Discount code "{code}" ({amount} off) applied!

Want to learn more? Register for the Strategic Business Acumen Course Webinar to learn about curriculum, format, and more.

Enrollment for the next cohort of {courseName} closes in {timeLeft}. ENROLL NOW to save your seat.

Strategic Business Acumen for Designers

GET THE STRATEGIC BUSINESS ACUMEN SYLLABUS AND LEARN MORE:
Button Text

Boost Your Strategic Impact

Gain the skills, knowledge, and frameworks needed to influence business strategy, align design work with business goals, and become a more strategic partner within your organization.

Course Summary

Designer on a laptop
NEXT COHORT
Jan 17, 2025
COURSE PACING
6-8 Hours/Week
COURSE DURATION
4 Weeks
PRICE
$1,299

Unlock Design Career Growth

Business savvy and strategic thinking, not design skills, are increasingly becoming the largest determinants of design career success.

“Business knowledge gives designers the ability to advocate for their work effectively.”

Debbie Millman, Designer & Educator

“Design without business is just decoration.”

STEVE JOHNSON, VP DESIGN AT NETFLIX

“Business is an area where I see designers falling short the most.”

Kate Aronowitz, Design Partner at Google Ventures
Image of pointing hand

Have questions about the course?

About this Course

Strategic Business Acumen for Designers equips you with the critical business knowledge to enhance the impact you drive within your organization and get your design career to the next level. This course bridges the gap between design and business strategy, teaching you how to align your design work with business goals and become a strategic partner in any setting.

Through a mix of online learning content, hands-on practice, real-life case studies, and special guest speakers, you’ll develop the confidence and skills to influence business outcomes and advocate for strategic design thinking. Whether you're eyeing a promotion, seeking to build stakeholder trust, or aiming to infuse more business strategy into your design process, this course offers the tools and insights needed to succeed.

HYBRID COURSE
FORMAT

Complete coursework on your own time each week, including a total of 50+ video lessons, then meet live weekly in peer group sessions.

HANDS-ON PROJECTS
AND EXERCISES

Apply your learning to real-world scenarios through weekly assignments and a final course project.

COHORT DISCUSSIONS
AND CRITIQUES

Participate in live, scheduled group sessions to discuss work in progress and share insights.

SPECIAL GUEST
SPEAKERS

Guest speakers will share case studies and Q&A about their own experiences navigating business decisions as designers.

MENTOR
FEEDBACK

Receive personalized guidance on your project work from industry experts.

THE DESIGNLAB HAPPINESS PROMISE

If you’re not a fan of the course and you’ve fully participated, get your money back within 7 days of finishing.
Read more here.

Who It’s For

Illustration of person learning data-driven design

FOR EXPERIENCED DESIGNERS SEEKING TO INCREASE THEIR STRATEGIC VALUE

This course is designed for mid to senior-level designers, agency designers, freelancers, in-house design teams, and design entrepreneurs who want to advance their careers by integrating business strategy with design. Ideal for those who have been encouraged to think more strategically but lack formal business training, this course will empower you to translate design into business value, navigate and influence strategic decisions, and articulate the strategic importance of design in achieving business goals.

Have more questions about this course? Contact our admissions team.

Business Savvy Designers Drive Impact

YOU WILL LEARN

1
BUsiness foundations for designers: Understand the core business concepts that influence design decisions and learn how to align your design work with a company’s strategic goals.
2
strategic thinking and analysis: Gain the ability to conduct competitive analyses, recognize market trends, and identify strategic design opportunities that drive business value.
3
ARTICULATING DESIGN VALUE: Develop the skills to communicate the business impact of your design choices to stakeholders, ensuring your designs are recognized as key strategic assets.
4
LEading with design: Learn how to use design thinking to influence business strategies, advocate for user-centered approaches, and lead projects that align with business objectives.

Guided by Experts

Weekly peer group sessions will be facilitated by an expert mentor with experience bridging the  the gap between design and business.

Meet the mentors

Course Curriculum

WEEK 1

BUSINESS FoUNDATIONS

Gain a solid understanding of essential business concepts, organizational structures, and how they shape the context in which designers operate.

WEEK 2

STRATEGIC POSITIONING & OPPORTUNITIES

Learn to analyze market landscapes, identify strategic opportunities, and develop insights that align design work with business objectives.

WEEK 3

BUsiness Models & Metrics

Explore various business models and key performance indicators, understanding how they influence design decisions and priorities.

WEEK 4

Becoming a strategic design partner

Elevate your role by applying strategic frameworks, connecting design to business outcomes, and effectively communicating the value of design initiatives.

In Partnership With

Course Creator, Jacalin Ding

Jacalin Ding

PRINCIPAL PRODUCT DESIGNER AT SERVICE NSW

Jacalin Ding is a seasoned product design leader and business strategist with over 15 years of experience. She has worked globally with startups and enterprises, helping to raise millions in funding and has coached designers from companies like Google, DoorDash, and LinkedIn. Jacalin’s courses have empowered over 10,000 creative professionals to connect design with business success.

