BA (Hons) Design Management

On BA (Hons) Design Management you will gain valuable insights into how design management is expanding in complex and changing contemporary contexts, while applying your skills and knowledge through a diversity of live projects. 

The key areas of creative practice, business/management, and cultural research come together in this curriculum to develop innovative and critical thinkers.

You'll have access to the College’s extensive range of resources; from academic support, student employment and UAL extracurricular opportunities, to technical workshops, like printmaking, 3D and digital media. 

What can you expect?

• Seminars to investigate the role of design in society, networks, business, organisations, cultures and contexts that give design its multiple meanings.
• Practical projects and workshops, to provide immersive experiences of the design process: from research methods to defining and reframing problems, developing briefs, brainstorming, prototyping, testing, delivery and assessing effectiveness.
• Theory, frameworks and strategic tools drawn from a broad range of design, business and humanities disciplines mean that you'll build your practice with hands-on projects, crits and collaborations.
• Collaboration - live projects and collaborative involvement with industry.  
• Management skills: communication, presentation, critical reflection, scoping briefs, live research and feedback, budgeting, time management, team working.
• Design principles: visual thinking, ideation, working with multiple mediums (print, objects, images, video, sound, web) and exhibitions. 
• Student Exchanges – The course has a strong global emphasis through its cross-cultural approach to course content, projects and international partnerships. You will have the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus Programme, which is a European student exchange programme offering students the possibility of studying in another European country for one or two terms. We have an Erasmus agreement with the Design Management course at Paris College of Art and an international exchange with Hong Kong Polytechnic University BA Advertising Design and Study Abroad placements with Northeastern University in Boston, USA and others. You will also be encouraged to undertake online collaborations internationally.
• Industry Projects – There is an emphasis on strategic and socially engaged design and real-world projects with agencies, research and strategy organisations, non-profits and councils. 

Work experience and opportunities

We are industry-focused and regularly set projects that enable you to work with professionals, diverse organisations and companies.

Recent collaborations have included projects with Human After All, Rufus Leonard, Two Igloos, WaterAid, Southwark Council, Ourscreen and the BFI (British Film Institute), 11FS and Dulwich Picture Gallery. 

Students have the opportunity to take part in initiatives such as Talent Works and between Years 2 and 3 of the course, you’ll also have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional UAL qualifications: 

Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS): An optional, year-long learning opportunity which enables you to develop your professional skills by undertaking a variety of placements and industry experiences. Supported throughout the year by academics, you’ll build on the knowledge gained on your course in a range of national or international locations, and graduate with an additional qualification of Diploma in Professional Studies.

Diploma in Creative Computing: An optional, year-long opportunity which allows you to develop the computational skills that are shaping the future of the digital creative industries. After successfully completing the Diploma and the final year of your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree title: for example, BA (Hons) Design Management (with Creative Computing). 

Design management embraces a multiplicity of roles including project manager, account manager, brand manager, researcher, strategist, studio and office manager, service designer, strategic designer; art director, business manager, as well as Public Relations communications, marketing, business development, human resources, Corportate Social Responsibility (CSR) and operational roles.

With highly employable students and graduates, we are organisers, designers, researchers, thinkers, doers and makers, motivators, facilitators, provocateurs, life-long learners, strategists, activists and entrepreneurs.Course structure

The academic year for this course is divided into 2 blocks.

The 1st block is of 15 weeks’ duration from early October to mid-February. In accordance with the University timetable, there will be a four week holiday in December.

The 2nd block is also of 15 weeks’ duration from mid-February to the end of June with a three week holiday for Easter.

Mode of study

The course is 3 years, levels 4-6. Each year requires you to achieve 120 credit points. Years 1 and 2 must be passed to enter into Year 3. Your degree is attained through full completion of the third year. To be awarded the BA (Hons) Design Management qualification, you need to accumulate a total of 360 credits.

You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.