PhD in Design Management

Design management studies how organizations integrate design thinking, product development, and creative strategy into business operations. Doctoral coursework in this area typically covers design strategy, innovation management, branding, user experience research, and methods for evaluating how design decisions affect business outcomes. Students learn how companies use design to differentiate products and services, manage creative teams, and translate design research into commercial strategy. Graduates from doctoral programs in design management commonly move into roles such as design strategy consultants, innovation managers, product development leaders, or academic researchers studying the business side of design. This doctoral program is offered by Woosong University in Daejeon, South Korea, over three years, with admission in March and September. Instruction is delivered in English, which allows international students to pursue doctoral research in design management without first needing Korean-language coursework, although some Korean ability is useful for daily life in Daejeon. As part of the business administration doctoral offerings at Woosong University, students complete advanced seminars before moving into independent dissertation research examining a specific question in design strategy or management. The program is suited to applicants who hold a relevant bachelor's or master's degree in design, business, marketing, or a related field and who want to build advanced research and leadership skills at the intersection of design and business management in South Korea.