Showcase Your Work

Earn a certificate of completion when you complete Strategic Business Acumen with Designlab, and display it proudly on Linkedin, your portfolio website, or any other place you choose.

Have questions about the course?

Our Students, Alumni, and Mentors Work at Top Companies Around the World

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to know in order to take this course?

Strategic Business Acumen for Designers is for mid-level designers (whether you’re working in-house, freelancing, or at an agency) who are already successfully creating design work with proficiency. This course focuses on helping you take your design career to the next level, by demystifying business strategy and helping you connect your design work to the larger context and goals of the business you’re operating in. This course moves at a fast pace, and students are expected to create presentations in tools like Canva or Figma, share strategic decks, and present their work over Loom recordings and live.

Are there any breaks for the Holidays with the first cohort?

Yes. Given that the first cohort of this course spans the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be a break the week of November 24-30. The course will then pickup as normal the week of December 1st.

WILL I EARN A CERTIFICATE IN THIS COURSE?

Yes. Students who successfully complete Strategic Business Acumen for Designers will unlock a certificate that they can display on LinkedIn and other platforms as a credential.

What are peer group sessions?

Unique to the advanced courses Designlab offers, Peer Group Sessions are regularly scheduled meetings facilitated by a professional product designer with expert-level experience in the course topic. In these sessions students come together to discuss the lessons, project work, and any questions.

The Peer Group Sessions in Strategic Business Acumen for Designers meet weekly for 90 minutes.

HOW ARE PEER GROUP SESSIONS SCHEDULED?

After you enroll in the course, you’ll select your peer group time. Typically, peer groups are held several days throughout the week at 12pm ET (9am PT) and 6pm ET (3pm PT).

None of the above times work for your schedule? Contact our admissions team by scheduling a call or emailing at advanced.admissions@designlab.com and we'll try to find something to accommodate.

HOW DOES THE GUEST SPEAKER ASPECT OF THE COURSE WORK?

This course will feature three bonus guest speakers, including Jacalin Ding, the course instructor. Guest speakers will share their experiences connecting design with business impact, and be available for Q&A with students. Sessions will be held on Weeks 2, 3, and 4 of the course — with times TBA. Students may attend these sessions live or receive a recording to watch asynchronously.

Do you offer any discounts?

We currently offer discounts for veterans. We also offer a payment plan that allows you to pay half up front and half at the end of the course. To learn more, contact our admissions team.

If you're interested in bundling this course with other advanced courses, you can save $200 for 2 courses, $375 for 3 courses, or $600 for 4 courses. To get started selecting your course bundle, go here.

What is the course pacing?

Students should expect to spend 6-8 hours per week on course work including time for self-paced lessons, practice projects, and peer group sessions. The following milestones will exist each week:

  • Sunday: New content is released.
  • Wednesday or Thursday: Participants will meet with their mentor and peer group.
  • Various TBA Times: Participants will attend an optional guest speaker lecture and Q&A.
  • 48 hours after meeting with your peer group you should submit your project work on the platform.
  • 48 hours after submitting your project work you’ll receive feedback on your work from your mentor.

You can also unlock the next unit early by completing all lessons and project work ahead of the deadline.

What if I can't start the course on launch day?

You’ll have some flexibility on when you complete coursework, but you should plan to have watched the recording of the video lecture and completed exercises before meeting with your peer group. 

CAN I USE MY COMPANY'S LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT BUDGET FOR THIS COURSE?

Absolutely! Many of our students’ tuition is sponsored by their employer. If you have any questions about how to do this when you’re enrolling for the course, please reach out via our Help Center contact form for more information or contact our admissions team.

Also, to help you with requesting reimbursement, feel free to copy / paste / edit the below email text:

Hi {Manager Name},

I’m writing to you about a course called Strategic Business Acumen for Designers that I’d love to enroll in using my learning & development budget. The course is on Designlab, a platform that’s trained thousands of UX / UI / Product Designers who work at companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Google. The course is designed to teach me how to:

  • Connect design decisions to business goals
  • Analyze markets and identify opportunities
  • Articulate design value to stakeholders
  • Communicate the business impact of design decisions effectively
  • Understand various business models and their implications for design
  • Apply strategic frameworks to design work
  • Consider multiple business factors when setting design priorities

The course format was specifically set up with working designers in mind and is a mix of asynchronous lessons, hands-on project work, and weekly peer group sessions facilitated by an expert in business and design. The course costs $1299 USD, and you can check out the course details here.

Thanks,

{Your Name}

WHAT IF I’M PART OF A TEAM THAT WANTS TO TAKE THIS COURSE?

We’re happy to work with a team or company. To chat through options, including multi-seat discounts, customs training, and more, book a call with our team.

What if I don't like the course?

Strategic Business Acumen for Designers is backed by The Designlab Happiness Promise. After you've fully participated in the course, if you're not satisfied, you can get your money back. Read more here.