Principles
- Strategic Design Research | Human Centered/Qualitative Research, Participatory Design Strategies and Ethnography, Systems Thinking, Data Driven/Quantitative Research
- Strategic Design Synthesis | Analysis and Synthesis Frameworks, Data Analytics, Strategic Information Design and Graphic Recording
- Content Management | Documentation and Writing Skills, Methodology Toolbox, Individual Mentoring and Peer Evaluation
- Theory I | Brand and Personality I, Sustainability I, Trends and Future Technologies, Media Ethics I
- Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice I | Intercultural Communication, Alumni and Expert Talks, Guided Excursions to Strategic Design-Related Exhibition/Events
2nd semester
- Strategic Design Creation | Creation Tools and Methods, Brand Identity, Critical and Speculative Design, Future Studies
- Strategic Design Realisation | Analogue and Digital Design Development Tools, Digital Prototyping, Design Prototyping, Design Testing
- Strategic Design Implementation | Change Management, Transformation Design, Implementation Strategies, Storytelling and Presentation Skills
- Publication | Publication Skills, Individual Mentoring and Peer Evaluation
- Theory II | Sociology, Media Ethics II, Brand and Personality II
- Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice II | Creative Industries and Innovation Organizations: Guided Visits/Exhibition/ Events/Excursions, Business Modelling, Entrepreneurship/Start-Up Thinking
3rd semester
- Purpose Driven Innovation: Intro and Research | Service Design, Experience Design, Game Design Strategy, Qualitative and Quantitative Research II
- 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
- Purpose Driven Innovation: Realisation | Design Prototyping and Testing II, Business Modelling II, Storytelling and Presentation Skills II
- Strategic Design Manifesto and Portfolio | Strategic Design Manifesto, Portfolio, Exhibition Design, Individual Mentoring
- Theory III | Scientific Writing and Context, Sustainability II, Subject Exploration for Master's Thesis
- Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice III | Creative Leadership and Conflict Management, Student Led Integrated Workshops and Moderation, Alumni and Expert Talks
4th semester
- Master's Thesis | Master's Thesis, Master's Colloquium and Individual Coaching
Our innovative approach that pays off
More than ever before, companies, institutions, and startups alike are realizing 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 program.
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.
With an internationally recognized Master of Arts (M.A.) degree, your diploma and the diploma supplement meet the EU requirements of the Socrates/ECTS program.