Course Details

Course Information Package

Course Unit Title	DESIGN MANAGEMENT
Course Unit Code	MID503
Course Unit Details	MA Interdisciplinary Design (Required Courses) -
Number of ECTS credits allocated	5
Learning Outcomes of the course unit	By the end of the course, the students should be able to: Identify Design Management as a business discipline with reference to project management, design, strategy and market research. Describe the practices employed in managing the creative process. Examine the techniques used to cultivate a creative culture. Appraise the methodology in building a structure and organization for a design project. Identify the relationships between title, job description, and roles on projects. Examine the standing of the freelance designer within the industry. Investigate differences and implications between the freelance designer vs. a designer within a firm / corporation. Debate on the difference in design process and methodology in relation to marketing and/or business approach. Examine the relationship between design process and project planning. Investigate on issues of hiring, billing rates, contract development and copyrights. Analyze legal regulations in regard to design practices. Identify the managing system of form, function and process in relation to design practice. Outline a typical organization chart of a design firm and examine this in relation to a business firm. Practice writing a project brief and acting as creative director: providing vision and direction to a team. Manage the design process throughout a project. Recognize the impact of relationships within the industry. Identify the different types of design management depending upon industry specialization.
Mode of Delivery	Face-to-face
Prerequisites	NONE	Co-requisites	NONE
Recommended optional program components	NONE
Course Contents	The course examines the business side of design practices and applications. Design management brings together the creative process with the business and marketing methodologies. The course examines the tactical aspects of managing the design process at a project level; the operational aspects of managing teams of designers within a company or a small agency. It also examines the creative approaches and business implications of a designer in the industry. Issues such as project planning and implementation, schedule management, financial and resources are being examines in the context of a proposed project.
Recommended and/or required reading:
Textbooks	Talent Is Not Enough: Business Secrets For Designers. Shel Perkins. Peachpit Press. 2006. Creating the Perfect Design Brief: How to Manage Design for Strategic Advantage. Peter L. Phillips. Allworth Press. 2004. Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills. David Sherwin. How. 2010. How Firms Succeed: A Field Guide to Design Management. James P. Cramer. Greenway Communications. 2004. The Fundamentals of Design Management. Kathryn Best. Ava Publishing. 2010. Managing the Design Process-Implementing Design: An Essential Manual for the Working Designer. Terry Lee Stone. Rockport Publishers. 2010.
References	An extensive list of articles and references are available to the students on the e-learning site of the course.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods	The course is delivered through a series of lectures and visual presentations on Design and Management. A series of articles posted on the e-learning site of the course, will provide a theoretical framework for the class content. In-class discussions and short simulated projects will allow students for planning and application of the context. In addition industry speakers will be invited for presentations in assimilating design problems. Through formal project presentations, feedback and class discussions, students will have the opportunity to engage in further developing their skills and knowledge on the class material.
Assessment methods and criteria	Design Process Model Examination 25% Request for Proposal 25% Final Project Plan 50%
Language of instruction	English
Work placement(s)	NO