Integrated Design
Design is no longer a standalone practice, but a process and function to connect different people and specialisation together, in other words, Integration. This is important in contemporary industries and tackling the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) problems we are faced with today.
Design is constantly changing along with technology and society. It is important for design education to be agile to respond to a quickly changing landscape. Integrated Design emphasises this agility to stay relevant and incorporate what is critical to design’s success at any given moment.
When considering Design as a verb, it is ideally integrated throughout the entire workflow of a project. Whether it be a service, tangible or virtual product, communication strategy, or wicked problem, design is engaged through discovery, definition, evaluation, reflection, and making. This holistic approach leverages and synthesises complementary disciplines in a collaborative, goal focused context.
A strategic, interdisciplinary,
in-context platform
Get exposed to the multi-faceted aspects of business and how design is integrated across all facets of an organisation. You’ll be provided with a balance of theoretical underpinnings and hands-on practical experience that empowers you to solve wicked problems via the uniqueness of our MDes programme.
There's the opportunity to engage in a project in the hospitality industry, working with a professional design team alongside marketing, logistics, and sales teams. Conversely, you may work in a high-tech organisation, working with UI/UX teams in collaboration with software engineers and content developers.
Hear from Professor Stone as he provides an overview and describes the goals and advantages of our MDes programme.
We believe the education of design facilitators and creative leaders is best delivered through a multi-faceted approach. You’ll be provided with a solid grounding in the theoretical underpinnings of design strategy and leadership, design research methods, and collaboration. This is complemented by investigations of emerging topics and technology in design.
These topics are delivered through a series of seminar courses in the Division of Industrial Design, Singapore’s first university-level department to offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees programmes in Design.
Dr Lee talks about the need for creative leaders and design facilitators and how our MDes programme addresses these needs.
A unique and applied
course structure
Our context is our advantage
A distinct advantage of our MDes in Integrated Design is that we are situated within the National University of Singapore, globally ranked amongst the top 10 universities worldwide. This affords us access to engagements, collaborations, and research across a broad spectrum of disciplines.
Singapore, a hyper-modern metropolis, is home to many multinational organisations and corporations. This environment enables us to provide you with access to a wide range of globally recognised organisations in the hospitality, service, retail, and high-tech industries. All in a rich, safe, multicultural, tropical environment.
We have established connections with leading design firms, renowned multinational organisations, and influential professionals. These partnerships provide a pathway for employment, internships, consultations, and industry projects. Through this activity, our students expand their networks and knowledge base, gain a holistic view of design and understand how it is fully integrated in business–all while staying current on industry trends.
We’re developing a growing list of collaborative partners which may include companies such as Meta, Facebook, Google, Shopee, Shiseido, Schaeffler, HP, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Tourism Board, Samsung, DBS, Standard Chartered Bank, Dyson, and Dell.
Dr Zheng describes how our MDes programme enables collaboration with industry and academic experts across a variety of domains.
World-Class Industry Support
Boundless Career Opportunities
Whether you’re an experienced designer working toward elevating your design practice, an entry level talent seeking to enrich your exposure to the profession, or you’ve been working in a related field and wish to transition into design, our programme will guide you to accomplishing your goals, well-equipped to pursue diverse career paths and make a lasting impact in the design industry.
Aspiring to become a design leader or facilitator, gain knowledge in emerging fields, build contemporary skill building, be more strategic in your design practice, or acquire a transdisciplinary perspective? We’ll help lay the groundwork for a successful and fulfilling professional journey.