Design Management (MA)
    Duration1 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 38,137 / Year
    Next IntakeSeptember 1, 2026

    Design Management (MA)

    About

    Convert your creative ideas into business success and use the power of design and innovation in a corporate context. This MA Design Management will teach you how to understand, manage and oversee the process of design in all aspects of business. Providing you with a huge range of career opportunities.

    This course will suit a graduate or professional who wants to excel in design and business.

    Throughout this design management master's course you’ll develop essential workplace skills and put your learning into practice. You’ll take part in mini projects, including auditing the user experience of digital services and looking at brand design for a range of organisations. In a sophisticated group marketing simulation workshop you’ll invent a company, design and sell a product, then use customer and market feedback to review and develop this.

    You’ll be taught by a variety of design management specialists who’ll involve you in their research to enhance your learning. They’ll help you develop original ideas to negotiate and co-create with designers, marketers, financiers, lawyers, and clients.

    Studying as a design management postgraduate with us will give you access to strong links with a range of industries. External practitioners regularly give lectures and run workshops, where you can see how design management theory applies to real life business scenarios and get a chance to network.

    This degree covers:

    • marketing and branding
    • service, process, and product design
    • customer experience design
    • project and risk management

    We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

    Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

    Course lead

    Dr Yuanyuan Yin leads on projects funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, British Council, China Confucius Institute Headquarter and the University. She explores inclusive service design for ageing populations in the UK and China, and has worked as a designer and design researcher for companies such as Lenovo, Design Bridge and Xerox.

    Visit Dr Yuanyuan Yin's staff profile to learn more about her work.

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    You'll need a 2:1 degree in a relevant subject such as:

    • advertising
    • architecture
    • business
    • fashion management
    • graphic design
    • histort of art
    • industrial or interior design
    • management
    • marketing
    • photography
    • politics
    • product design
    • psychology
    • sociology

    Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

    Subject areas that are not suitable are:

    • animation
    • broadcasting and hosting
    • business English
    • commerce
    • communication
    • computer science
    • digital media art
    • drama
    • engineering
    • finance
    • hospitality
    • HR
    • interactive design
    • international economy and trade
    • journalism
    • languages or linguistics
    • law
    • mathematics
    • media
    • music
    • performance art
    • public relations (PR)
    • sciences
    • statistics
    • theatre
    • trade
    • TV and film

    English Requirements

    • IELTSMin 6.5

    English Program Requirements

    If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

    IELTS score requirements

    overall score
    6.5
    reading
    6.0
    writing
    6.0
    speaking
    6.0
    listening
    6.0
    We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.

    Career

    Careers

    Our graduates often go on to managerial and executive roles in creative and business industries. They work with design teams at major companies such as Apple, Evian, Tank Innovation, iFLY TEK. Others have become university lecturers, are undertaking PhDs, or are self-employed.

    From this course you could develop a career in:

    • design, service, product management
    • business strategy
    • marketing or brand management
    • account handling and management
    • consultancy
    • market research

    Careers services at Southampton

    We're a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

    • work experience schemes
    • CV/resume and interview skills workshops
    • networking events
    • careers fairs attended by top employers
    • a wealth of volunteering opportunities
    • study abroad and summer school opportunities

    We have a thriving entrepreneurship culture. You'll be able to take advantage of:

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee
    38,137 / year

    Design Management (MA)

    University of Southampton

    University of Southampton

    United Kingdom

    United Kingdom, Southampton