PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Design Leadership Certification
Upon Successful Completion
Earn the Design Leadership Certification (DLC™)
Accelerate your career with the globally recognized BrainStation Design Leadership Certification (DLC™), through hands-on experience in live courses taught by UX design leaders from global tech companies.
View the Course Package to access:
- Tuition details
- Financing options
- Employer sponsorship
Course Overview Design Leadership Certification
Get Certified in Design Leadership
Gain essential Design Leadership skills with hands-on instruction from industry leaders working at the best global tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.
BrainStation has given me the confidence I needed to be ahead of the game... [and] given me the opportunity to think outside of the box.
Jaana
Digital Content Planner at adidas
BrainStation has given me the confidence I needed to be ahead of the game... [and] given me the opportunity to think outside of the box.
Jaana
Digital Content Planner at adidas
Design Leadership Certification (DLC™) Course Overview
DLC-2024Q3
- Concepts
Transition to a Design Leader
Responsibilities of a Design Leader
Business Impact & Mindset
HCD Thinking for Business
Multi-Faceted Design Leadership
Company Vision & UX Vision
How Vision Informs Strategy
Brand
Manifesting Brand Through System Design
Design System Purpose and Brand
Fostering an Agile Culture
Agile Variants
Organizing Workflows and Pipelines
Design Maturity Models
Team Culture
Transition to a Design Leader
Company Vision & UX Vision
Fostering an Agile Culture
Responsibilities of a Design Leader
How Vision Informs Strategy
Agile Variants
Business Impact & Mindset
Brand
Organizing Workflows and Pipelines
HCD Thinking for Business
Manifesting Brand Through System Design
Design Maturity Models
Multi-Faceted Design Leadership
Design System Purpose and Brand
Team Culture
- Frameworks
Stakeholder Partnership Framework
Stakeholder Communication Plans
People Management Framework
Design System Anatomy
DesignOps
Design Metrics
Design Maturity Models
Agile Culture & Variants
Stakeholder Partnership Framework
Design System Anatomy
Design Maturity Models
Stakeholder Communication Plans
DesignOps
Agile Culture & Variants
People Management Framework
Design Metrics
- Skills
- Using AI to Enhance Problem Framing
- Vision Setting
- How to Address Business Needs
- How to Build a Design System
- Implementation Challenges & Solutions
- Building a Roadmap
- Tech Optimizations
- KPIs
- Tracking Design Performance
- Interpreting Metrics
- Managing Unexpected Outcomes
- Working with Product
- Working With Stakeholders
- Hiring
- Empowering & Enabling Teams
- Effective Team Communication
Why Get Certified in Design Leadership
Taught By Leaders From Top Global Tech Companies
Receive hands-on training from UX design leaders working at companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.
Apply Your Design Leadership Training
Collaborate on detailed case studies to demonstrate your unique expertise and experience.
Globally Recognized By Top Companies
BrainStation certifications are globally recognized by top companies for the most advanced and up-to-date skills.
Design Leadership Success Stories
My ultimate goal was to start my own company... I knew that BrainStation could provide me with the skills I would need to take an idea from conception to execution.
Greg
Co-Founder and CEO at Branch
Design Leadership Courses Start Dates
Take the Design Leadership Certification online or in-person at any of BrainStation's campuses. Select a time that fits your schedule.
Class dates & times
Location
Instructor
November 20 - January 22
8 Wednesdays • Online
Online
January 23 - March 13
8 Thursdays • Online
Online
Senior UX Manager at Shopify
Design Leadership Certification Course Curriculum
Unit 1
Visionary Leadership
Through real-world case studies, explore the foundations of design leadership and how leaders at design-led organizations have leveraged Human-Centered Design to drive innovation in their industries. Learn the pillars of design leadership and how to become a design leader.
- Key Skills:
- Design Leadership Pillars
- Design & Business
- Vision Setting
- Human-Centered Design
- Brand & Design Frameworks
Learn Design Leadership Skills
Discover the pillars of design leadership and learn the role they play in setting and executing on your design vision.
