MA in Design Management
Southampton, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 28,700 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU and international students | £11,500 - UK students
Learn how to design for user needs and business success on this MA Design Management course. This course bridges the gap between design and business by combining creative thinking with management theories.
You’ll hear from specialist industry speakers in your modules and workshops. There will also be museum study trips where you can advance your knowledge and understanding of design context. Throughout the course, you’ll explore the role of a designer through a range of contexts, including environmental, commercial, and social.
On this design management master’s, you’ll learn the key values and principles of responsible design, and expand your knowledge of:
- strategic planning in the design process
- sustainable practice and ethics
- design and digital transformation
- generative AI
- user experience design
- inclusive and human-centred design
You’ll develop original and creative ideas to improve business value creation and competitive advantage. Through aligning design principles with business goals, you’ll have the ability to work effectively in a dynamic global environment.
The course focuses on academic research and theoretical frameworks. This means you’ll build expertise in your critical analysis and decision-making skills. With these professional skills, you’ll be able to address pressing societal and industry challenges in the design management field.
Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship
There are 40 scholarships available to international students applying to study an undergraduate or postgraduate master's degree in an arts or humanities subject. Successful applicants will get £10,000 towards their tuition fees.
Find out more about the Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship, including eligibility, deadlines and how to apply, on our website.
Winchester School of Art Progression Scholarship
This scholarship is available to all eligible UK and international Winchester School of Art graduates who go directly from an undergraduate to a master's degree within the school. You will get either £1500, £2,500 or £3,000 depending on the grade you get for your undergraduate degree.
Learn more about the Winchester School of Art Progression Scholarship on our website.
This design management master’s runs for 1 year. Throughout your studies, you’ll build on each skill set and work towards a more progressive thinking approach to design and design management.
You’ll be introduced to organisational behaviours and consider how companies create value through design. Using case studies, you’ll analyse and discuss design competency among other themes. You’ll also explore current topics in leadership, ethics, and cultural relevance.
Modules
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
You must study the following modules:
- Design and Project Management Methods
- Contexts: Design Process and Innovation
- Design Management Final Project: Critical Paper
- Design Management Principles and Practices
- Leadership and Ethics
- Strategic Design Management (SDM)
You must also choose from the following modules:
- Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
- Digital Cultures
- Entrepreneurship
- Experimental Publishing
- Exploring the Visual Language of Display
- Global Marketing
- Sustainability in Business and Design
- Visual Culture
Semester 1 Overview
In your first semester, you’ll be introduced to design and the process for making concepts a reality. This will cover subjects such as quality assurance, marketing tools, and financial strategic planning.
Your core modules in this semester are:
- Design and Project Management Methods
- Design Management Principles and Practices
- Strategic Design Management
- Contexts: Design Process and Innovation
- Leadership and Ethics
Semester 2 Overview
Your second semester will explore the role and current thinking in design. Here, you’ll look at developing sustainable design practice and use case studies to gain deeper insight into the sector. You’ll cover topics in human-centred design, user experience, and inclusive practices.
In this semester, your core module is your final year project. For your project, you’ll complete independent research and explore how your project advances professional principles.
You’ll also choose one of the following optional modules:
- Visual Culture
- Professional/Collaborative Projects
- Experimental Publishing
- Exploring the Visual Language of Display
Dissertation
Your dissertation is your final project. You will need to write a critical paper, which should be 10,000 words.
Focusing on a contemporary design management issue, you will investigate this thoroughly. Collating, critically analysing and commenting on the ideas and viewpoints of others, with those of your own.
Learning
As well as lectures, seminars, and independent study, you’ll learn through:
- guest speakers
- optional study visits to museums
- peer group learning
- problem-solving activities
- class discussion, critiques, and presentations
- personal feedback sheet after each marking period
You’ll also be encouraged to attend relevant conferences, such as the Design Management Institute conference.
Assessment
We'll assess you through a variety of methods, including:
- presentations
- peer assessment tasks
- written assignments
- project reports
- portfolio (3,000 words)
- dissertation (10,000 words)