Design management is an exciting avenue

Pervin Malhotra  

Q. I have been working as a junior art director in a medium sized advertising agency. Can you please tell me something about Design Management? — Rashmi Gairola

A. Simply put, Design Management is the art and science of enhancing the collaboration and synergy between “design” and “business” to enhance the effectiveness of design.

In other words, Design Management is the ‘business’ side of design. It encompasses the on-going processes, business decisions, and strategies to enable innovation and create effectively-designed products, services, environments, communication and brands that enhance our quality of life and provide organisational success.

At a deeper level, Design Management seeks to link design, project management, strategy and supply chain techniques to control the creative process,

support a culture of creativity, and build a structure and organisation for design to drive a competitive advantage across the triple bottom line: economic, social/cultural, and environmental.

Traditionally Design Management was confined to the management of design projects. Over time however, it has evolved to embrace several other aspects of the organisation on a functional and strategic level.

Design has now become a strategic asset in brand equity, differentiation and product quality for most businesses. Increasingly, organisations are harnessing Design Management

As a discipline, it overlaps with the related management branches i.e. Marketing Management, Operations Management and Strategic Management.

There are 50+ courses

in Design Management offered at the MA, M Des as well as MBA level in the US and UK (even Finland and Holland) that you could explore.

Options after BBE

Q. I am pursuing Bachelor’s in Business Economics. I want to know the future options (further studies and government job) after doing this course. Currently I am thinking of doing MA in Economics. So is there any better option than this? — Mansi Rawat

A. In the increasingly globalised world, order with newer business risks stemming from inflation, currency fluctuation, varying interest rates, regulatory risks, foreign markets and now the WTO, large private companies are increasingly looking at business economists for help. The token one-man economic cell is now getting multi-staffed. These are tasks for which an MBA is not strictly geared. As a Business Economist, you may also specialise in market research or international trade, exports and imports. While a good master’s degree in economics (MA (Eco) or an MBE is a prerequisite for a corporate economist’s job, the clincher is your ability to marry fundamental knowledge of economics with market and business requirements.

Banking and financial institutions also hire business economists. As a matter of fact, a number of recruitment ads for management trainees ask for an MBA/MA (Eco) degree as a desired qualification. You can also enhance your job prospects by doing an MBA or MFC or, CFA.

Take a plunge into maritime law

Q. I’ve been sailing on cargo vessels for over a decade now. My kids are now in school so I am contemplating a shore job, preferably something related to maritime law which is related to my field. However, I do not have an LLB degree, so what are the options, if any, open for me? — Shubham Kumar

A. Well, there’s one good option that you can check out right away. Gujarat Maritime University’s School of Maritime Law, Policy & Administration offers LLM in Maritime Law as well as an LLM in International Law (Professional) which does not mandate an LLB. Both of these one-year courses are open to graduates of any discipline (with minimum 50% marks) and 3 years of working experience in the relevant field, which may be just right for you.

For the admission criteria and other details, please log onto their website: www.gmu.edu.in

GMU currently operates from its transitory campus at the Gujarat National Law University at Gandhinagar, Gujarat until their permanent campus is established.

Indian lawyers are highly rated in the global maritime sector

There is a growing demand for maritime lawyers in trading companies, shipping companies / agencies, insurance companies etc.

Overseas shipping companies which are augmenting their business in India require professionals with knowledge of maritime law

Factors like ship arrest, cargo claims and P&I related work provides excellent opportunities in the maritime space.

Increasing opportunities to work overseas with P & I clubs and shipping companies. Many Indian companies are setting up overseas operations for chartering and shipping.

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