Design Leadership Workshop

A practical workshop that helps higher education leaders rethink how they lead institutional transformation.

Connect with UDI.

Higher education leaders are being asked to navigate increasing complexity while preparing their institutions for a future that looks very different from the past. Traditional leadership approaches alone are no longer enough.

The Design Leadership Workshop introduces a practical framework that helps leaders rethink their role — from managing existing systems to intentionally designing the conditions, cultures, and capabilities that enable transformation.

Through an interactive, highly participatory experience, leaders explore the UDI Design Leadership framework, apply it to their own institutional challenges, and leave with a shared language, a practical framework, and clear next steps for applying it within their institution.

Structure of a Design Leadership Workshop engagement with UDI

Frequently Asked Questions: Design Leadership Workshop

We suggest including the following:

Presidents, provosts, vice presidents, and executive leadership teams
Administrative leaders responsible for institutional transformation
Deans and academic leaders
Directors and managers leading strategic initiatives
Emerging leaders identified for future leadership roles

Other participants that could be considered include:

Cross-functional project leaders
Faculty leaders
Board members
External partners supporting institutional transformation

The Design Leadership Synthesis Report captures key insights, leadership priorities, and opportunities identified during the workshop. It translates workshop discussions into practical recommendations leaders can use to apply the Design Leadership framework within their institution.

Leadership insights

Better understand leadership strengths and opportunities through the Design Leadership lens.

Strengths and opportunities

Areas of alignment, growth, and organizational capability.

Recommendations

Practical actions to strengthen leadership practices and organizational culture.

Next steps

Prioritized opportunities for continued leadership development and institutional transformation.

The Design Leadership Workshop takes place over two days and introduces a practical framework for leading institutional transformation.

Leadership Shift: Reframe leadership from managing systems to designing them.
Systems Vision: Understand institutions as designed systems.
Leadership Qualities: Explore the seven qualities of the Leader as Designer mindset, and deep dive into 3-4 priority areas for your institution.
Leading by Design: Apply the framework to your institution's most pressing challenges.

The Seven Responsibilities of a Design Leader

Design Leadership Workshops typically focus on 3–4 Design Leadership Responsibilities that are most relevant to an institution's current priorities and transformation goals. UDI’s Design Leadership Responsibilities and sample workshop discussion prompts are included below.

More Information:
Leader as Designer Workshop

Investment includes:

Design and facilitation by UDI leadership experts
Pre-workshop Leadership Alignment session
Leadership Reflection & Readiness activities
Two-day Design Leadership Workshop
Workshop materials, frameworks, and facilitation tools
Design Leadership Synthesis Report with recommendations and next steps

Additional costs:

Travel and accommodations for UDI facilitators
On-site meeting space, catering, and workshop logistics

Design Leadership Workshop

Structure of a Design Leadership Workshop engagement with UDI

Frequently Asked Questions: Design Leadership Workshop

Who should participate in the Design Leadership Workshop?

What is the output of the Design Leadership Workshop?

What will the Design Leadership Synthesis Report Offer?