Apply Human-Centered Design Skills
Explore the role Human-Centered Design plays across different types of businesses. Learn to set and execute a design vision through collaboration with stakeholders and long-term holistic thinking.
Unit 2
Design Management & Innovation
Explore the strategies that have enabled design leaders to drive innovation and help their businesses thrive within the modern economy. Learn to position design for success within your organization and through cross-functional collaboration. Discover Design Ops and how design leaders can achieve design maturity within their organization.
- Key Skills:
- Design Strategy
- Design Thinking
- Design Ops
- Design Maturity
- Measuring Design Success
Design as an Asset
Explore design's role within a product organization and how to maximize design's impact through effective collaboration with other teams.
Establish Design Ops
Learn to combine operating models and team structures to support the consistent development of high-quality designs within your organization.
Unit 3
Leading a Design Team
Design leaders must learn to inspire and lead the talent they recruit to implement their vision. Learn the mindsets and strategy to lead design teams through the cross-functional execution of your vision in a variety of hands-on workshops and case studies. Learn to collaborate with leadership, stakeholders, and clients to achieve successful long-term working relationships, achieve buy-in and establish design advocacy.
- Key Skills:
- Mentorship & Team Building
- Fostering Innovation
- Risk Management
- Leadership KPIs
- Achieving Buy-In
- Establishing Design Advocacy
Lead High-Performance Design Teams
Explore the concepts and practices behind high-performance design teams, and learn how to apply them as a design leader.
Build a Creative Practice and Culture of Design
Learn design team structures and how to manage and inspire design teams to perform their best and develop into future design leaders.
Earn Your Design Leadership Certification (DLC™)
Successfully completing BrainStation’s Design Leadership Certification course will earn you the globally recognized BrainStation Design Leadership Certification (DLC™), demonstrating your mastery of the latest cutting-edge skills and tools. Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile and resume or CV.
Shareable on:
Your Next Step Towards Design Leadership Certification
View the Design Leadership Course Package to Learn More.
View the Course Package to access:
- Tuition details
- Financing options
- Employer sponsorship
Join BrainStation's Global Alumni Network
With a BrainStation certification, you’ll join our global alumni network: a community of accomplished professionals across a range of critical tech skills, including User Experience Designers.
30,000+
Global BrainStation Alumni
100+
Countries
Industry-Led Design Leadership Certification
BrainStation’s globally recognized certifications are created by industry professionals, for industry professionals. Our network of experts from leading tech companies provide insights and guidance to ensure each certification demonstrates the latest cutting-edge skills and tools.
Learn in our Next-Gen Online Classroom
Instructor-Led, Live Online Courses, From the Comfort of Your Home
In all our online courses, learn from BrainStation's industry-expert instructors through real-time, interactive classes in an engaging classroom environment.
Interactive, Project-Based Learning
Join breakout room sessions in smaller teams as part of the hands-on projects in our online courses, where you will collaborate and learn together.
Community Beyond the Classroom
During your online course, engage with your classmates and instructors in BrainStation’s Slack community, where you’ll receive updates and support. Stay connected and in the loop throughout your online course.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is the Design Leadership Certification (DLC™)?
The Design Leadership Certification (DLC™) at BrainStation is a leading professional certification that verifies your completion of the course. Upon course completion, graduates receive the certificate and become a BrainStation-Certified Design Leader. A BrainStation certification can boost your LinkedIn profile and resume, helping you stand out in the job market when applying for more senior roles. BrainStation has been a global leader in digital skills training since its inception in 2011 and has trained over 30,000 professionals around the world.
-
Is my professional background a good match for the course?
This Design Leadership course is ideal for mid-level to senior-level professionals aiming to advance into leadership roles. It’s well-suited for design professionals looking to enhance strategic, cross-functional collaboration skills and learn how to make data-informed, impactful design decisions. The course emphasizes leading design teams, scaling UX initiatives, and aligning the design vision with organizational goals.
