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Master in Business for Architecture and Design

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  • Master In Business For Architecture And Design
duration15 months
languageEnglish
locationMadrid & Amsterdam + Online
intakeMarch
Mode of StudyPart-time
FormatBlended
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Master in Business for Architecture and Design

The Master in Business for Architecture and Design trains professionals for a future that does not differentiate between business and design, not between physical and digital, and in which action, collaboration and multidisciplinarity are the rule.

Architects and designers stand out as creative and analytical thinkers, that can contribute with powerful solutions to some of the complex problems of our time. But developing this potential in full, requires a vision and a set of skills that go far beyond their realm.

Impact in spatial design implies understanding how economy works, how companies create and manage value through ideas, people and processes, how industry problems can be transformed into business opportunities, how clients and companies engage with each other, or how technology and innovation can empower organizations.

The MBArch is a unique learning experience where design professionals expand their core capacities with management, entrepreneurship and innovation expertise, preparing themselves to become the creative leaders of the future.

A modern architectural building reflecting light during sunset.

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  • 17
    Different Nationalities
  • 30
    Average Age
  • 2-10
    Optimal Years Work Experience

5 REASONS TO JOIN THIS MASTER

The belief that cutting-edge design can only come from architects who remain untouched by the constraints of business or finance is now obsolete.

  • 01.

    CONNECT DESIGN AND BUSINESS

    The MBArch bridges creative vision with strategic thinking. It empowers professionals in architecture, design, and engineering to understand business contexts and manage projects holistically. You’ll learn how management fuels creativity and how design thinking drives innovation in contemporary practice.

  • 02.

    TURN IDEAS INTO REAL VENTURES

    It’s not enough to have creative ideas — you must know how to make them happen. Through practical training in entrepreneurship and courses like Entrepreneurial Management, along with hands-on experience in the Venture Lab, you’ll gain the tools to transform your ideas into impactful business opportunities.

  • 03.

    LEARN FROM LEADERS IN DESIGN AND BUSINESS

    Our world-class faculty combines academic excellence with professional experience. Professors from IE Business School and leading international firms use innovative, real-world approaches to help you master both the creative and managerial sides of the design industry.

  • 04.

    EXPERIENCE FLEXIBLE LEARNING IN TWO GLOBAL HUBS

    The blended format of online learning and in-person sessions in Madrid and Amsterdam lets you balance study and work. Both cities are global centers of architecture, culture, and innovation, offering an ideal environment for growth and networking.

  • 05.

    JOIN A GLOBAL DESIGN-DRIVEN COMMUNITY

    As part of IE’s vibrant and entrepreneurial ecosystem, you’ll benefit from IE Talent & Careers and a network of over 70,000 professionals worldwide. The School’s culture of innovation, collaboration, and leadership will connect you to a diverse community shaping the future of design and business.

PRE-PROGRAM IN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STARTING IN MARCH!

Professor: Paolo Giancane

If you're considering our Master in Business for Architecture and Design but lack professional experience in finance, the mandatory free pre-program in Financial Accounting is for you. This fully online course doesn't require you to be in Madrid and is highly recommended for everyone. It's also an excellent way to ease back into an academic lifestyle. Although the grade won't count towards the Master in Business for Architecture and Design, it will be evaluated. Ensure you're enrolled to begin the pre-program in March 2024.

PROGRAM DRIVERS

The essence of the Master in Business for Architecture and Design and the pillars of our vision for the future.

  • The image depicts a triangular diagram illustrating the relationship between business acumen, design intelligence, and an entrepreneurial mindset, all leading to new value for the built environment.

    BUSINESS AND DESIGN DRIVE INNOVATION

    We research and develop the synergies between design intelligence, business, and entrepreneurship. Through strategy, finance, and management, we empower students to create new value and business models for the built environment.

  • A visual representation highlighting key attributes of creative leadership.

    CREATIVE LEADERSHIP ENABLES CHANGE

    We cultivate professionals who lead through complexity and uncertainity. Blending creativity, vision, and collaboration, we shape adaptive leaders ready to transform organizations, cities, and future of design.

  • This image illustrates the concept of design in relation to various fields such as data, AI, tech, living spaces, and social relationships.

    DESIGN HUMANIZES THE POST-DIGITAL ERA

    We explore how AI, data, and digital systems redefine design practice. Beyond tools, we champion human-centered innovation that advances both creativity and responsibility in an era of rapid technological change.

  • The image illustrates a three-dimensional graph showing the relationship between sustainable value, time, and the built-environment thinking spectrum.

    SYSTEMIC THINKING BUILDS SUSTAINABLE VALUE

    We understand the built environment as a living system where ecology, culture, and economic intersect. Our work is guided by circular and inclusive principles toward resilient, equitable, and lasting impact.

WATCH THE EXPERIENCE

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THE VALUES OF INNOVATION

At IE, we embrace change and see opportunities rather than challenges. We hope that you’ll adopt this attitude, too!

