| Unit name | The Business of Design |
|---|---|
| Unit code | INOVM0037 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| 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?
In today’s competitive design industry, creativity alone isn’t enough to succeed. In this unit, you will be exploring the crucial intersection between innovation and commerce, transforming your passion for design into a sustainable, profitable career. As creative professionals, understanding intellectual property, financial management, and contract law is essential for protecting your work and building long-lasting client relationships. This unit provides real-world insights through hands-on workshops and partnerships with industry experts, equipping you with the tools to launch, manage, and grow your own business or lead within established firms.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
In Year 4, you will deepen and mature your knowledge through master’s-level study with the aim of leaving as capable, ethical innovators. You will be expected to achieve a high level of intellectual maturity and professional acumen, reflecting a significant escalation in your capacity for complex analysis and leadership. In the exploration of the business aspects of design, you will gain a comprehensive knowledge of critical issues such as intellectual property, financial management, and legal considerations pertinent to the design industry. This involves not only understanding the intricacies of contracts, client relations, and project management but also applying this knowledge in practical scenarios with real-world partners.
An overview of content
You will equip yourself with the skills and confidence needed to navigate the intersection of creativity and commerce within the design industry. This unit will guide you through critical topics, including intellectual property rights, business establishment law, and financial management tailored for creative professionals. You will also learn to handle the complexities of contracts, licensing agreements, client relations, project management, and copyright protection. By engaging with real-world partners and participating in interactive workshops, you will gain the knowledge and practical skills required to sustain and grow a profitable design business.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will gain a deep understanding of the legal and financial frameworks in the design industry. You will develop effective negotiation and communication abilities, fostering strong client relationships and successful project outcomes. A strategic mindset toward risk management will empower them to navigate uncertainties in the creative landscape. Ultimately, you will emerge as an innovative problem solver, equipped with the practical skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in their careers and contribute meaningfully to the design field.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
How you will learn
Teaching will be an interactive studio with live workshop sessions and in-person lectures. The primary delivery mode is through problem-based projects and assignments of varying length. The pedagogy is discursive with an emphasis on student presentations, peer group learning, and workshops. This simulates the group-based professional context of design practices and allows for the kind of discussion, debate, and diversity of perspective that really stimulates creative learning. Teaching and assessments are focused on real-world ‘live’ problems to build required technical skills and add to the authenticity of what is being learnt and why. Students regularly practise their subject outside formal taught sessions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Proposal Negotiation (group assessment), 1500 words or equivalent (0% Not Required for Credit) [ILOs 2-5]
Participate in a simulated contract negotiation with your ‘client’, representing a client or a design firm.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Case Study (individual assessment) 1500 words or equivalent (50%), [ILOs 1]
Analyse a real-world case related to intellectual property in the design industry
Client Project Proposal (group assessment) 3000 words or equivalent (50%), [ILOs 2-5]
Develop a client brief, project budget and plan.
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. INOVM0037).
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.
