Strategic Design is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles of design thinking, business strategy, and innovation to solve complex problems and create meaningful solutions. The subjects taught in Strategic Design programs may vary depending on the institution and curriculum, but here are some common subjects you can expect to encounter:
Design Thinking: Design thinking is a human-centred approach to problem-solving that emphasises empathy, ideation, prototyping, and iteration. It forms the foundation of strategic design education and helps students develop a deep understanding of user needs and preferences.
Business Strategy: Strategic Design programs often include courses that focus on business strategy and management principles. These subjects help students understand the business context in which design operates and how to align design initiatives with organisational goals.
Innovation and Creativity: Courses on innovation and creativity explore techniques and methodologies for generating new ideas and fostering a culture of innovation. Students learn to think outside the box, challenge assumptions, and develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
User Research and Insights: Understanding users is crucial in strategic design. Subjects related to user research teach students how to conduct qualitative and quantitative research to gain insights into user behaviour, needs, and motivations. This information informs the design process and ensures that solutions are tailored to the target audience.
Design Strategy and Planning: This subject focuses on developing strategic thinking skills within the design context. Students learn how to analyse business challenges, set design objectives, develop design strategies, and create implementation plans to achieve desired outcomes.
Service Design: Service design explores the creation and improvement of services to enhance user experiences. It involves mapping customer journeys, identifying touchpoints, and designing service blueprints. Students learn how to create seamless and user-centric service experiences by integrating various elements, such as processes, people, and physical or digital environments.
Design Leadership and Management: This subject delves into the leadership and management aspects of design projects and teams. It covers topics like project management, team collaboration, design ethics, and effective communication within a design context.
Design Prototyping and Testing: Students learn how to rapidly prototype and test design solutions to gather feedback and refine their ideas. This subject may cover techniques such as paper prototyping, digital prototyping, and user testing methods to validate design concepts and make informed design decisions.
Design for Sustainability: Sustainability is increasingly important in design. Subjects related to design for sustainability explore concepts like eco-design, circular economy, and sustainable materials. Students learn how to incorporate sustainable practices into their design processes and create environmentally conscious solutions.
Visual Communication and Presentation: Effective visual communication is essential in conveying design concepts and ideas. Subjects in this area cover skills such as visual storytelling, graphic design, data visualisation, and presentation techniques to effectively communicate design solutions to various stakeholders.
These are just a few examples of the subjects commonly taught in Strategic Design programs. The field is dynamic and constantly evolving, so programs may also include emerging topics and specialised areas based on current industry trends and demands.
