SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences
Master

Social Design & Sustainable Innovation

  • Master of Arts (M.A.)
  • 4 Semesters
  • on campus
  • 120 ECTS
  • €790/Month
  • Full time

Do you want to create what the world really needs? With the Master in Social Design you can become a designer for eco-social change and learn to develop innovative design ideas for the social challenges of our time.

  • English
  • summer and winter semester
Request information Apply now
Social Design master´s degree students at SRH Berlin
Berlin School of Design & Communication

Your course content

Social Innovation, Sustainability, CSR and more

The Master's degree in Social Design & Sustainable Innovation challenges the current system and thinks design from the perspective of the social and planetary state of emergency. The goal: the education of a new, radical, revolutionary generation of designers. You will work with practices such as artistic research, cooperation, co-creation and other methods of qualitative research. The overall goals are fairness, transparency and sustainability.

Social design, social campaigning, corporate design in a social context, socially engaged art, digital innovation, social design theory and design practice in the context of visual communication, editorial design, photography, film and web development and design thinking form the cornerstones of the programme. Within these key themes, you will work with collaborative partners from the (creative) industries and other organisations on social innovations, campaigns and design solutions for a sustainable future. In projects with real-world partners, you will design effective solutions and concrete visions for a better world.

The following explanations provide a concrete insight into the project structure of the Master's programme in Social Design and Sustainable Innovation.

Students of the M.A. Social Design and Sustainable Innovation develop pioneering design solutions in the areas of futurology, cultural participation, and corporate design with external practice partners. In addition to graphic design, these include progressive workshop designs in the context of design thinking, UX/UI design and interactive event and exhibition design. 

Students also design and organize events and panels on topics such as resilience, diversity, and coexistence in collaboration with an international hotel group. 

In addition to exhibitions, panels and workshops, paintings, drawings, and murals are realized that illustrate the topics in a variety of ways.

In collaboration with international communication agencies, students develop visualisations on future topics such as artificial intelligence and new work based on intensive and critical research.

The importance of Interaction Design (UX / UI) in the M.A. Social Design and Sustainable Innovation programme corresponds to the constantly growing demand of the labour market and includes the design of web and app solutions.

In the field of social campaigning, students implement creative campaigns in favour of diversity and democracy in an open society, among other things. They disseminate the campaigns via self-created photographs, posters, and digital media formats in order to reach a broad public.

Students also produce books on relevant topics such as crisis and resilience, gender and feminism using innovative editorial designs that effectively present academic essays on socially relevant and topical issues.

Your career prospects

Social Designer, Art Director and more

Social Design & Sustainable Innovation can mean a significant difference in cultural and business organisation, leading to more real and digital innovation. The professional skills are derived from mastering the respective design disciplines paired with methodologies of social change that are combined.

Graduates take up traditional and new design professions with an extended and scientifically sound design, thinking and action approach. They work as art directors, designers, consultants, project managers, web developers, change managers, curators for companies and institutions. The Master of Arts degree prepares students for a doctoral or PhD degree programme, which opens the way in particular to academic careers in teaching and research.

#wenndannjetzt | #ifnotnowwhen
Social Campaign for change in care

M.A. students design nationwide campaign to draw attention to the poor working conditions and lack of appreciation in nursing and healthcare. If not now, when ...

To the campaign
Brochures
Get more information about the study programme!

Study programme brochure and more ...

Design Thinking as Method of Social Innovation

Students design community space in a refugee camp in Lebanon. They use design thinking processes to design the space in such a way that it has an activating effect and that creative and positive impulses can arise.

To the project & book

Foreign and Foreigness | "This is (not) my story."

German and Lebanese students deal with the topic of "Foreign and Foreignness" in interdisciplinary workshops and create essays, films, photo series, graphics and installations that reflect the realities of life for refugees in Germany and Lebanon.

To the project & book

Heaven above Beirut

Students from the Berlin School of Design and Communication and the ALBA Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts capture Beirut in pictures. The photographs were taken before the devastating explosion in August 2020 and show the struggle of a city for its existence and identity, but also as a place of longing.

To the project & book
Meet your Study Advisor Why study in Germany? Why study at SRH

Why should I choose to study in Germany? What are the benefits of studying abroad? What is Germany best known for studying?

