The Master in Creativity and Design Leadership at Elisava Barcelona School of Design and Engineering teaches students to utilise creativity and design to influence change and innovation.

The Master in Creativity and Design Leadership integrates leadership, design and creativity to help students grow leadership skills and their capacity to drive results in the creative sector.

Students will develop self-awareness as leaders and learn the skills needed to navigate the intersection of creativity, design and leadership. The programme shows how these skills can fuel change and drive innovation across industries, teaching how creativity and design approaches can be understood, developed and applied.

Modern leadership approaches, such as adaptive, complexity and creative leadership, are seen as keys to unlock the potential of people and organisations, helping them solve problems and co-create new solutions. This is not just a course in creativity, design and leadership; it is a journey of self-discovery and skills-building that encourages students to examine their attitudes, knowledge and abilities to transform their careers and perspectives.

By integrating creativity, design and leadership, the curriculum develops strategic thinking, inspires innovation and sharpens practical design skills. This synergy equips graduates to lead with vision, navigate complexity and drive results in the ever-evolving global creative landscape.

Through a mix of theory, practical projects and reflective exercises, graduates develop the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams with vision and impact, navigate complexity and co-create innovative solutions.

School: Elisava Barcelona School of Design and Engineering
Course: Master in Creativity and Design Leadership
Type: Postgraduate
Location: Madrid, Spain
Course dates: September 2026 to July 2027
Application deadline: 15 July 2026

Find out more about the course and apply ›

What will I learn during this course?

– Leadership skills, which include effective communication, decision‑making and team management
– Creative design skills
– Deep, user-centred design understanding
– Design‑driven problem‑solving
– Strategy
– Innovation
– Personal reflection

What are the requirements?

– An official undergraduate degree or equivalent
– Applicants without a university degree are eligible to apply through proven professional experience or by proving significant knowledge in the relevant study area (these applicants will receive a university specialist certificate)
– Supporting documents, submitted in PDF format and in the same language as the programme, must include a CV, letter of motivation, portfolio (or link to a digital portfolio/personal website) and a passport (non-EU applicants) or national ID (EU applicants)

What facilities and resources are available?

– Specialised workshops and laboratories
– Outdoor spaces
– Conference rooms
– Exhibition rooms
– Multi-purpose classrooms
– Other educational spaces in different parts of the city

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

Students will be able to establish careers as creative directors across advertising, design studios, digital firms or cultural institutions as well as design leaders, design managers, innovation consultants or roles in product development, creative strategy and organisational consulting.

Graduates can also pursue leadership positions in international creative industries.

Who teaches this course?

– Christer Windeløv-Lidzélius, course director

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