Where Empirical Research Meets Strategic Design to Shape the Future

In today’s rapidly evolving world, science and technology are essential to solving society’s most complex challenges. But to unlock their full potential, they must be complemented by human-centred approaches that shape how innovations are understood, adopted, and applied. At Imperial Business School, we see design not only as a creative discipline, but as a strategic capability that helps translate breakthrough science into real-word impact by reimagining systems, strategies, and ways of working.

The Strategic Design Studio builds on this vision by generating and applying new knowledge on how design drives strategic transformation. Through rigorous research and creative thinking, we equip leaders with the tools, insights, and mindset needed to tackle complexity, envision bold futures, and drive sustainable change across business and society.

We do this through three pillars:

• Research: we conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of strategic design, innovation, and leadership. Our recent publications in leading academic journals offer evidence-based insights on how design capabilities drive experimentation, leaders’ decision-making, and strategic change.
• Corporate Engagement: we partner with organisations to co-create new approaches to complex problems. Recently, we partnered with the Imagination Group to explore how virtual environments can shape creative collaborations and the future of creative work
• Education: we train business leaders through immersive, evidence-based learning experiences. Our teaching portfolio includes core and elective modules across Imperial MBA and MSc programmes, executive education for global clients focused on design-led digital transformation and leadership and custom workshops delivered in collaboration with industry experts and design practitioners.