| Unit name | Design as Strategy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | INOV30010 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Mr. Bartlett |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None. |
| School/department | Centre for Innovation |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
How do you make innovation happen? Design as Strategy will help you explore how design intersects with strategic thinking to drive socially responsible innovation and a competitive advantage. You will work on hands-on projects and learn to integrate sustainable design principles into organisational strategy, from product conceptualisation to brand positioning to future casting, crafting a holistic business strategy, encompassing value propositions, customer segments, partnerships, marketing strategies and distribution. You will develop a systematic understanding of strategic thinking and theory and gain the skills to lead design-driven initiatives, aligning creative vision with business objectives and environmental sustainability. You will learn to critically analyse design and business strategies, develop a strategic mindset and enhance your ability to shape the future of organisations through design.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This third-year unit is focused on leadership and strategy. This unit builds on "Creativity and Co-Creation" in first teaching block where you will gain experience leading diverse teams, facilitating workshops and co-creation sessions with real-world clients. Building on this experience, Design as Strategy will then help you to align design principles with business strategy and help you cultivate a strategic mindset necessary for leading socially responsible and design-driven initiatives.
An overview of content
This unit explores the intersection between design and strategic innovation, ultimately helping you understand how to drive innovation. You will develop a systematic understanding of strategic thinking and theory, practise this knowledge to work on hands-on projects, and critically evaluate its application in the real world.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
As a result of this unit, you will develop a strategic mindset that integrates design with business objectives and environmental sustainability, enabling you to lead innovation-driven initiatives. You will gain a deep understanding of how design and strategy intersect, allowing you to critically evaluate real-world business strategies. Through hands-on projects, you will acquire practical skills and enhance your ability to shape the future of organisations through design. This unit will help you become a socially responsible creative problem-solver, strategic thinker, and leader, preparing you to drive innovation and align design principles with business goals and sustainability needs across various industries.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
How you will learn
This unit will combine in-person and online lectures and content with workshop style group work, interactive class discussion and the opportunity to learn from real-world innovation strategy. It will utilise both theory and practical application and provide you with the space to reflect, discuss, challenge each other, and develop throughout the unit.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Strategic Pitch (group assessment), 1500 words or equivalent (0% Not Required for Credit) [ILOs 1,2,4]
Your team will present your design strategy for feedback before submission of the Strategy Proposal assessment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Case Study (individual assessment) 1500 words or equivalent (40%), [ILOs 1,2]
Evaluate real-world examples of companies that have successfully integrated design into their strategic thinking
Strategy Proposal (group assessment) 4500 words or equivalent (60%), [ILOs 1,2,3,4]
Develop a comprehensive design strategy for a real-world organisation
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. INOV30010).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