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    CHANGE IS OPPORTUNITY

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    COLLABORATION MAKES YOU GROW

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    IMPACT & GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

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    DIVERSITY EMPOWERS PEOPLE

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    TECHNOLOGY: A GAME CHANGER

  • PURPOSE IS THE BEST GUIDE

THE VENTURE LAB

During the second half of the program, students of the Master in Business for Architecture and Design develop their final project in the Venture Lab.

They integrate much of the material covered throughout the entire program, and through their own research, discussions and creativity, they shape and plan new business ventures. Preparing, writing, and presenting a business plan is a useful final project, not only for those who are looking to launch their own businesses but also for those who perform any management role that demands opportunity identification and execution.

A special panel of experienced professionals gives valuable feedback on each project. Many of our students have even taken a step further and put into practice the business venture they developed during this program, turning ideas into reality.

Venture Lab Project
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IE LEADERS IN BLENDED EDUCATION

Renowned for its marked focus on the entrepreneurial spirit and its humanistic approach, IE’s world-class faculty is comprised of entrepreneurs, executives, academic experts and authors. Many of these professionals have had executive positions in start-up companies or multinationals or have been published in top journals. As professors, they bring intellectual diversity and practical insights into the classroom to create challenging and enriching programs.

IE Leaders in blended education | IE School of Architecture and Design
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UNSURE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PROGRAM TO HELP YOU ON YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY?

Discover the Master in Business for Architecture and Design related programs:

    COMPETENCES

      • Acquire the economic, technological, and strategic foundations necessary to develop and apply innovative proposals within a business context in the architecture and creative design sectors.
      • Apply the knowledge acquired and problem-solving skills in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
      • Communicate conclusions — and the knowledge and reasoning that support them — to both specialized and non-specialized audiences clearly and unambiguously.
      • Critically analyze the various areas of business management that determine competitiveness in a changing, expanding, and global market of architecture and creative design.
      • Develop and defend management conclusions regarding a specific project in the fields of architecture and creative design, and report the results rigorously and creatively to the different stakeholders involved.
      • Analyze the agents and processes involved in the daily operation of companies in the fields of Architecture, Creative Design, and the Built Environment.
      • Make decisions regarding the application of contemporary marketing techniques and tools in companies related to Architecture and the creative sector to improve corporate communication.
      • Interpret the ethical and social implications of business activities within the master’s fields of study in order to make appropriate managerial decisions.
      • Generate clear and relevant economic information that allows for the analysis of project development and the company’s situation within the context of creative industries and architectural projects.
      • Design business processes and services in the fields of architecture and creative design aimed at improving the customer experience at all levels, as well as their relationship with the company.
      • Apply the regulatory framework and legal aspects involved in the relationships of Architecture and Creative Design companies with their local and global environment.
      • Define a professional strategy oriented toward action and based on the analysis of the business environment of Architecture and the creative sector.
      • Plan, manage, and develop the life cycle of a project applied to the professional fields of architecture, spatial design, and creative design, minimizing risks and maximizing success.
      • Actively participate in the execution of projects in the fields of architecture and creative design by working in networks with multicultural and interdisciplinary teams in international environments and contexts.
      • Understand the capacity of creative design to generate value in contemporary society, as well as its specific impact on different levels and agents of society.
      • Use the knowledge acquired to formulate judgments based on reflections about the social or ethical responsibilities of their actions and decisions, based on complete, partial, or limited information within the fields of architecture and creative design.
      • Evaluate the impact of contemporary changes in work, technology, and the business environment on the profession and the social role of the architect or creative spatial designer.
      • Apply the requirements, processes, and business dynamics necessary to develop spatial design work aligned with quality standards, deadlines, and the demands of different market agents.
      • Possess the learning skills that allow them to continue studying in a largely self-directed or autonomous manner.
      • Possess and understand knowledge that provides a foundation or opportunity to be original in the development and application of ideas, often within a research context, in the fields of architecture and creative design.
      • Create and lead teams with the technical, creative, and administrative profiles necessary for a company in the fields of architecture and creative design.
      • Identify and plan the costs of the various processes within a company in the fields of architecture and creative design in a transversal manner, considering the different internal and external phases, the necessary resources, and the R&D&I strategies that affect them.
      • Develop business ideas applicable to the fields of Architecture and Creative Design through rapid iteration cycles and based on interaction with potential users, professional peers, and other market stakeholders.
      • Understand the capacity of spatial design to generate value in contemporary society, as well as its specific impact on different levels and societal agents.
      • Develop innovative business plans applied to the fields of design and the management of new companies in the Architecture and Built Environment sector.
      • Analyze the activities and differentiating values of a company in the Architecture and Built Environment sector, and define internal and external actions to reinforce them.
      • Understand and apply the factors that determine the coordination of effective internal and external communication within a company in the Architecture and Built Environment sector, as well as its mechanisms for impact and improvement.
      • Integrate design and its creative processes with commercial operations and business management to enhance the creative and productive capacity of an Architecture company related to the Built Environment.
      • Plan technology-based actions that increase a company’s competitive advantages, considering the specific context and needs of the Architecture and Built Environment sector.
      • Develop innovative business plans applied to the fields of design and the management of new companies in the industries and processes of Creative Design.

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