Event
Meet your Study Advisor How do I finance my studies? | Webinar

Learn more about funding options for EU and non-EU students. 3 pm CET

Event

Video Project: Social Spots for UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Master Class Social Design and Sustainable Innovation creatively explored the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and designed and produced Social Spots. Under the direction of professor Gilbert Beronneau, films were created by students that humorously and seriously portray the challenges facing humanity in connection with the preservation of the planet.

Social Spots for SDG 10 & 14

By playing this video, the provider may store personal data such as your IP address.
By playing this video, the provider may store personal data such as your IP address.
Project

Workshop: Urban Design

By playing this video, the provider may store personal data such as your IP address.
Study Plan MA Social Design & Sustainable Innovation

Your curriculum

4 Semester 120 ECTS
1. Semester

First Semester

  • Social Design Science + Practices A

    5

  • Design Research

    5

  • Social Campaigning

    5

  • Art, Society + Change

    5

  • Marketing and Branding

    5

  • Profession and Best Practice I

    5
2. Semester

Second Semester

  • Social Design Science + Practices B

    5

  • Sustainable Innovation I

    5

  • Sustainable Innovation II

    5

  • Social Design Internship

    5

  • Sociology and Branding

    5

  • Profession and Best Practice II

    5
3. Semester

Third Semester

  • Design Thinking / Research

    5

  • Design Thinking / Synthesis and Creation

    5

  • Design Thinking / Realisation and Prototyping

    5

  • Social Design Manifesto + Portfolio

    5

  • Design Practices

    5

  • Profession and Best Practice III

    5
4. Semester

Fourth Semester

  • Master's Thesis + Colloquium

    30
Find your unibuddy.
Chat with our students.

Do you want firsthand information? Our students are happy to share their experiences with you, tell you about their courses, their projects and student life in Berlin, Hamburg and Dresden.

Find your unibuddy
Your lecturers

We help you achieve your goals

Admission requirements

Our requirements

The Master's in Social Design & Sustainable Innovation is aimed at university graduates of all disciplines.

Checklist for your online application:

  • Bachelor's degree - please submit your degree certificate and your transcript of records. If you do not have the degree certificate yet, you can also submit it before you start your studies.
  • Letter of motivation
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Secondary School Certificate
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Two to three creative works on the topic of "Why change?", in the form of film, text, photo, illustration or in another creative form of expression

Here are the English requirements you should bring along:

  • TOEFL 87 ibt (direct entry)
  • TOEFL 79 - 86 ibt (with additional agreement)
  • TOEIC 785 (Listening/Reading 785, Speaking 160, Writing 150)
  • IELTS/ IELTS ONLINE (academic) 6.5 on average - please see Language Centre guidelines if results differ
  • CAE (grade A, B, or C)
  • CPE (grade A, B or C)
  • Pearson English Test Academic (PTE-A) 59 points
  • Linguaskill: 176 - 184 (CES) - all four skills required
  • Duolingo 110 points
Fees and Funding

Your tuition fees

As a state-recognised, private university, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences is financed by tuition fees. This revenue goes towards equipping our campus, providing services for our students, and quality assurance. In this way we ensure that you receive the best possible education under optimal study conditions.

Tuition fees

  • citizenship | EU/EEA (incl. Switzerland, Western Balkans and Ukraine): EUR 790 / month
  • citizenship | Non-EU/EEA: EUR 5700 / semester

The monthly/semester tuition fees remain the same for the entire duration of the study programme. 

An additional enrolment fee of EUR 750 (EU/EEA) / EUR 1000 (non-EU/EEA) is to be paid once. More information about our fees.

Financing

Please find more information about funding options on our page "Financing your studies". Our Student Advisory Service will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Apply now

Application process and deadlines

Please find the Application and Late Arrival deadlines here.

We are happy to welcome you to our university. This is our application process:

  1. You submit your online application via the SRH Application Portal
  2. If you meet the admission requirements, we will invite you to a personal/phone interview
  3. If the interview is successful, you will receive an acceptance letter and the study contract
  4. You sign the study contract and send it back to us
  5. You pay the enrolment fee
  6. You will receive your letter of admission
  7. You take part in our Welcome Week and then you are good to go!
You have more questions?

Join our 3 different webinar series

  • How do I apply? series
  • How do I finance my studies? series
  • Q&A with your study advisor series
Get started now Your path into the future
  • You will take part in a step-by-step learning experience
  • You will study in small teams through practice-oriented tasks
  • You can concentrate on what is important in 5-week blocks
  • You will receive individual support from your lecturers
Apply now!
Your contact

If you have any questions, our team is happy to help you

Other suitable programmes

You might also be interested in