M.A. Strategic Design

• Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Model: full-time
• Language: English
• ECTS: 120 ECTS
• Info: accredited
• Duration: 4 semesters/2 years
• Location: Berlin

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-centred 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 programme.

More than ever before, companies, institutions and startups alike are realising 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 programme.

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.

The Master's programme in Strategic Design equips you with comprehensive skills to develop innovative design strategies. You will gain expertise in design thinking, project management, and conducting human-centred research. A key focus lies in data analysis and participatory design methods.

You will explore brand identity in the creative realm, employing analogue and digital tools. Change management and storytelling techniques will support you in implementing effective design solutions. You will also refine your publication skills to present your work professionally.

The programme provides practical experience through excursions, mentoring, and exchanges with industry professionals. Sustainability, media ethics, and intercultural communication are also embedded within the curriculum. In the final phase, you will produce a Master's thesis that synthesises your skills in a practical context.

1st Semester

1. Strategic Design Introduction | Strategic Design Mindset, Methodology and Tools, Innovation Strategies, Design Thinking, Project Management and Agile/Lean Principles – 5 ECTS
2. Strategic Design Research | Human Centered/Qualitative Research, Participatory Design Strategies and Ethnography, Systems Thinking, Data Driven/Quantitative Research – 5 ECTS
3. Strategic Design Synthesis | Analysis and Synthesis Frameworks, Data Analytics, Strategic Information Design and Graphic Recording – 5 ECTS
4. Content Management | Documentation and Writing Skills, Methodology Toolbox, Individual Mentoring and Peer Evaluation – 5 ECTS
5. Theory I | Brand and Personality I, Sustainability I, Trends and Future Technologies, Media Ethics I – 5 ECTS
6. Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice I | Intercultural Communication, Alumni and Expert Talks, Guided Excursions to Strategic Design-Related Exhibition/Events – 5 ECTS

2nd Semester

1. Strategic Design Creation | Creation Tools and Methods, Brand Identity, Critical and Speculative Design, Future Studies – 5 ECTS
2. Strategic Design Realisation | Analogue and Digital Design Development Tools, Digital Prototyping, Design Prototyping, Design Testing – 5 ECTS
3. Strategic Design Implementation | Change Management, Transformation Design, Implementation Strategies, Storytelling and Presentation Skills – 5 ECTS
4. Publication | Publication Skills, Individual Mentoring and Peer Evaluation – 5 ECTS
5. Theory II | Sociology, Media Ethics II, Brand and Personality II – 5 ECTS
6. Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice II | Creative Industries and Innovation Organizations: Guided Visits/Exhibition/Events/Excursions, Business Modelling, Entrepreneurship/Start-Up Thinking – 5 ECTS

3rd Semester

1. Purpose Driven Innovation: Intro and Research | Service Design, Experience Design, Game Design Strategy, Qualitative and Quantitative Research II – 5 ECTS
2. 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 – 5 ECTS
3. Purpose Driven Innovation: Realisation | Design Prototyping and Testing II, Business Modelling II, Storytelling and Presentation Skills II – 5 ECTS
4. Strategic Design Manifesto and Portfolio | Strategic Design Manifesto, Portfolio, Exhibition Design, Individual Mentoring – 5 ECTS
5. Theory III | Scientific Writing and Context, Sustainability II, Subject Exploration for Master's Thesis – 5 ECTS
6. Strategic Design Profession and Best Practice III | Creative Leadership and Conflict Management, Student Led Integrated Workshops and Moderation, Alumni and Expert Talks – 5 ECTS

4th Semester

1. Master's Thesis | Master's Thesis, Master's Colloquium and Individual Coaching – 30 ECTS

Today, soft and social skills are crucial in addition to hard skills and expertise. That's why SRH University's innovative, successful, and award-winning CORE principle promotes independent and active learning so that you can apply your knowledge directly to projects and your future career—for a clear competitive advantage.

To apply for the Master's programme in Strategic Design, you will need to provide

• Bachelor's degree in in a design discipline such as design, architecture, interior design, UX design, photography, or film. If you have not yet graduated, you may apply with your current transcripts.
• Portfolio with 15 pages of your own creative work. The process by which you arrived at the design is more important than the final design itself—we want to understand how you approach a topic. You can upload your portfolio with your application.
• Letter of motivation
• Proof of English language proficiency
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of your identity card or passport

English language requirements:

Accepted English Proficiency Certificates (valid within 2 years), with at least the indicated score:

• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• TOEFL iBT: 87 points
• TOEIC Listening/Reading 785, Speaking 160, Writing 150
• Duolingo Certificate: 110 points
• Cambridge CAE or CPE (grade A, B, or C)
• Pearson English Test Academic (PTE-A): 59 points
• Linguaskill: 176 - 184 (CES) - all four skills required