For those new to UX Design, or looking to land that first product designer role, we recommend the UX Design Certification, which focuses on foundational concepts and frameworks, including user-centered design, design thinking, and more.
-
What are the prerequisites for enrolling in the Design Leadership Certification course?
Participants should have a solid foundation in UX Design, with experience in the human centered design process, data-driven decision-making, and team leadership. Familiarity with key strategies like go-to-market planning ensures a seamless transition into advanced concepts. These prerequisites help learners maximize the program’s focus on strategy, leadership, and impactful decision-making.
-
Who are the instructors?
The Design Leadership instructors are experienced design professionals who have led in high-growth design teams at companies like Amazon, Shopify, Meta, and Google. They bring real-world insights into managing design teams, setting design strategy, and delivering impactful outcomes.
-
What are the classes like?
The Design Leadership Certification classes are immersive and hands-on right from day one. Participants engage in hands-on projects, qualitative and quantitative analysis, case studies, and discussions that explore key areas like design strategy, team leadership, and decision-making. They work on real-world challenges, develop strategies for cross-functional collaboration, and learn to align design goals with business objectives. The course emphasizes practical, scenario-based learning to prepare for senior roles in design management.
-
How many students are in each class?
We prioritize creating an engaging and tailored learning experience by keeping our class sizes small enough to ensure that everyone receives focused support from the instructor, but large enough that learners have the opportunity to build valuable connections and benefit from the unique perspectives of professionals from diverse industries.
-
Is the course online or in-person?
Currently, you can take the Design Leadership Certification in an online course format where you will be participating in a live, interactive classroom environment taught by a leading Design expert.
Students in our online Design Leadership courses stay in touch with each other and instructors alike through BrainStation's industry-leading student learning platform, as well as a lively Slack community that provides support and updates even beyond graduation. There are several dates and times to offer flexibility for remote learning, and the course is designed to fit around professional schedules. Check out the course kick-off schedule here.
-
How long is the course, and what is the schedule?
The Design Leadership course is typically 4 or 8 weeks long, depending on the delivery format — currently offered in either 8 evening classes or 4 weekend day classes. In either case, the course adds up to a total of 24 hours of training, case studies, projects, lectures, and more. Our course schedule is designed to give you ultimate flexibility with delivery format, days of the week, and length. Check out the course kick-off schedule here.
-
What kind of roles can I apply for after completing the certification?
After completing the Design Leadership Certification (DLC™), you start your next major career transition into such roles as Design Director, Head of UX/UI or Creative Director. With experience, you can also pursue advanced positions like Creative Director or Chief Design Officer.
-
How does a Design Leadership Certificate compare to a Degree or Master's program?
A certification provides targeted learning and immediate recognition of specific skills, making it ideal for professionals looking to quickly validate their expertise and stand out in the job market. Unlike a degree or Master’s program, which takes longer and covers a wider range of topics, certifications are streamlined and practical, allowing you to apply new skills directly to your role. This makes certifications a great option for those looking to advance their careers efficiently without the time and financial investment of a traditional degree.
-
What payment options do you offer?
BrainStation offers some of the most competitive payment options for any Design Leadership program. Payment options include:
-
Scholarship discount programs
Partial scholarships are available to help with tuition and are subject to eligibility. about these options.
-
Monthly payment installments
Split your tuition into smaller amounts and pay in installments over 3, 6, or 12 months.
-
Employer sponsorship
Many learners can have their tuition reimbursed by their employer through established Learning & Development budgets or on an ad-hoc basis.
-
Scholarship discount programs
-
Can I speak to someone about the course before I start?
Definitely! Our team of learning advisors is here to answer any questions you have. Simply at a time that is convenient for you — we look forward to speaking with you soon!
Design Leadership 101
How do design leaders balance innovation with consistency in design?
Senior managers in UX design aim to foster creativity while maintaining a cohesive brand identity. They encourage experimentation within design systems and brand guidelines to balance both. Innovation often comes from aligning with user needs and long-term brand goals, providing a consistent framework within which design professionals can thrive.