MA Design Leadership

Study Design Leadership to take your design career to the next level and become a leader in the field.

a man sitting in front of technical equipment

Form and lead creative processes

In our fast-paced world, design and creativity play central roles in the development of sustainable and meaningful products. Being a Design Leader means to take responsibility and define a vision for the team, for users and other stakeholders involved in the creative process. Good Design Leadership ensures that there is a passionate environment that encourages creativity, participation, and co-creation.

The new MA Design Leadership at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) will equip you with cutting-edge skills and knowledge to lead and empower creative teams in their effort to design better products, services, and experiences. Take your strong design background to the next level by acquiring the necessary skills to lead and manage creative teams.
Your journey as a leader begins here.

Request Brochure

Curriculum
Design Leadership

Entrepreneurial Thinking & Digital Models: Introduction into psychological foundations of entrepreneurship including personality traits and thinking modes.

Download Curriculum (60 ECTS) Download Curriculum (90 ECTS) Download Curriculum (120 ECTS)

Key facts Design Leadership

Check out our Location

Take a look at our Campus Hamburg.
A vibrant metropolis with a rich history, bursting with culture and welcoming the future with open arms.

Do you want to see our campus but aren’t around? Check out our Virtual Campus Tour.

Virtual Tour

Admission Requirements

Here are some things you will require for your application at the UE:

Completed admission form
Transcript & language proficiency
CV & Copy of passport
Motivational letter

Admission Requirements

Fees

EU applicants standard: from € 854 monthly
Non-EU applicants standard: from € 12,000 yearly

Got questions about financing? Check out our fees!

Fees & Financing

Prof Christian Meyer zu Ermgassen outlines our new Master’s programme in Hamburg.

Semesters & Credits

Standard Track (120 ECTS)
Fast Track (60 or 90 ECTS)
Teaching language: English
Classes are typically scheduled between Wednesdays & Saturdays

The programme starts in the winter semester 2024/25

Examination and Study Regulation

a woman having 3D VR glasses in her hand and a drink

The Design Leadership Master at a glance

The Master's programme Design Leadership prepares you to lead creative teams through the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. For those with the right skills, exciting tasks await in companies, creative agencies, media houses, and other innovation-driven organisations.

UE also prepares you for professional tasks where you need to collaborate closely with AI systems to develop and refine creative ideas. For all the benefits AI brings, these technologies are unable to successfully lead design teams through every single challenge and opportunity that may occur. Learn the critical judgment and problem-solving skills that AI lacks!
The target audience comprises young people who are adept at grasping ideas, understanding how things work, and effectively communicating them. They also excel at recognising visual elements and may have experimented with design, worked with digital media, or collaborated in teams.

The Master's degree programme in Design Leadership teaches you the following key skills:

Strategic Design Concepts: Students acquire advanced knowledge in the conception and implementation of design strategies to achieve cross-organisational goals and create competitive advantages.
Digital transformation: The focus is on the analysis and design of digital processes, platforms, and technologies to improve the efficiency, innovation, and customer experience of companies.
Design management and project control: Students learn advanced design management methods to plan, organise and successfully implement complex design projects by leading teams effectively and using resources optimally.
User-centred design: The focus is on researching, analysing and designing user-centred products, services and experiences to meet the needs and expectations of target groups and create outstanding user experiences.
Sustainability and social responsibility: Students engage intensively with the ethical, environmental and social implications of design to develop sustainable and responsible solutions and drive positive change in society.

This Master’s thus offers a challenging and comprehensive education that prepares graduates for complex challenges in professional design practice and provides them with the skills to develop and successfully implement innovative design strategies.

Apply now for your Design Leadership studies! The application deadlines end shortly before the start of each semester, so you can also start at UE at short notice. However, you can apply up to one year in advance - simply fill out our application form online.

Please be aware that, besides the 100% filled-in online application we ask you for a motivational letter (at least 500 words) answering specifically related to the programme, please reach out to your student advisor.

Career options with a degree in Design Leadership

Graduates work in a dynamically developing environment that requires exactly the skills they have acquired during their studies. They take on positions of responsibility in the communications and creative industries, where they focus in particular on strategic and operational tasks. Some prepare themselves for independent work as freelancers or set up their own companies. Outside the traditional design professions, they work in interdisciplinary teams (and lead them) to support companies, organisations and institutions in the analysis, conception and implementation of strategic communication. For example as:

Design strategist
Design manager
Design operation manager
Innovation designer
Design strategist user experience
Chief Digital Officer
Digital Transformation Officer

Print lab
Campus life
Print lab project
Class
Photo Studio
Illustration Studio
Hamburg Innenalster (Lake)
Hamburg City

Boost your leadership skills in Hamburg

The Design Leadership MA in Hamburg will equip you with the skills to lead innovative design projects and effectively manage creative teams. Hamburg's rich cultural and business landscape provides an inspiring environment with access to key industry events, workshops and exhibitions. Upon graduation, you will be well-prepared for leadership roles in design, marketing and innovation in a variety of sectors.