MA Innovation Design Management

Bringing design culture to business

Apply Now
a group of master students

Design meets strategy

Comprehensive developments through digitalisation, evolving marketplaces and changing consumer behaviour have created a new professional playing field between creative design, business strategy and IT processes. Innovation-oriented companies are increasingly seeking managers who understand how to utilise design as a driving factor for business decisions and to incorporate creative thinking and an artistic mindset into the business world – as strategic assets in generating innovation and sustainable consumer benefits, as well as in transforming a company's organisation and vision

Our students and their lecturer near the Innovation Hub.

Request Brochure

Curriculum | Innovation Design Management

Understand innovation strategies and put them into practice through portfolio management.
The MA Innovation Design Management curriculum offers students the opportunity to tailor the programme to match their career ambitions and skills. By creating two pathways – ‘Innovation by Design’ and ‘Innovation & Entrepreneurship’, as well as the option between two, three or four semesters, students who choose to study innovation management can take control of their careers to succeed in the industry.
Download Curriculum 60 ECTS Download Curriculum 90 ECTS Download Curriculum 120 ECTS

Key facts MA Innovation Design Management

Check out our Location

Take a look at our Innovation Hub (Berlin-Potsdam) & Dubai Campus.
Join us and experience the best of both worlds: The hustle and bustle of the capital Berlin and the relaxation of Potsdam.

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
six people sitting on a sofa and chatting

Semesters & Credits

  • 2, 3 or 4 semesters
  • 60, 90 or 120 ECTS (Credits)
  • Choose between the Standard Track (120 ECTS) and the Fast Track (60 or 90 ECTS) study options based on your previous education. Dubai credit options – 90 & 120 ECTS
  • Teaching language: English
  • Classes are typically scheduled between Wednesdays & Saturdays

Examination and Study Regulation

The programme starts in both the winter and summer terms.

FAQs

Get to know Professor Johannes Kiessler, Head of the Innovation Design Management programme at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences.

Fees

  • EU applicants standard: from € 854 monthly
  • Non-EU applicants standard: from € 12,000 yearly
  • Dubai applicants:
    AED 77,060 (1.5 Years)
    AED 100,800 (2 Years)

*Fees for 2026 may vary.

Got questions about financing? Check out our fees!

Fees & Financing

Your skills after studying Innovation Design

Our master’s programme, Innovation Design Management, sits at the crossroads of design and business, shaping individuals to thrive in complex, fast-paced environments. With an integrated approach merging design, business, and technology strategies, students engage in intense project activities alongside industry leaders and enterprises tackling these challenges daily.

As highlighted by Forrester Research (2021), innovation-driven organisations prioritise creating a culture of innovation and change, driving the demand for interdisciplinary talents proficient in innovation and creative problem-solving. The MA addressing this demand head-on, stands as one of today’s most cutting-edge management programmes. According to the 2020 Job Outlook Survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers value attributes aligning with our programme’s focus.

The programme prepares young professionals for the future:

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work in a team
  • Creativity/Communication skills
  • Strategic planning skills
  • Leadership
  • Entrepreneurial skills
  • Analytical/quantitative skills

Career options with a degree in Innovation Design Management

Typical areas of work include leading positions could be Design Development & Management, Design Research & Strategy, Corporate Culture & Strategic Brand Management, New Business Development and Product & Innovation Management.

More and more companies are understanding the substantial value that design can bring to them:

  • Design creates meaningful products and better development processes
  • Disruptive or radical innovations require new development processes
  • Design gives a conceptual dimension to idea-finding and concept-development
  • Design is a human-centered activity

Therefore, the market needs experts who have a strong standing in design and in business and who can successfully organise design both as a strategy and as a process. This persona is at the core of the master’s programme Innovation Design Management.

Study in the Innovation Hub in Potsdam near Berlin or in a sunny Dubai

The Innovation Design Management MA is available at the Innovation Hub in Potsdam and in Dubai. Potsdam, close to Berlin, offers access to a creative network of start-ups and industry professionals, combined with a relaxed atmosphere that supports focused study. Dubai offers a diverse, multicultural backdrop for developing leadership skills in a collaborative, innovative environment. Both campuses offer state-of-the-art facilities and hands-on learning, allowing you to gain practical experience.

Students in the programme can choose their focus between Innovation by Design and Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Specialisation).
The distinction is made through two modules in the first semester:
– Innovation by Design: Strategic Branding and Atlas of Design
– Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Innovation Management and Atlas of Opportunity

With the mandatory electives of the specialisation ‘Innovation & Entrepreneurship’, students can choose a focus that emphasises entrepreneurial content over design and brand-related topics in connection with innovation.

Industry Collaborations: Building Bridges to Success

Students benefit from the university’s collaborations with a range of leading companies and cultural institutions.

  • DHL Logo
  • kloeckner.i
  • CODE_FACTORY (DKB);
  • Pilot Logo

Inspiring Creativity: Student Projects Showcase

Image slider img 1
Image Slider img 2
Image Slider img 4
Image 8
See all students projects

What is the MA in Innovation Design Management?
- The first management programme in an Art & Design faculty – worldwide!
- Providing students with tools for helping organizations become more adaptable, innovative and creative.
- Accepting students from different academic backgrounds

What is the MA Innovation Design Management NOT?
- Teaching students how to become a designer.
- Teaching students how to master design software.
- Requiring applicants to have specific design knowledge

Learn from our Experts

Here you will find further valuable information about our professors and their career.

More
Prof. Johannes Kiessler

Prof. Johannes Kiessler

Johannes Kiessler is a professor for M.A. Innovation Design Management at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. Visit us to know more!
Read More
Roy Rao

Roy Rao

Learn from Roy Rao, strategist at SAP, about entrepreneurship at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences.
Read More

Contact us today

FAQs

Innovation design management combines business management with design and innovation techniques to develop creative solutions and strategies for companies and businesses. An innovation management master’s degree focuses on the design process to drive innovation and improve overall performance.  

Design innovation management is a good career path to pursue due to the in-demand nature of the job roles within the field thanks to the increased dependency on technological advancements. This is reflected in lucrative salaries, diverse job roles and the opportunity to make a difference in various organisations.

The master’s in management and innovation is delivered as a two, three or four-semester course, giving students flexibility to choose the best option to fit around their personal and professional commitments.

The MA Innovation Design Management course is offered at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences’ Innovation Hub in Potsdam, near Berlin.

After developing skills in problem-solving, communication, strategic planning, analytics and much more during the innovation management master’s degree, you will be able to access roles such as Design Development & Management, Design Research & Strategy, Corporate Culture & Strategic Brand Management, New Business Development and Product & Innovation Management.