Course summary

Design managers are responsible for the management of design projects, teams, contracts and the operational practice of design. This may involve work within corporate in-house design teams or external design consultancy. Design managers have strong communication, project management and interpersonal skills. What's covered in the course? The BA (Hons) Design Management Level 6 course is designed to develop your professional, creative, communication, research, critical thinking and analytical skills, whilst developing your confidence, for progression into employment, or post graduate study. You will be involved in complex problem solving, you will work individually and in team-based activities, whilst developing your negotiation and people management skills. The course balances design management theory and principles, research and practical activity, within an environment which reflects a design practice and promotes employability. How you will learn? Design management involves a wide range of sectors and design disciplines and this course gives you the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required to work as design managers, client relationship managers, account executives, project managers, heads of creative, design directors, design consultants and design researchers. While you will retain links with design practice, you will step into a challenging environment, that reflects as closely as possible the ways of working, the practices and the behaviours that operate in the design profession. The course will provide an interesting and engaging approach to design problems and whilst the expectations of academic study will increase during level 6, students will practice and apply creative approaches through a range of research methods, critical analysis and synthesis of data. This course is for students wishing to develop a new career path, students who recognize the design management opportunity and have the personal qualities sought after by employers. You will also be expected to work with external contributors, staff and students from a range of disciplines and cultures in a professional and accountable way. The course will be taught by staff in lecture, workshop and activity-based settings. This will include specialist guest lectures, project briefings and group critiques supported by industry. We encourage you to consider studying your first two years within Birmingham School of Architecture and Design before selecting the BA (Hons) Design Management Level 6 top-up course. The School offers industry accredited courses across the design spectrum, including Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design, Landscape Architecture, and Product and Furniture Design. Portfolio and interview: You will be required to come for interview and provide evidence of a portfolio containing examples of work and your rationale for opting for this course. Please provide evidence of a digital or hard copy portfolio containing examples of work. Please also include evidence of a report / essay / case study / project to demonstrate your ability to write academically.

Course details