Learners will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to excel as adaptable design leaders who can establish a vision for design, communicate its value to stakeholders, and foster design maturity and innovation within organisations, driving measurable outcomes and transformative change. The Design Leadership module equips learners with reflective design leadership skills and competencies that cultivate creative collaboration, develop high-performing design teams, define strategic design management, and scale design operations.
Introduction to Design Leadership
• Defining design leadership and how it differs from design management• The role of design leadership in driving innovation, collaboration and organisational design maturity • Guest lecture from a design leader on their personal design leadership journey and insights
Developing Design Teams
• Understanding design career ladders and pathways • Mapping skills, interests, and roles within design teams• Setting professional development and learning goals • Developing a one-to-one framework for mentorship • Defining a structure for team collaboration, continuous feedback and meetings• Leading and facilitating design critique
Strategic Design Management
• Aligning design goals and objectives with civic, business or organisational strategy• Establishing clear project objectives, deliverables, and timelines• Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and integration of design with organisational functions• Developing a project management framework for the implementation of design projects• Scaling research and design with Design Ops• Establishing efficient design workflows, processes, tools and frameworks • Implementing a culture of continuous improvement and feedback loops in design operations• Educating people outside of the design team on how to use design tools and frameworks
Measuring Design Impact
• Establishing methods for monitoring and evaluating the impact of design projects• Measuring the impact of design on user satisfaction and organisational outcomes• Effectively communicating the role and value of design to diverse stakeholders and executives
Ethical Considerations in Design
• Ethical challenges in design, such as diversity and inclusion, data privacy, trust, responsibility, and sustainability• Promoting responsible and inclusive design practices • Guest lecture from a design professional on ethical considerations in their design roles
The design leadership module incorporates traditional lecture-based learning to provide learners with foundational knowledge. Workshops enable learners to engage in hands-on application of concepts. Guest lectures bring industry insights, followed by reflection sessions to deepen learners' understanding. Collaborative problem-solving activities are incorporated to develop learners' teamwork and leadership skills.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |