Design Management Professional Diploma 2024

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2024 Programme

As design becomes an increasingly important business function, designers and those who lead design teams require a broader range of skills to translate strategy into practice, managing people and budgets while supporting a culture of creativity and dealing with multiple stakeholders.

The Design Management Professional Diploma has been developed to empower designers and design managers with the tools, processes and methodologies to successfully manage design as a key business resource.

The programme is for those working in design management roles, or aspiring to – Agency Owners, Design Directors and Senior Designers, Design or Account Managers, Studio Managers and Team Leads. You don’t have to be a ‘design manager’ to manage design (people and processes) but you have the responsibility for delivering great results. With the Design Management Professional Diploma, you get the skills and tools to do so.

Developed by PARK a world-leading consultancy in design management and design leadership, and the founders of the LEGO Academy, the Design Management programme is a blended learning approach of experiential, in-person, online and 1:1 coaching, delivered by expert trainers who work on a daily basis with design leaders to respond to the opportunities generated at the emerging intersection of design and business.

The programme is endorsed by design councils across the world, and alumni include among others, Fjord, GSK, LEGO, Mars, Novartis, Sony, Bosch, Unilever, Johnson Controls, Publicis, RichardsDee and Design Partners.

Design Management Professional Diploma; Design Skillnet on Vimeo.

Programme Duration

10-month programme (10 classroom days over 10 months).

What are the next programme dates?

Next intake starts in September 2024.

Workshop dates:

TBC

Scroll down for the full module details.

Programme Course Director

Frans Joziasse is a thought leader in Design Management and Leadership, and founding partner of PARK Strategic Design, an international strategic design management consultancy with offices in Germany, The Netherlands and USA that works with clients including Audi, LEGO, Roca, Coty, Miele, Unilever, Johnson Controls, GSK, BMW and Roche.
Frans holds an MBA in design management from the University of Westminster (London) and lectures/teaches at several universities in Europe and the US. In 2011 he co-founded Grow (now Park Academy), a leader in Design Management Education, and is now delivered in both Europe and USA.

Course Director

James Hall, an Industrial Design graduate, James began his design career at LEGO designing new toy-based play experiences and progressed from design manager to design director, leading and managing small and large teams. In 2010, James moved to Hasbro as Sr Design Director, and in his consultancy role now works on design leadership across many different industry segments including Bosch, Grundfos, Unilever, Bang & Olufsen and LEGO, with a specific focus on design strategy, design organisation, processes and tools.

Structure & Format:

The one-year blended intensive learning programme is a mix of in-person classroom, online and 1:1 coaching, and is thoughtfully designed to meet the needs and work environments of practicing multidisciplinary design teams while equipping them with the essential tools to lead change in their industries.

The programme is modular with 10 core modules, in four phases, and the delivery is structured to accommodate the working lives and time constraints of participants, requiring only 10 days away from the workplace.

• 6 face-to-face days and 4 days will be online, with one workshop delivered in an international location, connecting to another programme.
• 1:1 online coaching sessions for every module.
• Remote learning platform.
• Individual and group assignments.

Workload & Assignments

A minimum of 5 hours per week is expected to cover the course material and additional time is required for assignments and team projects.  Case studies and assignments are tailored to the industry profile of each cohort.

To attain the Design Management Professional Diploma, participants are assessed on each module via a variety of practical assignments. The programme emphasises the practical application of knowledge to benefit participants and their organisations. Assessment workload is set across the programme to allow participants to successfully combine learning with work and life demands.

Programme Content

Design Leadership, Design Management, Quality, Process, Language, Value, Service Design, Design Strategy, Design CX, Design Briefing.

Programme Features

Blended learning; 1:1 coaching; unique faculty of industry practitioners; action learning; one module delivered in an international location; peer learning; and international alumni network.

Course Dates – Programme Schedule 2024

• September 13th – Face-to-face in Dublin– Design Management, Design Leadership, Design Process and Design Quality
• November 7th & 8th 2023 – Exchange trip, Europe (Germany); Design Strategy and Design in CX
• January 16th & 17th 2024 – Online – Managing Service Design and Design Language

• March 12th & 13th 2024  – Online – Design Value and Design Briefing

• May 14th & 15th 2024 – Face-to-face final presentations and evaluation of all modules in Dublin (15th)

To find out more about the programme, read our Q&A series with the Course Director James Hall and past participants David Wall, Lydia Ward and John Duggan.

Application Process & Dates

Next applications will open in mid 2024.

Register your interest.

**Member rates apply to members of IDI, ICAD, IAPI, 100 Archive who are private sector or commercial semi-state organisations based in the Republic of Ireland.

Please note the cost of flights and accommodation for the exchange visit or travel to Dublin are not included in the programme fee. Installment plans can be discussed.

Please contact us directly at info@designskillnet.ie  to discuss your interest and membership options.

Modules