Design leadership is an increasingly vital skill in today’s professional world, where creative teams drive innovation and shape business strategy. This course provides a practical framework to help design leaders elevate themselves, their teams, and their organizations, ensuring long-term impact.



Design Leadership Mastery: Elevate Teams and Drive Impact

Instructor: Packt - Course Instructors
Included with 
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Lead with confidence and clarity in people management
Create equitable and inclusive hiring processes
Strengthen collaboration through effective feedback and team rituals
Skills you'll gain
- Workplace inclusivity
- Systems Thinking
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Leadership and Management
- People Management
- Design Reviews
- UI/UX Strategy
- Talent Recruitment
- Data Storytelling
- User Experience Design
- Performance Review
- Team Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Team Building
- Leadership Development
- Design
- Strategic Leadership
- Influencing
- Recruitment
- Leadership
Details to know

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November 2025
16 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

There are 16 modules in this course
In this section, we explore design management versus design leadership, examine essential leadership traits, and confront challenges unique to directing creative teams, equipping you to manage, mentor, and inspire designers.
What's included
2 videos3 readings1 assignment
In this section, we explore blind spots in uniform teams, build recruitment and retention plans for diverse talent, and back inclusive language and employee resource groups to spark better innovation.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
In this section, we design a structured hiring pipeline, apply standardized interview scorecards, and partner with HR to source design talent, ensuring objective decisions and a superb candidate experience.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
In this section, we contrast traditional job descriptions with outcome-based performance profiles, then build structured interview guides aligned to those profiles to evaluate candidates against clear, measurable success criteria.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
In this section, we reduce bias through blind r\u00e9sum\u00e9 screening, evaluate portfolios for insight, and craft structured phone interviews with scoring rubrics, enhancing fairness and predictive accuracy when selecting designers.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
In this section, we build a structured interview pipeline, standardize portfolio reviews, and assess design exercises to produce evidence-based hiring decisions while protecting candidate fairness and avoiding unpaid speculative work.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
In this section, we learn to run structured reference checks, build fair offers, and partner with human resources (HR) to design onboarding that boosts new-hire productivity and long-term engagement.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
In this section, we learn to run a charter workshop, refine team purpose and scope, and document responsible, accountable, consulted, informed roles and norms to strengthen cohesion and delivery.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
In this section, we design a repeatable one-on-one agenda that aligns OKRs with teammate SMART goals, surface blockers, and evaluate skip-level and office-hour pitfalls to maintain continuous feedback.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
In this section, we implement a structured continuous critique framework, assign rotating roles, set feedback cadence, and analyze benefits versus challenges to keep teams improving through timely, constructive evaluation.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
In this section, we learn to run design presentations as productive meetings: build clear agendas, prepare sharp walkthroughs, manage critique and guide question and answer sessions for actionable next steps.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
In this section, we dissect workplace power dynamics affecting refusal and apply a step-by-step framework to say no while forecasting consequences, preserving workload boundaries, and sustaining professional relationships.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
In this section, we define role-based career ladders and the Role-Goal-Reason framework, then design autonomy-centric delegation, continuous feedback, mentoring and coaching loops that align designer growth with organisational impact.
What's included
1 video9 readings1 assignment
In this section, we discover scaling pitfalls, apply Design Operations (DesignOps) to streamline workflows, and secure leadership buy-in for design systems that uphold quality, consistency, and culture.
What's included
1 video9 readings1 assignment
In this section, we connect user experience (UX) outcomes to key performance indicators (KPIs), weave data informed stories, and guide North Star, backcasting, and critique sessions to amplify design influence.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
In this section, we analyze escape velocity in complex systems, apply systems thinking to design resilient architectures, and assess adaptive strategies that preserve capability amid evolving requirements.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
Instructor

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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.
If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. You’ll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.
Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. You’ll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.
More questions
Financial aid available,

