Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation
Recognizing the increasing importance that design thinking can play in positively impacting society, enhancing business success and managing organizational change, students in the Master of Design in Strategic Foresight & Innovation program address the complex dilemmas of contemporary society. The program focuses on the application of foresight and design innovation methods to develop solutions that are transformative and sustainable—economically and environmentally—and that address human needs. The program interweaves design with social science, technology and business while providing the skills and knowledge to identify critical issues, frame problems and develop innovative solutions and implementation plans. Through holistic thinking in a co-creative environment, the designer, business person, social scientist and engineer will develop together the skills required for true socio-technological innovation.
The MDes in Strategic Foresight and Innovation is a part-time program.
Program Guide
The MDes in Strategic Foresight and Innovation is a part-time, two-year, 45 credit program, comprising:
- Two core directed studios
- One foundational seminar in business and design thinking
- Six required seminars
- A major research project
In order to support the needs of students who may be working full or part time while completing the program, courses are clustered on one day per week, normally Thursdays or Fridays. It is expected that most students will complete the program in two years (six terms).
Students will develop design thinking skills that include analysis, synthesis and strategic and creative thinking, which are critical for professionals in the public, private and voluntary sectors. The program will develop students’ expertise in research and innovation methodologies to a high level and will enable them to acquire sufficient contextual knowledge to develop intelligent, innovative, visionary and future-enhancing solutions in their culminating projects. With their creativity and ability to navigate complex systems and guided by strong social and environmental principles, graduates of this program will be well-positioned to make meaningful societal change.
Objectives
The Master of Design in Strategic Foresight & Innovation will graduate leaders in social innovation. Students will be encouraged to develop strategic innovations that create sustainable value; economically, ecologically, and that address pressing societal issues pertinent to their particular area of interest in the public, private or voluntary sectors. The program will enable students to:
- Explore and test new methods of organization, creation and production.
- Develop strategic, innovative and anticipatory solutions (strategic foresight) and implementation plans for design, business or policy innovations, or for organizational or infrastructural change.
- Navigate complex problems through the study of systems theory and the analysis of relevant systems including ecological, social, economic and political organizations.
- Develop an ethical sensibility that promotes socially and ecologically sound responses to complex global issues.
Key Features
- Students will be engaged in a collaborative, co-creative studio environment in their core directed studio classes. Working in multidisciplinary teams on many of their projects, students will benefit from the diverse disciplinary backgrounds of their faculty and of their fellow students.
- An advisory committee of faculty and—in the case of real world projects—public or private sector professionals will support and guide each student’s major project.
- A part-time schedule and some flexibility in course sequencing will accommodate the needs of working professionals.
- Guest lectures and critiques from professional strategists and foresight experts.
- A peer-reviewed journal, published biannually and featuring articles from the best of student projects/theses, capturing and disseminating new thinking on innovation.
Last Modified:1/24/2012 12:57:30 PM
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