Design Management MA

Postgraduate

Students sitting around a table looking at a design drawing

Develop your leadership and management skills by integrating design, innovation, and business principles to effectively lead projects and drive creative innovation.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

CAST003

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

This course is designed to bridge the gap between creative design, innovation, and strategic management, addressing the real-world demands and practices of the design industry.

Develop your leadership and management skills in creative practice
Integrate design thinking, user-centric approaches and business management principles
The course focuses on both theoretical insights and practical applications, encouraging collaboration and exploration of leadership processes
Course content features project management frameworks, brand language development, user-centred and sustainable design practices, integrated business and design modules, collaborative industry projects, and an industry-driven curriculum.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

This course is ideal for aspiring design managers, creative professionals, and business leaders seeking to enhance their skills and advance their careers within the dynamic and evolving design industry.

Master project management frameworks and gain the ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and persuade stakeholders through strong presentation and storytelling skills.
Develop a deep understanding of user-centered and sustainable design practices, aligning your work with ethical and environmentally responsible principles.
Combine business acumen with design expertise, providing you with a holistic understanding of the industry.
Benefit from an industry-driven curriculum, learning from experienced professionals and academics who bring real-world insights to the classroom. (Staff are subject to change.)

Collaborations

Endorsement by the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)

Coventry University and the RSA have collaborated on a module concerning social and ethical responsibility. You will be entitled to a 12-month fellowship of the RSA so you can access all RSA resources and platforms during your period of study. Once you have successfully passed the Professional Practice and Innovation module, you will receive an RSA digital credential.

What you'll study

This course combines creative design, management, and leadership to prepare you for leading creative projects and navigating design and innovation processes.

Explore themes such as communication, collaboration, and creativity whilst gaining skills to manage teams, solve wicked problems, and deliver commercially valuable innovative products, services and experiences.

Modules

Co-Create – 30 credits

Collaborate on a simulated or real-life project created by industry experts². Work with students from other postgraduate courses in the School of Arts and Creative Industries, applying your specialist discipline knowledge to form an essential part of a wider team. Explore design theory and practice, research methodologies, and build professional development skills like project management, delegation and problem-solving. You should build strong relationships, foster a supportive community and develop a resilient skillset based on agility, flexibility and emotional intelligence.

Compulsory

Professional Practice and Innovation – 30 credits

Explore ecologies of the creative industries, considering the interrelations between independent, commercial, and public sectors. The module is designed in collaboration with the RSA, from which you’ll get a 12-month fellowship, so you can access all RSA resources and platforms during your period of study. Receive an RSA digital credential once you have successfully passed the module.

Compulsory

Next-Gen Eco-Design Management – 30 credits

Explore global design, sustainable practices, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals to understand design management across diverse contexts. Develop your market research and strategic analysis skills to give you an edge in the business world. Learn to explain complex ideas clearly and lead in creative industries. Explore sustainable design to understand ethical issues and social impact, staying informed with global trends and responding to industry challenges like climate change, resource scarcity, and the demand for ethical practices. Learn to use research methods and evaluate design's importance in social, cultural, economic and political contexts.

Compulsory

Design Management Revolution – 30 credits

Gain the skills to become a design manager. Explore project management in creative industries, master team dynamics and stakeholder perspectives, and develop customised methods tailored to specific projects. Learn project management techniques such as design thinking, design sprints, agile methodologies, stakeholder analysis and financial costings to tackle complex challenges in the creative industries. Practical activities develop your project management plans, informing your project and specialist investigation, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, and enhancing employability.

Compulsory

Innovation Blueprint – 60 credits

Transform your research ideas into products, services or experiences. Identify market gaps and trends, crafting prototype solutions through scoping documents and management plans. This process involves extensive research, design, development, prototype creation and strategic implementation, improving your skills in market analysis, innovation design and resource management.

Learn how to develop complex ideas and apply them in real-world scenarios. Use critical thinking, understanding user needs that highlights the business potential and innovation of ideas.

Explore quantitative and qualitative data analysis, research methods, and project management, linking your learning with personal interests and professional goals. Create portfolios that reflect your specialty and address real-world challenges to strengthen your presentation and communication skills.

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical studio sessions.

Teaching and learning hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching and learning hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours will vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average, you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions, including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent learning

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent learning which will make up the required study hours per module. You will be undertaking a variety of activities, learning through guided background research, planning and preparation, studio activity, creative practice and making, reviewing what you have learned and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress towards the end of your studies, you will spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

presentations
group projects
live simulations
individual application development work
portfolios
written documentation.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a creative, media or business discipline.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a creative, media or business discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5
If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³ and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Delia Derbyshire Building: benefit from Hack Labs for innovation, Immersive Studios for interactive media, and the Bugatti Trust Hyper-Studio for collaborative projects, gaining practical skills and industry-ready expertise.
PC and Mac suites: maximise your learning in our computer suites. Access PCs and Macs running the latest industry-standard software needed for your course, including graphic design packages such as Adobe Creative Suite.
Studio centric working: in the School of Arts and Creative Industries, we structure our teaching and assessment methods to replicate the creative industry's ways of working, as we aim to create a studio-centric working environment.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Successful graduates may seek positions in the following job roles: art director, chief design officer (CDO), head of creative, delivery manager, PMO manager, design strategist, innovation manager, experience designer, design manager, project manager, creative director, creative/design team leader, team manager or project director.

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

demonstrate a systematic understanding and application of the theoretical and thematic concerns within their chosen area of design management practice transforming research into innovation for products, services or experiences
apply advanced design management strategies, methods and emergent tools and technologies independently to innovate in the field of design management practice
realise and deliver complex, original design management solutions tailored to specific users and context
actively contribute to the shaping of a global contemporary discourse by engaging with innovative, experimental, hybrid and creative approaches to design management practice
apply solutions to diverse creative, professional, social, and collaborative environments using enhanced tools and methods of social change
apply systematic knowledge and understanding of entrepreneurship and the theories and practices of strategic leadership, and the role of creative teams in the realisation of products, services or experiences
innovate in response to global challenges, including sustainability, by developing forward-thinking solutions in design management practice
solve complex problems with critical insight, while maintaining ethical standards.

Where our graduates work

Successful graduates of this course have gone on to set up their own businesses or work for companies such as:

Association National Olympic Committees (ANOC)
Office for National Statistics
Deloitte Digital
Eon
Rwanda, We Want Organisation (NGO)
UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Start your application

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.